Merchandise Planner

About us

Our founder, Lena Bryant didn't set out to change fashion forever, but that's exactly what she did. 120 years later, Lane Bryant remains the iconic plus-size brand. Empowering women is kind of our thing. Our inclusive community of customers and associates champions the acceptance of all sizes, shapes, and people. If you believe in the power of clothes to create confidence and empower self-expression, you'll be at home here.

About the role

Accountable for the pro-active management running of the business, by channel, pre-season and in-season. Ensuring effective inventory management, in total and across channels, to maximize sales and margin.

The impact you can have

Development of pre-season/in-season plans:

• Translation of merchant assortment strategies into plans at a subclass/week level that will achieve financial targets

• Understanding of marketing calendar and impact to financial architecture

• Assessment of past seasons and results providing insight to future plan development and recommendations in concert with merchandising partners

• Identifies and reacts to opportunities to increase sales, improve margin, optimize inventories, and decrease markdowns and updates plans accordingly

• Performs analytics to uncover opportunities and deliver insights

Pro-active management of inventory, on order positions and margin results:

• Manage and evaluate inventory positions, to ensure inventory levels optimize sales and margin and improve inventory productivity, including markdown management.

• Partner with allocation on store and channel plans and allocation strategies

Accountable for managing day-to-day running of the business and meeting deadlines:

• Provides cross-functional partners with scenarios that quantify upside opportunities and risks and has the ability to make compelling and persuasive cases for proposals that are grounded in sound facts or assumptions

• Anticipates potential obstacles and works with cross-functional partners to establish contingency plans

• Presents financial information in a concise, clear and confident manner in support of the needs of the business

• Synthesizes large, complex data sets into major points and issues that readily facilitate decision-making.

• Continually examines product successes and failures to extract key lessons

You’ll bring to the role

• Minimum of 2-4 years in retail as a merchandise planner, allocation, financial analyst, or buyer experience a plus in addition to merchandise planning.

• Customer-centric focus with understanding of customer needs and ability to understand market trends

• Ability to build strong relationships with a diverse group of cross functional partners, and cascade the proper level of information to support decision making.

• Undergraduate degree in finance, economics, accounting, business or related field

• Good systems skills with experience in managing and reporting data in such environments as Excel, Arthur Planning, Data Warehouse, etc.

• Key skills: Strong analytical ability, financial acumen, business influence and communication, change agility

Benefits

• You will be eligible to receive a merchandise discount at select KnitWell Group brands, subject to each brand’s discount policies.

• Support for your individual development plus opportunities for career mobility within our family of brands.

• A culture of giving back – local volunteer opportunities, annual donation and volunteer match to eligible nonprofit organizations, and philanthropic activities to support our communities.*

• Medical, dental, vision insurance & 401(K).*

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

• Time off – paid time off & holidays.*

• Any job offer will consider factors such your qualifications, relevant experience, and skills. Eligibility of certain benefits and associate programs are subject to employment type and role.

• Hybrid: This position works in a hybrid model, with required days worked in the Lane Bryant office location in New Albany, OH as defined by business needs.

Applicants to this position must be authorized to work for any employer in the US without sponsorship. We are not providing sponsorship for this position.

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Location:

LB OH Corp Office-LaneBryant-New Albany, OH 43054

Position Type:

Regular/Full time

Equal Employment Opportunity
The Company is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from diverse candidates. Hiring decisions are based upon a candidate's qualifications as they relate to the requirements of the position under consideration and are made without regard to sex (including pregnancy), race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, genetic information, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other category protected by applicable law. The Company is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for job applicants with disabilities. If you require an accommodation to perform the essential duties of the position you are seeking or to participate in the application process, please contact [email protected]. The Company will make reasonable accommodations for otherwise qualified applicants or employees, unless such accommodations would impose an undue hardship on the operations of the Company’s business. The Company will not revoke or alter a job offer based on an applicant’s request for reasonable accommodation.