Strategic Merchandise Planner - Data-Driven & Growth-Focused

Foot Locker; Gardena (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Health insurance

401k plan

Job summary

Foot Locker is seeking a Merchandise Planner to develop and maintain strategic plans by brand or category, forecast sales, and maximize opportunities while mentoring junior teammates in the department. The role partners with Buyers, uses BI tools for reporting, and guides weekly reviews with the team.

The ideal candidate has at least 5 years retail planning, strong math and OTB knowledge, and a Bachelor’s degree is preferred. Hybrid work in Gardena, CA is available.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years retail planning experience.
• High School diploma or equivalent required; 4-year college degree (bachelor’s degree) school is preferred.
• Strong computer skills; particularly Excel and Word.
• Must be comfortable leading presentations and meetings pertaining to area of responsibility.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to lead.
• Strong Retail Math knowledge is a must.
• Candidate must understand all elements of OTB, as well as calculations for all metrics (sell-through, turnover, margin, AUR, etc.).
• Ability to define problems and recommend plans of action using factual information.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Ability to remain flexible, prioritize, and respond to changing requests from management and cross functional team.

Responsibilities

• Develop and communicate pre-season sales, stock, and margin plans by brand or category based on historical data and current trends that support total company objectives.
• Manage area OTB to maintain appropriate stock levels, capitalize on emerging sales trends, and guide receipt flow to ensure volume driving product is received in timely manner.
• Re-forecast (sales, margin, and turn) OTB on a weekly basis and conduct weekly meetings with buyers and allocators to discuss current business and plans of action as a team.
• Manage Ladder Plans for key items within area of responsibility to ensure appropriate stock levels are met throughout the year.
• Leverage Business Intelligence tools to develop relevant reporting and meaningful ad-hoc analysis to support buying team during pre-season and in-season time periods.
• Analyze size selling by market in order to determine appropriate size runs for orders shipped to distribution center.
• Present category performance and go-forward strategies to management and entire Merchandising department with concise recaps and sound action plans.
• Partner with Buyer and develop seasonal business plans that lay groundwork to achieve plan results through identifying growth, maintain, and down-trending brands or categories.
• Use experience and creativity to address business issues or opportunities; recommend thorough plans of action.
• Work closely with Buyers and Allocators to react to any opportunities or risks uncovered at the store level.
• Take ownership of special projects and relay conclusions or strategies to management.

Skills

Strong analytical skills

Excellent interpersonal skills

Ability to lead presentations

Independent and self-motivated team

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

Excel

Word

Job description

Foot Locker is seeking a Merchandise Planner to develop and maintain strategic plans by brand or category, forecast sales, and maximize opportunities while mentoring junior teammates in the department. The role partners with Buyers, uses BI tools for reporting, and guides weekly reviews with the team.

The ideal candidate has at least 5 years retail planning, strong math and OTB knowledge, and a Bachelor’s degree is preferred. Hybrid work in Gardena, CA is available.