Merchandise Planner

Company Overview:

Surf Style Retail Management, Inc. is a prominent chain of beachwear and souvenir retail outlets located in the Southeastern United States. Established in 1990, we have evolved from manufacturing apparel to becoming one of the fastest-growing retail chains in the sector.

Our headquarters is situated in Hollywood, FL, and our stores are known for offering quality products at competitive prices, ensuring a delightful shopping experience for our customers. While we primarily serve tourists, we are committed to exceptional customer service, fostering loyalty among our clientele.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a Retail Planner who will play a crucial role in supporting the Planning and Buying Teams. This position is responsible for developing merchandise assortments, regional/category strategies, and financial plans that align with our sales and profit goals. The Planner will oversee the product assortment development, financial planning, and inventory management for each product category.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with Buyers and DMM to formulate and establish financial plans at various levels, including department and category.
• Conduct open-to-buy forecasting for sales, inventory, margins, and profitability.
• Optimize performance metrics related to sales, profitability, and inventory turnover while managing risks.
• Work alongside Buyers to create merchandise assortments and strategies that enhance sales, profit, and inventory efficiency.
• Coordinate with Buyers to develop and assess merchandise assortments by department and category.
• Lead in-season assortment management, including SKU management, forecasting, and analysis to respond swiftly to market trends.
• Engage with stores, buying teams, and District Managers to implement effective assortment, forecasting, and replenishment strategies.
• Perform regular and ad hoc merchandise analyses, recommending timely actions based on product performance.
• Assist in developing future forecasts by analyzing sales data and ideal stock levels for key categories.
• Support the hiring, training, coaching, and performance evaluations of Assistant Planners.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in retail planning, buying, or category management.
• Bachelor's degree in retail, business, or finance is preferred.
• Proficient in open-to-buy management and forecasting.
• Strong business acumen with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated problem-solving and analytical capabilities.
• Comprehensive understanding of retail and merchandising principles.
• Able to thrive in a fast-paced team environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and other related applications.
• Experience with budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Ability to build credibility and foster relationships across teams.
• In-depth knowledge of the retail industry, customer preferences, and emerging trends.
• Highly analytical, skilled in transforming raw data into actionable insights.
• Exceptional organizational skills with a focus on best practices.
• Capable of prioritizing tasks and executing them effectively in a dynamic environment.

Travel Requirements:

This role may require regular travel to retail locations across various states as business needs dictate.

Ideal Candidate:

The successful candidate will possess a strong affinity for data analysis and a passion for the retail sector, thriving in a dynamic environment and adapting to changing priorities.

Benefits:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance.
• Supplemental Insurance options.
• Paid Vacation, Sick Leave, and Holidays.
• 401k Plan with Company Match.
• Employee Discounts in stores.