Planner & Merchandiser – Sports Apparel & Footwear

Job Summary

The Planner & Merchandiser is responsible for planning, selection, pricing and managing product assortments across sports apparel and footwear categories. The role drives sales growth through strategic buying, pricing decisions, inventory management, and demand forecasting, while building strong relationships with global sports brand partners.

Key Responsibilities

Buying & Assortment Planning

•     Develop seasonal buying plans for apparel and footwear categories aligned to brand strategy.

•     OTB Planning and Execution for the Season & Placement of Orders with Brand

•     Curate product assortments balancing performance, lifestyle, and trend-driven styles.

•     Review upcoming brand collections and secure key styles for the market.

Vendor & Brand Management

•     Maintain and grow relationships with global brand partners.

•     Negotiate order quantities, pricing, and delivery timelines.

•     Participate in seasonal line reviews, brand meetings, and product presentations.

Inventory & Demand Planning

•     Monitor stock levels to minimise overstock and stockouts.

•     Track sell-through rates and manage replenishment orders proactively.

•     Pricing for BAU & EOSS

•     Ensure key products and sizes are available during peak selling periods.

Sales & Performance Analysis

•     Analyse sales data by SKU, division, and channel to guide buying decisions.

•     Active Tracking of Best Sellers, Product Franchisee and Promotional Events.

•     Adjust assortments and promotions based on ongoing performance insights.

Merchandising & Product Launches

•     Coordinate with marketing, channel, and brand teams to support product launches.

•     Ensure correct pricing, placement, and merchandising across e-commerce platforms.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

•     Liaise with supply chain and logistics to ensure on-time product delivery.

•     Align purchasing plans with finance and planning teams within approved budgets.

•     Gather customer and market insights from channel and e-commerce partners.

Qualifications & Experience

•     Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Fashion Merchandising, Retail Management, or related field.

•     4–7 years of experience in buying, merchandising, or retail planning (apparel or footwear preferred).

•     Prior exposure to global sports or lifestyle brands is a strong advantage.

•     Proficiency in Excel or merchandising planning tools; strong analytical mindset.

Key Skills

Merchandise planning & assortment strategy

Sales & margin analysis

Inventory & demand management

Negotiation & communication

Vendor & brand relationship management

Trend & market analysis

 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)KPI

Measurement Focus

Sales Growth

By category – Apparel & Footwear

GTM (Go to Market Process)

OTB Planning, Sales & Stock Plan & Placement of Orders

Sell-Through Rate

Seasonal collections

Gross Margin

Event/Promotion Planning & Pricing by category & channel

Inventory Turnover

Stock availability rate

Markdown %

Below target threshold

On-Time Availability

New launch readiness, PO Execution as per buy plan