Merchandise Planner

**Merchandise Planner**

We are Strand. The unshakeable **House of Fashion and Travel**, going places since 1927. We are doers; creators, innovators, and curators of new beginnings.

Formerly known as Strandbags, we are Australia’s leading handbag and luggage retailer with a fast-evolving network of 260+ stores - and this is only the beginning. Through innovation and a first-movers approach, we are shaping a global company that drives innovation and opportunities.

Our unique team has a rich history of experiences that make up who we are today. We are a collective of experts who are constantly evolving, soaring out of our comfort zone, and have a thirst to engage and inspire people with the stories, initiatives, and direction that bring out the best in themselves and others.

Your role will be to plan, develop and implement ‘best practice’ merchandise planning procedures to support the future growth of the business. You will provide analytical support to the buying function, ensuring accurate statistical analysis and advice in order to deliver the budgeted sales, gross profit and return on inventory investment for the designated product category.

**Key responsibilities of this role will include**:

- Analysing historical information, developing seasonal category plans, identifying market opportunities to drive growth and determine product sales mix, stocks levels, retail prices and margins.
- Preparing and maintaining store grading plans across all distribution channels based on display capacity, customer demographic and historical or current trend sales data.
- Managing the Open-to-Buy process for the designated product category.
- Monitoring in-season trading performance data, proposing price markdowns/discounts or additional promotional and marketing activity to maximize retained margins.
- Determining the allocation of new product lines, driving replenishment by predicting future rates of sale and identifying new store opening packages based on sales expectation, store profile and market demographic.
- Managing the set-up and execution of all promotional events/marketing campaigns against key critical path deadlines to ensure launch dates are met.
- Analysing data and providing accurate statistical information to internal customers.
- Attending weekly meetings with senior management, highlighting current trading performance and proposing actions required to deliver the strategic objectives.
- Visiting retail stores to support their objectives and provide advice any issues relating to sales or range policy.

**About you**:

- Extensive Merchandise Planning experience in a fashion apparel or accessories retailer
- Strong retail and commercial acumen
- Strong analytical and numerical skills with high attention to detail
- Proven experience achieving sales, profit and margin goals
- Good understanding of trends within the industry
- Customer-centric focus
- Initiative to recognise and identify potential problems early and implement solutions
- Ability to build relationships and partner with stakeholders at all levels, with strong communication skills, both written and verbal
- Deadline-driven and results-focused
- Advanced level Excel skills

**If you want to join a strong team culture that is passionate about what we do, then look no further. With a modern office in Pyrmont, there is no better time than now to join a strong and expanding business.**

Pay: $70,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year

Work Authorisation:

- Australia (required)

Work Location: In person