Role Purpose
The Retail Planner is responsible for driving sales, inventory productivity, and profitability through effective merchandise planning, forecasting, inventory management, and replenishment strategies. The role works closely with Buying, Merchandising, Supply Chain, and Retail Operations teams to ensure the right product is available at the right store, at the right time, and in the right quantity.
Key Responsibilities
1. Merchandise & Financial Planning
- Prepare annual, seasonal, and monthly merchandise plans aligned with business objectives.
- Develop category-wise sales, margin, intake, and inventory budgets.
- Drive Open-to-Buy (OTB) planning and manage inventory investments.
- Prepare sales and inventory forecasts based on historical trends and market insights.
- Monitor achievement against plan and recommend corrective actions.
2. Inventory Management
- Optimize inventory levels across categories and stores.
- Monitor stock cover, weeks of supply, and inventory ageing.
- Drive actions to improve inventory productivity and minimize markdowns.
- Ensure healthy stock turns and reduce slow-moving inventory.
- Manage end-of-season inventory and liquidation strategies.
3. Allocation & Replenishment
- Develop store-wise allocation and replenishment strategies.
- Ensure optimum stock availability across all channels and locations.
- Partner with Supply Chain to ensure timely replenishment.
- Monitor stock availability and fill rates across stores and warehouses.
- Drive size and assortment optimization at store level.
4. Business Performance Management
- Analyze category and store performance through key metrics and dashboards.
- Track and review KPIs such as sales, sell-through, gross margin, stock turns, and markdowns.
- Identify business opportunities and recommend interventions to improve performance.
- Conduct weekly and monthly business reviews with cross-functional teams.
5. Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner closely with Buying teams on assortment planning and intake decisions.
- Work with Retail Operations to understand store requirements and business opportunities.
- Coordinate with Supply Chain for inventory movement and stock availability.
- Support Finance with budgeting and forecasting processes.
6. Reporting & Analytics
- Generate regular business reports and management dashboards.
- Conduct demand forecasting and trend analysis.
- Analyze customer, category, and store performance data to support decision-making.
- Provide insights and recommendations to improve sales and profitability.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Sales Achievement vs Plan
- Gross Margin Achievement
- Inventory Turnover
- Sell-Through %
- Stock Availability / Fill Rate
- Weeks of Cover
- Markdown %
- Inventory Ageing
- Forecast Accuracy
- Open-to-Buy Adherence
- Working Capital Efficiency
Educational Qualifications
- Graduate in Business, Commerce, Economics, Mathematics, Statistics, or Engineering.
- MBA/PGDM in Retail, Finance, or Supply Chain preferred.
Experience
- 3–8 years of experience in Merchandise Planning, Retail Planning, Demand Planning, or Inventory Management.
- Experience in Fashion, Kids, Apparel, Lifestyle, or Specialty Retail preferred.
- Strong understanding of retail metrics and inventory planning principles.
Key Competencies
- Merchandise Planning & Forecasting
- Financial Acumen
- Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills
- Inventory Management
- Advanced Excel and Data Analytics
- Commercial Understanding
- Attention to Detail
- Stakeholder Management
- Business Planning
- Communication & Presentation Skills
- Ability to work in a fast-paced retail environment.
