Job Purpose:

The Assistant Manager – Merchandise & Retail Planning will support the planning, execution, and optimization of merchandise strategies to drive sales, improve inventory efficiency, and enhance in-store presentation. The role focuses on assortment planning, inventory management, sales monitoring, visual merchandising coordination, and vendor liaison to ensure optimal store performance across retail locations.

Key Responsibilities:

Merchandise & Assortment Planning

• Support assortment planning aligned with brand strategy, seasonal trends, and customer demand.
• Assist in buying support activities including product selection, range planning, and quantity forecasting.
• Ensure balanced product mix across categories, price points, and store formats.

Inventory Planning & Stock Allocation

• Plan and monitor inventory levels to achieve optimal stock availability and turnover.
• Execute store-wise stock allocation and replenishment based on sales performance and demand trends.
• Minimize stock-outs and overstock situations through proactive planning.

Sales Monitoring & Reporting

• Prepare and analyze daily sales reports and performance dashboards.
• Track sell-through, stock cover, aging inventory, and markdown effectiveness.
• Provide actionable insights and recommendations to improve sales and margins.

Visual Merchandising Coordination

• Coordinate with visual merchandising teams to ensure consistent and effective in-store presentation.
• Support implementation of VM guidelines to enhance customer experience and drive conversions.
• Monitor store-level VM execution and suggest improvements where required.

Vendor Coordination & Buying Support

• Liaise with vendors on order placement, delivery schedules, and timely replenishments.
• Track purchase orders and follow up on deliveries to ensure on-time availability of merchandise.
• Support negotiations and vendor performance evaluations.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with sales, retail operations, warehouse, and finance teams to align merchandise plans.
• Support promotional planning and markdown strategies in coordination with stakeholders.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelors or Masters degree in Fashion, Retail Management, Merchandising, or a related field.
• Minimum 5+ years of experience in merchandise planning, retail planning, or buying support.
• Strong understanding of retail KPIs including sell-through, stock turn, GMROI, and inventory aging.
• Experience working with ERP or retail planning systems is an added advantage.