Role Overview The Planner & Merchandiser will play a critical role in driving business performance through effective planning, inventory management, and data-led decision-making. The role requires strong commercial acumen, analytical rigor, and close collaboration with Buying, Retail, and Supply Chain teams to ensure optimal assortment, stock productivity, and margin delivery.
Key Responsibilities
1. Financial Planning & Commercial Management
- Develop and manage OTB (Open to Buy) plans in line with business objectives
- Lead Annual Operating Plan (AOP) and seasonal budgeting
- Define and execute pricing strategies aligned with brand and market positioning
- Create and manage buy plans by category and season
- Track and improve intake margin and net margin
- Plan and control markdowns within approved seasonal thresholds
- Drive profitability through disciplined planning and execution
2. Range & Assortment Planning
- Build range plans aligned with customer demand and business strategy
- Create assortment plans by store cluster and channel
- Define option depth plans to balance choice and productivity
- Ensure optimal width and depth based on historical performance and trends
3. Store Capacity & Space Planning
- Create and manage fixture carrying capacity for each store
- Plan inventory based on:
- Store module size
- Minimum Base Quantity (MBQ)
- Space grading
- Support new store openings by defining stock capacity and initial allocation plans
4.
Analytics & Performance Tracking
- Monitor and analyze:
- Sell-through performance
- Space productivity (SPSF – Sales per Square Foot)
- Store-wise and category-wise performance
- Identify fast and slow movers and recommend corrective actions
- Execute in-season markdown decisions while maintaining overall markdown discipline
- Conduct gap analysis to identify risks and growth opportunities
5. Inventory Management & Control
- Maintain control on Forward Weeks Cover (FWC)
- Drive stock rollover plans to minimize aged inventory
- Coordinate with the Buying team on timely inwards follow-ups
- Manage option phasing within the season based on hit-rate performance
- Track and control stock ageing
- Execute efficient inventory allocation across stores
- Plan and manage inter-store transfers to improve option productivity
6. Buying & Range Selection Support
- Actively participate in buying and range selection discussions
- Provide insights based on:
- Past sales history
- Good and poor sellers
- Category-level performance
- Missed opportunities and improvement areas
- Support continuous improvement in overall business performance
Collaboration & Store Engagement
- Foster robust teamwork and cross-functional collaboration across departments
- Conduct regular store visits to understand ground realities
- Listen to and incorporate store feedback to improve future planning and execution