Merchandise Planner

Location: Street ( On-Site)

Contract: Maternity Cover Fixed Term 1 year

About The Role

The role of Merchandise Planner is to produce an accurate demand forecast for all Clarks owned points of purchase for a given gender across retail, digital and (where applicable) outlet, and use systems to manage the allocation and replenishment of stock from the Distribution Centre, in order to ensure the right product is delivered to the right place at the right time and stock levels are optimised. Review and update forecasts in response to sales, lost sales, promotions and commercial plans to provide an accurate make signal to Supply Chain. Manage stock through the end to end Supply Chain process based on the consensus forecast, ensuring plans can be delivered within the constraints of the regional supply chain including Distribution Centre capacity, store delivery schedules and lead times.

• Produce and maintain long term (pre-season) and short term (in-season) forecasts to enable Merchandising and Supply Chain to get the right product the right place at the right time. Set the time and size profiles at line, category and gender level for feed-in to the seasonal forecasting process (make and sales).
• Feed-in to seasonal assortment plan the recommended initial allocation v replen profile.
• Work collaboratively with Merchandise to deliver forecasts that meet commercial requirements, including like-for-like matches for new products, planned promotions, store openings/closures, and unplanned events. Set the seasonal assortment and allocation plan in demand & fulfilment aligned to the merchandising assortment plan and trading plan – challenge any discrepancies to merchandising and align to ensure accuracy.
• Optimise the store level profiles and overall size/time phase profile in response to trading pattern. Regularly check and monitor sales, react accordingly to ensure new product forecasts align with Merchandisers plans. Manage start of season launch of new product into stores in conjunction with Supply Chain and Merchandising planning team to ensure accurate on time delivery.
• Maintain forecast accuracy and continuously review to improve accuracy and maintain correct stock levels. Review forecast accuracy exception reports by channel to determine root causes, fix and tune largest error/volume lines and react to large changes.
• Ensure stock allocation happens in line with plan.
• Optimise in-season profiles to optimise availability and respond to changes in the trading plan. Optimise stock distribution in-season - execute settings and parameters in JDA Fulfilment system to optimise stock distribution in line with the strategy and the forecast in JDA Demand. Manage through any changes to Demand & Fulfilment profiles as a result of assortment plan changes or recall activity. Respond to ad hoc requests to adjust profiles on a weekly basis – evaluating impact to inventory position, cover and executing where required.
• Liaise with Supply Chain on weekly basis to support accurate planning of distribution centres, stores and logistics. Escalate issues with product set up such as incorrect assortment with the relevant business teams for resolution. Manage end of life markdowns and effective distribution of stock to stores to enable the agreed exit strategy through dynamic allocation

Skills

About you:

• Highly developed numerical, analytical and interpretive skills.
• Ability to use analytics tools, e.g. SQL, databases, BI, Excel to perform analysis.
• Experience with allocation and replenishment systems preferred.
• Strong interpersonal/ communication skills with ability to initiate and build strong relationships with key teams across functions.
• Very high attention to detail with ability to spot issues and exceptions when reviewing data.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of the merchandise planning process.
• Knowledge of demand forecasting methods and inventory concepts preferred.

Experience

• Good commercial skills and judgement.
• Experience and/or good understanding of retail.
• Proactive and resilient with ability to prioritise and manage own workload.
• Experience of working proactively.
• Ability to influence and collaborate with other teams.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary
• Flexible working options
• Career development and progression opportunities
• Supportive and collaborative culture
• Comprehensive benefits package

Why join us?

At Clarks, you’ll be part of a brand with heritage, craftsmanship, and style at its core. We offer great training, career progression, and the chance to make your mark in a global business.

About Clarks

Clarks, based in Somerset, England, has been at the forefront of innovative shoemaking since its foundation in 1825 when brothers James and Cyrus Clark made a slipper from sheepskin off-cuts. At the time, it was ground-breaking: a combination of invention and craftsmanship that has remained at the heart of what the brand does now. In the Clarks archive, more than 22,000 pairs of shoes have sparked revolutions and defined generations. From the original Clarks Desert Boot, first designed by Nathan Clark and launched in 1950, to the iconic Wallabee, each design has an instantly recognisable signature that makes it unmistakably Clarks.

Disclaimer

This document describes the general nature and level of work only. It is not designed to cover an exhaustive list of all skills, activities, duties, responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Other activities, duties, and responsibilities may be added at any time. This description may be changed at the company’s discretion at any time, with or without notice.

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