To strengthen our Team for our Southern European Sales Region, we are looking for an eager and enthusiastic Merchandise Planner in a fashion growing reality in Milan.
Our Southern European sales region consist of the countries Italy, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium and Malta, with its HQ in Milan.
The Merchandise Planner is providing support for the planning and forecasting processes for the brand business to ensure company financial objectives are achieved. This position will provide strategic and analytical support to merchandising through all phases of product life cycle (pre-season and in season) and will collaborate with cross functional business stakeholders to ensure sales, gross margin, and key investment goals are achieved.
General Responsibilities
- Partner with product merchandisers and participate in collection briefing
- Analyse product and collection performance and give input on collection evolution and/or in-season actions to drive better sales
- Coordinate with the Product Merchandiser the EOS Process.
- Work closely with the subregional allocator to guarantee the correct coverage and maximize Sales and ST% in our Retail Channel.
The key responsibilities of the Merchandiser Planner are:
Collection Performance and Stock Control – 80%
- Work directly with South European stakeholders for weekly checking and reporting
- Stock ownership tasks
- Provide sell in and sell out data on ongoing and past seasons.
- cooperate with the South Merchandiser in the Forecasting and Buying activities for both Channel Wholesale and Retail.
- Provide market reports
- Feedback to the product team on SKU performance
- Feedback on size splits in the markets
- Give input on current store grading to optimize cross docks to stores (main orders)
- Periodical meeting with the south merchandiser to align on activities
- Periodical meeting with the Commercial team to provide analysis and reports
Allocation – 20%
- Coordinate Efficient movement of stock between stores to constantly optimize sell through
- Coordinating returns by the end of season to the South warehouse and stock movements to the outlet.
- Analysing sold products and Stock levels in all stores.
Consolidation of in season stock Requirements
- Bachelor degree in Marketing or Media Management or equivalent
- Proficiency in Office Suite (Excel and Power Point mandatory)
- Strong analytical /data interpretation skills
- Strong communication skills (both verbal and written)
- Sound understanding of marketing principles & concepts
- Ability to implement the latest technologies & innovations within marketing
- Ability to multi-task, work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
- Communication skills
- Copywriting skills
- Creativity
- Pro-activeness
- Service orientation
- Budget sensitivity
- Accountability
- Reliability
- Initiative, energy, proactivity, “agility” and teamworking
- Independent, confident and with a positive energy
- Team player
Education
- Degree or equivalent working experience
- Experience from the fashion industry is preferred, but not mandatory
Experience
- Minimum of 1 years of working experience within a Merchandising role (preferably in an international retail organization)
- Experience with SAP
- Experience with Microsoft Excel
Mobility/Travel
Languages:
English (mandatory): fluent written and spoken
Italian (mandatory): fluent written and spoken (near native)
French (preferred): advanced written and spoken
Spanish (preferred): basic written and spoken
Optional competencies
- International approach
- Problem solving & decision driven
- Supportive & proactive
- Working in a changing environment
- Analytical approach and fact driven
- Strong communication skills and interaction with multiple stakeholders and nationalities
- Ability to manage self in demanding environment
- High attention to detail
- Capable of working under pressure in a fast-paced industry
- Team player