Retail Merchandise Planner - Apparel

Placements24; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 360,000 - 540,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee discounts

Career growth

Collaborative team

Port Elizabeth location

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a meticulous Retail Merchandise Planner in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape to analyze sales and forecast trends, shaping inventory and assortment across product categories.

You will partner with buying, allocation, and store ops teams to ensure the right products are in the right place at the right time, leveraging planning tools and strong analytical skills.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of experience in merchandise planning, retail planning, or inventory management.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills with the ability to interpret complex data sets.
• Proficiency in using retail planning software and Microsoft Excel.
• Excellent understanding of retail math, forecasting, and inventory control principles.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Detail-oriented with excellent organizational and time management abilities.
• A passion for fashion and retail.

Responsibilities

• Analyze sales performance, inventory levels, and market trends to develop data-driven merchandise plans.
• Develop accurate sales forecasts for different product categories and channels.
• Collaborate with the buying team to define product assortment, quantities, and timing of deliveries.
• Plan and manage inventory levels to meet demand while minimizing excess stock and stockouts.
• Monitor inventory performance and provide recommendations for markdown strategies and clearance activities.
• Work closely with allocation teams to ensure efficient distribution of merchandise to stores.
• Prepare regular reports on sales, inventory, and merchandise performance for management review.
• Identify opportunities to improve planning processes and enhance inventory efficiency.

Skills

Analytical skills

Quantitative skills

Communication

Collaboration

Detail-oriented

Time management

Tools

Retail planning software

Microsoft Excel

Job description

About the Role Our client, a prominent fashion retailer, is seeking a meticulous and analytical Retail Merchandise Planner to join their team in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape. This crucial role involves analyzing sales data, forecasting trends, and developing effective merchandise plans to optimize inventory levels and maximize profitability across various product categories. You will work closely with buying, allocation, and store operations teams to ensure the right products are in the right place at the right time. The ideal candidate possesses strong analytical skills, a keen understanding of the apparel market, and proficiency in planning and forecasting tools. This is an excellent opportunity for a detail-oriented individual to make a significant impact on our client's product strategy and inventory management in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze sales performance, inventory levels, and market trends to develop data-driven merchandise plans.
• Develop accurate sales forecasts for different product categories and channels.
• Collaborate with the buying team to define product assortment, quantities, and timing of deliveries.
• Plan and manage inventory levels to meet demand while minimizing excess stock and stockouts.
• Monitor inventory performance and provide recommendations for markdown strategies and clearance activities.
• Work closely with allocation teams to ensure efficient distribution of merchandise to stores.
• Prepare regular reports on sales, inventory, and merchandise performance for management review.
• Identify opportunities to improve planning processes and enhance inventory efficiency.

Requirements

• A minimum of 3 years of experience in merchandise planning, retail planning, or inventory management, preferably within the apparel industry.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills with the ability to interpret complex data sets.
• Proficiency in using retail planning software and Microsoft Excel.
• Excellent understanding of retail math, forecasting, and inventory control principles.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Detail-oriented with excellent organizational and time management abilities.
• A passion for fashion and retail.
• Based in or able to commute to Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and opportunities for professional growth.
• Work with a leading retailer in the fashion industry.
• Gain valuable experience in strategic merchandise planning.
• Supportive team environment in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape.
• Employee discounts on fashion products.