Merchandising Planning Manager

Role Purpose:

Drive regional business performance by owning location-level planning, stock optimization and space management across the region’s store network. Build strong relationships with retail teams to translate on-the-ground insight into actionable plans. Work closely with the Planner, Allocation, Merchandising and Regional teams to create comprehensive store-level plans that maximize sales, profitability and inventory efficiency.

Key Accountabilities:

Location Planning and Budgeting

• Own location-level planning in the planning tool to meet topline KPIs set by regional leadership team
• Create, maintain and update stretch store-level sales plans aligned with retail targets
• Input daily sales phasing into planning tool aligning with company and regional calendars
• Share retail strategies with Planner to create collaborative Building Blocks
• Contribute market-level insights to seasonal and longer-term strategic planning, including input on store expansion, relocation and closure decisions

Trade and Store Optimization

• Review weekly store performance, identifying challenges and opportunities with emphasis on timely resolution
• Creating action plans for focus stores, tracking outcomes and delivering results to the wider teams
• Create and maintain comprehensive store-level calendars tracking events, holidays, weather and local factors that affect sales performance
• Conduct regular market visits to identify opportunities, validate plans and strengthen retail relationships
• Summaries in-market feedback for Region and Global teams, ensuring local insight informs central strategy
• Drive frequent and open communication with Area Managers and store management teams
• Track and report on store-level KPIs including sales vs plan, sell-through, stock cover, availability, sales density and forecast accuracy
• Identify process improvements and efficiencies in branch planning workflows, tools and reporting

Stock Optimization and Inventory Management

• Own the replenishment template strategy ensuring that they are flexed in accordance with seasonal demands.
• Managing execution of templates by Allocator
• Identify and recommend opportunities to the Allocator to improve sales performance through stock rebalancing, consolidation and transfers
• Share templates with central planning partners to ensure item forecasts reflect store & Ecom needs
• Partner with Ecom team to review templates to capture gross demand & optimizing fulfil from store rates
• Monitor inventory levels at store level, reviewing stock cover, sell-through & capacities to flag risks and opportunities
• Drive the stock planning requirements for new store openings, store events, capsules and pop-ups, sharing plans with the wider team
• Oversee the intake process to ensure timely delivery of seasonal buys and manage ad hoc delivery needs with customer services
• Participate in S&OE meetings to provide insights into stock management
• Feed into DC long range distribution plans reflecting regional inventory strategies

Markdowns and Promotions

• Manage markdown, promotion and end-of-season activity
• Identify where targeted promotions or markdowns are needed within the outlet channel to liquidate stocks, with knowledge of promotional levers and expected results
• Manage regional end of life activities e.g. sample sales
• Ensure markdown strategies align with store needs and that inventory is proactively managed
• Execution of optimal stock flows between full-price and outlet

Space and Capacity Management

• Work with the Retail team to understand each store’s individual capacity, fixture layout and space constraints
• Identify upsides from space changes and feed back to the Planner to guide future range plans
• Analyze sales density by department to ensure space allocation is aligned with commercial performance. Maintain and refine store profiles
• Support store refit, remodel and visual merchandising changes with planning input on stock impact and capacity requirements

Sizing

• Oversee the sizing strategy for seasonal buys, incorporating changing market and client profile needs
• Analyze size selling profiles by store and region.

Qualification/Education

• Graduate calibre individual

Experience Required

• 5 years merchandising planning experience within a fashion retail background, preferably within a luxury brand

Particular skills/knowledge required

• Advanced Excel skills essential, with the ability to handle large data sets
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills with exceptional reporting capabilities and attention to detail
• Commercial awareness to maximize sales and profit opportunities
• Knowledge of supply chain processes, particularly replenishment systems
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels

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The Company is an equal employment opportunity employer. The Company’s policy is not to unlawfully discriminate against any applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age, military status, disability, genetic information or any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state, or local laws. The Company also prohibits harassment of applicants and employees based on any of these protected categories.

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At Capri Holdings Limited, we are committed to providing a fair and accessible recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation for the interview or application process, please contact our Talent Acquisition team at [email protected].