Retail Planner

The Legends Agency; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 400 000 - 600 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading design-led retail brand in Cape Town is seeking an experienced Retail Planner to focus on strategic merchandise planning and inventory management. You will contribute to profitability through data-led planning and ensure optimal stock allocation across various channels. The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's Degree, 3-5 years of experience in retail planning, and strong analytical skills. Competitive salary and a creative work environment are on offer.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Creative and collaborative environment

Staff discounts

Employee development initiatives

Qualifications

• 3-5 years experience in retail planning, preferably in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong proficiency in Excel (formulas, pivot tables).
• Analytical mindset with strong problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain seasonal merchandise financial plans.
• Monitor and manage stock levels across stores and online platforms.
• Deliver regular sales, stock, and margin reports.

Skills

Merchandise financial planning

Sales forecasting

Inventory management

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Commerce, Retail Management, Business

Tools

Excel

JustEnough

SAP

Retail Pro

Job description

Overview

An established design-led retail brand with a global footprint is seeking an experienced Retail Planner to manage strategic merchandise planning, stock forecasting, and inventory allocation across physical stores and eCommerce. This role plays a pivotal part in driving profitability through data-led planning and cross-functional collaboration. Location: Cape Town, Western Cape

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain seasonal merchandise financial plans that align with business sales and margin targets.
• Prepare detailed sales forecasts based on historical data, trends, and promotional strategies.
• Manage Open-to-Buy (OTB) budgets and ensure alignment with buying cycles.

Inventory Management & Stock Control

• Monitor and manage stock levels across stores, warehouse, and online platforms.
• Drive replenishment, markdowns, and stock balancing actions to maximise profitability.
• Analyse product performance to inform purchasing, markdown, and clearance strategies.

Reporting & Analysis

• Deliver regular sales, stock, and margin reports with actionable recommendations.
• Track sell-through, stock turn, and inventory health KPIs by channel, category, and region.
• Forecast and manage product lifecycle from launch to end-of-life.

Allocation & Distribution

• Execute stock allocations to stores and online channels based on forecasted demand and store capacity.
• Ensure optimal product availability and assortment tailored to customer profiles and regional sales trends.
• Manage seasonal product launches and new store openings with appropriate stock planning.
• Collaborate with Buying, eCommerce, Product Development, and Retail Operations teams to align on sales objectives and promotional calendars.
• Work with the Marketing and Visual Merchandising teams to support campaign-driven planning.
• Provide planning support for merchandising strategies and store layout decisions.

Requirements

• Bachelors Degree in Commerce, Retail Management, Business, or related field.
• 3-5 years experience in retail planning, preferably in a fast-paced, design-driven or luxury retail environment.
• Strong proficiency in Excel (formulas, pivot tables, data modelling) and exposure to planning software (e.g. JustEnough, SAP, Retail Pro).
• Analytical mindset with strong problem-solving skills and commercial awareness.
• Ability to translate data into actionable insights and communicate clearly across departments.
• Self-starter with strong organisational and multitasking abilities.

Preferred Qualities

• Experience in premium or luxury homeware, fashion, or lifestyle brands.
• Passion for aesthetics, design, and product-led retail environments.
• Agile thinker with a strong eye for detail and customer behavior trends.

Whats on Offer

• Competitive salary with potential for growth.
• Creative and collaborative working environment in the heart of Cape Town.
• Opportunity to contribute to the success of an iconic South African brand with global reach.
• Staff discounts and employee development initiatives.