Merchandise Planner
Job Description
We are searching for a Merchandise Planner for our apparel client. The Merchandise Planner is a key member of the planning, merchandising and sales organization, responsible for developing and executing seasonal buying strategies, managing open-to-buy and pre-season budgets, and identifying opportunities for optimizing inventory across channels. This role bridges buying, merchandising, and analytics — ensuring the right products are available at the right time and in the right quantities to drive sell-through and profitability.
Responsibilities
Buying & Assortment Planning
- Develop and execute seasonal buying plans built from bottoms-up rollups, aligned with brand strategy and sales targets
- Manage open-to-buy (OTB) budgets across categories to maximize sell-through and minimize excess inventory
- Partner with sales, design, and brand teams to curate an assortment that reflect customer profiles and market trends
- Identify and pursue opportunities for in-season buys, replenishments, and discount strategies
Merchandising
- Analyze sales performance, margin, and sell-through data to inform assortment decisions and future planning
- Collaborate with sales to develop compelling product presentations and line sheets for wholesale accounts
- Monitor competitive landscape and retail trends to ensure the assortment remains market-relevant
- Support the development of markdown and promotional strategies to clear slow-moving inventory
- Coordinate product availability timelines with sales to align on delivery windows and launch calendars
Inventory Management
- Develop and manage replenishment strategies for core and continuity programs
- Coordinate with warehouse, logistics, and operations teams to ensure accurate inventory tracking and timely order fulfillment
- Manage transfer order creation and inventory receipt reconciliation in NetSuite, serving as the internal point of accountability for system accuracy across the supply chain
Reporting & Analytics
- Build and maintain weekly, monthly, and seasonal reporting on sell-through, revenue, OTB, and account performance
- Present data-driven insights and recommendations to senior leadership and cross-functional partners
- Develop forecasts and scenario plans to support buying decisions and financial target-setting
- Track KPIs against plan and communicate variances with clear action plans
- Leverage AI and analytics tools (e.g., Excel, Claude) to create scalable reporting frameworks
What Success Looks Like
- Timely and trusted reporting for cross-functional partners who rely on your dashboards and recaps to make decisions
- Clear and proactive communication with cross-functional partners ensuring all teams are aligned on risks, opportunities, and execution priorities
- Forecasts are accurate and inventory receipts align closely with demand, reducing costly surprises
- Buying decisions are data-driven — assortment choices are backed by clear sell-through, margin, and trend analysis
- Cross-functional partners want to work with you — sales, ops, and finance see you as a strategic asset, not just a numbers person
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, Merchandising, or a related field
- 3+ years of experience in wholesale planning, merchandise planning or a related retail planning role
- NetSuite experience along with wholesale order management platforms (e.g., NuOrder)
- Experience managing open-to-buy budgets and working within structured planning cycles
- Strong understanding of in-season inventory management, including sell-through, weeks of supply, and inventory flow
- Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, basic modeling); experience with planning or BI tools a plus
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable insights
- High attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Strong cross-functional communication skills with the ability to partner effectively with Planning, Sales, Operations, Marketing, and Production teams
- Proactive, solution-oriented mindset with a willingness to learn and take ownership
Salary Range $90-100K
Meet Your Recruiter
Karen Cichocki
Karen is the Director of All Things Business Development at Emerging Blue. She loves meeting new people and is passionate about building strong relationships with her clients. Karen thrives on getting to know brands and the passion and story behind each of them.
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