Planning Coordinator

Cato Corporation; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Cato Corporation in Charlotte, NC is seeking a Merchandise Planner to manage allocation, open-to-buy and inventory planning for stores and online channels. You will forecast sales, markdowns and replenishment, presenting recommendations to senior planners and management.

The role requires 1+ year in merchandising planning, strong analytical skills and proficiency in Excel/JDA. Retail experience is preferred and collaboration with cross-functional teams is essential.

Qualifications

• 1+ year experience in Merchandise Planning/Allocation.
• Retail experience preferred.
• Strong math, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient in Excel and planning tools.

Responsibilities

• Maintain weekly open-to-buy for assigned area to identify risks and opportunities by class.
• Project sales, markdowns and inventory for stores and e-commerce.
• Present open-to-buy to management monthly.
• Develop markdown criteria and replenishment forecasts.
• Provide merchant teams with buy recommendations and plans.
• Collaborate with allocation and planning teams on monthly tools.

Skills

Merchandise Planning

Allocation

Open-to-Buy

Forecasting

Cross-functional Collaboration

Tools

Excel

JDA Enterprise Planning

Job description

Responsible to project open to buy sales, markdowns and inventory at the department and class level. Identify risks and opportunities and communicate recommendations to merchant partners as well as management. Responsible for the successful development, execution and communication of stores and e-commerce financial plans for assigned areas of business. Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with the allocation and merchant teams. Provide support to Senior Allocation and merchant team.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Maintain weekly open to buy for assigned area of business to identify risks and opportunities by class
• Project sales, markdowns and inventory
• Manage receipt flow
• Present open to buy to management monthly
• Develop markdown criteria
• Project e-commerce sales and markdowns for the assigned area of business
• Analyze sales for risks and opportunities
• Provide merchant team with buy recommendations
• Evaluate e-commerce performance by class and make recommendations to the Senior Planner
• Support the development of pre-season stores and e-commerce financial plans
• Create month to month plans for stores and e-commerce at the class level
• Partner with Senior Planner/Planner to develop style counts by department
• Quarterly Analysis and Hindsight
• Provide quantitative analysis to teams for hindsight and strategy meetings
• Analyze size selling for stores and e-commerce and provide updated recommendations as needed
• Participate in hindsight and strategy meetings with merchant team and management
• Develop the forecasts and recommendations for replenishment items
• Develop sales and inventory plans for key volume drivers and make recommendations to the Senior Planner
• Participate in assortment planning process
• Partner with allocation team to set up monthly Assortment Tools for merchant team
• Review store clustering, style counts and average receipt units per store
• Work with planning team on special projects and analyses
• Develop and maintain relationships with cross functional teams
• Support special projects and cross-functional initiatives as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

WORK EXPERIENCE

1+ year experience in Merchandise Planning/Allocation. Previous retail experience preferred

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Strong verbal, written, communication and mathematical skills
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Strong detail orientation and problem solving ability
• Proficient at Excel, Word and JDA Enterprise Planning a plus