Merchandise Planner, Nylon/Folk at Guitar Center

The Merchandise Planner leads the financial and inventory strategy for a category or set of subcategories, in collaboration with the category managers, across all channels and brands. The Planner ensures that item level forecasts and supply strategies drive sales, margin and turn to meet financial goals. The Planner manages an inventory analyst and builds entry level talent to become future leaders. They will be a student of their business looking to maximize opportunities, manage product life cycle in conjunction with merchants to avoid aging and liable product. They will ensure best in class in-stocks online and in store and will perform regular SKU rationalization. They will monitor order flow to stay on time and on budget. They will be critical to the Open to Buy process.

Responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to the following:

• Reviews item level forecasts and order proposals to drive sales and GMROI
• Control purchase order activity to maximize sales and stay on budget
• Collaborate with merchants to drive key market share events and promotions across channels with accurate sales and supply forecasts.
• Provides roll up of forecasts and purchases to contribute to in season planning process and the open to buy.
• Creates Omni channel strategy to drive sales, margin and turn for a complex retailer with stores, multiple websites and call centers for subcategories and key items.
• Maintains the planning system with accurate parameters to improve forecast accuracy, receipt flow and performance of algorithms.
• Manages and develops Inventory Analyst to resolve purchase order dates, shortages, overages and problem shipment resolution and e-commerce backorders. Prepares them for future career at GC.
• Supports Director of planning in building assortment parameters for a subcategory to balance customer needs by segment, price point and ensuring powerful presentations.
• Additional duties as assigned.