Merchandise Planner

Company Description

About Skechers

A multi-billion-dollar, award-winning global brand, Skechers designs and develops lifestyle and performance product known for style, innovation, quality and comfort.

With international business representing more than half of its total sales, Skechers has product available in more than 170 countries and significant opportunities for continued expansion worldwide.

Job Description:

We are looking for an Established Merchandise Planner who is a friendly, driven, and motivated individual who wants to grow, innovate, and achieve with us.

We require a creative problem solver, who has strong analytical skills and is commercially astute.

Our Merchandise Planner's main duties and responsibilities will consist of but are not limited to:

• Analyse product history and trends, strategise and react, based on the findings from company generated reports to drive sales.
• Provide guidance and vision to the allocations team that reflects the desired assortments in all store types.
• Participate in the effective management of the localisation of merchandise from the Distribution Centre (DC) promptly, accounting for product sensitivities.
• Assist in identifying business opportunities and risks inseason by analysing sales performance and gathering marketplace bench marks.
• Assist in assortment plans tailored to the European market by driving sales based on store volume, SKU count capabilities, and store capacities to ensure appropriate depth is achieved by store volume and size.
• Develop knowledge & analysis of UK & Europe markets to an expert level and impart knowledge where needed. Understand local market holidays and their merchandising implications and product depth during these peak periods.
• Effectively achieve company sales plans by consistently reviewing and editing product assortments within the DCs and stores on a weekly basis.
• Understand the Global Business markdown and promo cadences and modify them as appropriate for European locations.
• Identify, develop, and manage an assortment of new and core product ownership in the Belgium/UK distribution centre warehouse to fulfil store replenishment.
• Awareness of the business topline strategy and how this impacts the UK European Business
• Provide our Buyers with direction to assist them in creating assortment plans for all new stores.
• Understand which products have been identified to be advertised in mailers by the domestic brand merchants.
• Partner with Planning to ensure appropriate product distribution sales goals for European business.
• Participate in the management of OTB (open to buy) established by Planning by influencing quantities to order by style, colour, and size for European locations.
• Conduct deep dive analysis to support buyers' knowledge of markets to better improve future ranges and assortments.
• Analyse store performance and work with the store teams to optimise performance by adjusting the product and space mixes to suit local customer needs.
• Collaborate with the US Buying & Planning teams and UK Visual & Marketing, Retail & Allocations teams.

Core skills as a Merchandise Planner

You will have proven experience as a Merchandiser with solid project management experience and the flexibility to adapt to change.

In addition, you will need to demonstrate the skills/experience below:

• Possess the strong ability to understand and act upon financial retail indicators such as sales, inventory productivity and sellthrough
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and manage time.
• Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills as you will be working cross functionally and with teams based in the USA, Europe and UK.
• Strong computer skills, must be proficient in Microsoft Excel for reporting and analysis.
• Detailed oriented with the ability to multitask in a fastpaced environment.
• Selfstarter with a high level of initiative and a strong sense of ownership and urgency.
• Ability to work crossfunctionally and develop relationships.
• Highly collaborative and able to operate at all levels, internally and externally.
• This role will involve international and domestic travel throughout the UK, Europe and the US.
• Previous experience at Merchandiser level is essential.

What you'll get

• Full Time permanent role working Monday
• Friday
• Competitive Salary
• Free onsite parking
• 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays)
• Product discount
• Group Personal Pension
• Group Income Protection
• Group Life Assurance
• Employee Assistant Programme

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities or health conditions, who are otherwise qualified for the job position, to perform the essential functions as detailed above.

• We are an equal opportunity employer and are fully committed to a policy of treating all our employees and job applicants equally and avoiding discrimination at work._

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