Merchandise Planning Associate - Data-Driven & Collaborative

Music & Arts; Frederick (MD); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

401K

Job summary

Guitar Center is seeking an Associate Merchandise Planner in the United States to support sales, inventory, and profitability across categories. This entry-level role focuses on data-driven decisions and partnering with cross-functional teams to optimize performance.

You will analyze sales and inventory, maintain reporting, support forecasting, and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and sell-through while growing your analytical and planning skills in a fast-paced retail environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, Merchandising, Analytics, or a related field.
• 0–2 years of relevant experience in retail, analytics, finance, or merchandising.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, pivot tables, and basic data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Analyze weekly and monthly sales, inventory, and product performance.
• Assist with open-to-buy sales, inventory, and gross margin forecasting.
• Prepare and maintain recurring reports, dashboards, and analyses.
• Analyze trends and historical performance to support future plans.
• Partner with Category Merchants, Replenishment and Operations teams.

Skills

Analytical

Excel

Attention to detail

Multi-tasking

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Business/Finance/Supply Chain/Merchandising/Analytics

Tools

Excel

Job description

We are seeking an analytical, detail-oriented Associate Merchandise Planner to support the merchandise planning team in driving sales, inventory, and profitability across assigned categories. This entry-level role is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys working with numbers, identifying trends, and partnering with cross-functional teams to make data-driven business decisions.

The Associate Merchandise Planner will help analyze sales and inventory performance, maintain reporting, support forecasting and planning activities, and identify opportunities to optimize inventory and maximize sales.

Core Responsibilities:

• Analyze weekly and monthly sales, inventory, and product performance.
• Assist with open-to-buy sales, inventory, and gross margin forecasting.
• Prepare and maintain recurring reports, dashboards, and business analyses.
• Analyze sales trends and historical performance to support future plans.
• Partner with Category Merchants, Replenishment and Operations teams.
• Help identify opportunities to improve inventory productivity, sell-through, and profitability.
• Support seasonal planning, promotional analysis, and post-season reporting.
• Maintain accurate planning files and ensure data integrity across reporting tools.
• Present findings and recommendations to planning and merchandising leadership as needed.
• Take on ad hoc analyses and projects that support business priorities.

Requirements

Qualifications to join our Band:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, Merchandising, Analytics, or a related field.
• 0–2 years of relevant experience; internships or academic experience in retail, analytics, finance, or merchandising are welcome.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, pivot tables, and basic data analysis.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Curiosity and willingness to learn in a fast-paced retail environment.

Preferred:

• Previous retail, merchandising, planning, buying, allocation, or e-commerce experience.
• Familiarity with retail KPIs such as sales, gross margin, sell-through, weeks of supply, inventory turnover, and markdowns.
• Experience with reporting or business intelligence tools.
• Basic understanding of forecasting and inventory planning.

Success in This Role

The ideal candidate is highly analytical and eager to learn. They are comfortable working with large amounts of data, can translate numbers into actionable insights, and are willing to ask questions and collaborate with partners across the organization.

Why Guitar Center? Here's just some of the rewards:

For our employees who are musicians we offer the unique opportunity of gig leave--take time off to share your music with the world and return to your job after your tour! Guitar Center offers robust benefits and perks, including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K plus company match, mental health support, paid sick/holiday/vacation time, employee discount program, and tuition reimbursement options.

Pay Rate:$60,000 - $70,000/yr depending on background and experience.

The job posting is not necessarily reflective of actual compensation that may be earned, nor a promise of any specific pay for any specific employee, which is always dependent on actual experience, education, and other factors. The pay range(s) listed are provided in compliance with state specific laws. Pay ranges may be different in other locations.

With a career at Guitar Center, you become part of the world's largest multichannel musical instrument retailer. Whether at our Stores, Contact Centers, Distribution Centers, or Support Center, Guitar Center employees have a common goal: to help people find their sound and fill the world with more music.

Love this gig and want to apply?

Guitar Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides fair and equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected status prohibited under Federal, State, or local laws. All employment decisions are based on valid job‐related requirements.

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