Title: Merchandise Planner
Company Description: Global Apparel Brand
Location: New York, New York
Salary: $75,000-$125,000
*Salary is commensurate with experience and is an estimated range provided by JPSearch*
Responsibilities:
- Develop and manage seasonal and annual merchandise plans by channel, category, and account to support revenue and margin goals
- Drive monthly and weekly forecasting, identifying risks and opportunities to the business
- Build and analyze key financial metrics including sales, sell-through, margin, inventory turn, and open-to-buy (OTB)
- Manage inventory flow to ensure optimal stock levels across channels and regions
- Partner with cross-functional teams to mitigate risk related to overstock or stockouts
- Monitor and adjust allocations to support evolving business needs and maximize sell-through
- Analyze business performance to provide actionable insights and recommendations to senior leadership
- Prepare recurring and ad hoc reporting on sales performance, inventory health, and product trends
- Identify opportunities for growth based on historical data, consumer behavior, and market trends
- Partner closely with Merchandising, Sales, and Finance to align on product strategies and financial goals
- Collaborate with Wholesale and/or Retail teams to support account-specific planning and assortment strategies
- Provide input on pricing strategies, promotional activity, and assortment depth
- Support planning efforts across wholesale partners and/or direct-to-consumer channels
- Analyze account-level performance to inform future buys and strategic growth opportunities
- Assist in planning for key accounts, ensuring alignment with overall business objectives
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Merchandising, or related field
- 4+ years of experience in merchandise planning, preferably within apparel or a consumer goods environment
- Experience in wholesale, retail, or both required
- Strong understanding of retail math and financial planning concepts
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, lookups, financial modeling)
- Experience with planning systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, or similar) is a plus
- Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to present insights clearly
- Data-driven mindset with strong attention to detail
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
- Collaborative, team-oriented approach with strong cross-functional partnership skills
- Interest in fashion, product trends, and consumer behavior
- Proactive and solutions-oriented thinker