Planner/Allocator

Lori's Gifts, Inc.; Plano (TX); Remote; USD 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Lori's Gifts, Inc. is seeking a Planner/Allocator to maintain inventory levels, process purchase orders, and enhance replenishment processes.

You will work from home with occasional Plano meetings, supporting a multi-store retail operation and engaging with buyers and suppliers. Required are strong analytical and communication skills, experience with Excel pivots and VLOOKUP, and familiarity with backend retail systems (Mi9 Retail, AiFi, Just Walk Out by Amazon).

Qualifications

• Associates or Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Experience with multi-store retail.
• Solid communication skills with strong critical and analytical thinking.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline driven environment.
• Highly analytical and able to review sales and forecast.
• Advanced Excel skills to include pivot tables and v-Lookups.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Teams, Word, PowerPoint, Copilot).
• Knowledge in backend retail management system and point-of-sale systems (Mi9 Retail, AiFi, Just Walk Out by Amazon).
• Remote with 1-2 days per month in Plano office for meetings.

Responsibilities

• Source and follow-up with suppliers on Item Setup Data to ensure accuracy and scheduling.
• Conduct product allocations (under the direction of the Buyer).
• Respond to field requests including vetted product requests and handling shipment/cost issues.
• Ensure pricing strategy, category assignment and store assignments are consistent by conducting category reviews.
• Meet with suppliers and follow up on projected orders with Buyer and department.
• Handle ad hoc reporting and purchasing needs for suppliers and Buyers as needed.
• Other job-related duties as assigned.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Fast-paced environment

Sales forecasting

Education

Associate's or Bachelor's degree

Tools

Excel pivot tables

VLOOKUP

Mi9 Retail

AiFi

Just Walk Out by Amazon

Microsoft Office

Copilot

Job description

Description

The Planner/Allocator is responsible for maintaining proper inventory levels for an organization. Works with detailed historic reports to determine order quantities, process new purchase orders, and amend generated orders to meet requirements. Being a Planner/Allocator assists with inventory control management activities including implementing process enhancements to streamline the replenishment function. Assists buyers with vendor meetings and assorted selections. Additionally, Planner/Allocator may track purchase orders and deal with delivery and stock issues.. The Planner/Allocator gains exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work.

This position is remote with limited requirement for in-person meetings at our Plano headquarters. Must be within the Dallas Fort Worth area. Reliable high-speed internet/WIFI required.

WHAT YOU WILL DO (Responsibilities):

You are a self-motivated person with analytical perspective. You have the communication and listening skills that work well with limited supervision. You have a core understanding of the buying process and procurement/supply chain function. The Planner/Allocator will also:

• Source and follow-up with suppliers on Item Setup Data to ensure accuracy and scheduling - process for Buyer review
• Conduct product allocations (under the direction of the Buyer)
• Respond to specific field request fulfillment including vetted product requests, handling shipment issues, cost and retail issues, etc
• Ensure consistencies in pricing strategy, category assignment and store assignments by conducting category reviews
• Meet with suppliers and partner with Buyer and department to ensure follow-up on projected orders
• Handle adhoc reporting and purchasing needs for suppliers and the Buyers as needed
• Other job-related duties as assigned

This is not an exhaustive list of duties or functions and may not necessarily comprise all the "essential functions" for purposes of the ADA.

Requirements

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR (Requirements):

• Associates or Bachelor's degree preferred
• Experience with multi-store retail
• Solid communication skills with strong critical and analytical thinking skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline driven environment.
• Highly analytical and able to review sales and forecast
• Advanced Excel skills to include pivot tables and v-Lookups
• Proficient in Microsoft Office in general (including Outlook, Teams, Word, PowerPoint, Copilot)
• Knowledge in backend retail management system and point-of-sale system (Mi9 Retail, AiFi, Just Walk Out by Amazon, etc.)
• This position is remote with 1-2 days per month (on average) required at our Plano office for team meetings, training, preparation for special events, etc.

WHO ARE WE:

We are the heart of the hospital experience. Our guests visit our store locations for different experiences while visiting loved ones in the hospital, or between breaks while at work. Lori's Gifts is a unique retailer servicing over 250 hospitals nationwide for decades. We continue to grow because of our compassionate employees that remain close to the positive hospital relationships we have developed in the communities we serve.

WHY YOU'LL LOVE TO WORK HERE:

• Flexible Hours
• Awesome Discounts
• Fun work environment
• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance and 401K plan (Full Time Employees)
• Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays (Full-Time Employees)
• Opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed with a leading retailer!

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

We're proud to be an equal opportunity employer - and celebrate our employees' differences, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or Veteran status. Different makes us better.