Responsible to project open to buy sales, markdowns and inventory at the department and class level. Identify risks and opportunities and communicate recommendations to merchant partners as well as management. Responsible for the successful development, execution and communication of stores and e-commerce financial plans for assigned areas of business. Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with the allocation and merchant teams. Provide support to Senior Planner, Planner and merchant team. Provide support to merchant and planning team in development of assortment plans.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: • Maintain weekly open to buy for assigned area of business to identify risks and opportunities by class
o Project sales, markdowns and inventory
o Manage receipt flow
o Present open to buy to management monthly
o Develop markdown criteria • Project e-commerce sales and markdowns for the division
o Analyze lost sales
o Provide merchant team with buy recommendations
o Evaluate e-commerce performance class and make recommendations to the merchant team • Develop pre-season stores and e-commerce financial plans
o Create month to month plans for stores and e-commerce at the class level
o Partner with Senior Planner to develop style counts by department • Quarterly Analysis and Hindsight
o Provide quantitative analysis to teams for hindsight and strategy meetings
o Analyze size selling for stores and e-commerce utilizing lost sales by size
o Participate in hindsight and strategy meetings with merchant team and management • Develop the forecasts and recommendations for replenishment items • Develop sales and inventory plans for key volume drivers • Participate in assortment planning process
o Ensure departmental strategies are being executed
o Partner with merchant team on the breadth and depth of the assortment • Work with planning team on special projects and analyses • Develop and maintain relationships with cross functional teams
QUALIFICATIONS:
EDUCATION:
Bachelor degree required. Fashion Retailing or Business degree a plus
WORK EXPERIENCE:
2+ years experience in Merchandise Planning/Allocation.
Previous retail experience required
The Cato Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, age, sex (including pregnancy), gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.