A Merchandiser assists with marketing or promoting merchandise in a retail store. Advises on trends and styles; designs and creates merchandise displays in a store, to generate or improve customer sales. Works with sales associates, merchandise managers and product vendors. Monitors customer preferences and sales data.
Temporary/Contract About the Opportunity We are seeking an analytical and detail-oriented Merchandise Planning Analyst to support merchandise planning, inventory management, and financial analysis for a leading consumer products organization. This is an excellent opportunity for an entry-level or early-career professional looking to build experience in merchandise planning and retail analytics. Working under the guidance of the Planning Manager, this individual will analyze product performance, support assortment and inventory decisions, and partner cross-functionally to help drive sales, profitability, and operational effectiveness. Key Responsibilities Business & Financial Planning Support the development of revenue benchmarks aligned with sales and profitability goals Analyze performance against plan to help inform future assortment, inventory, and replenishment decisions Assist with ongoing business reporting, hindsight analysis, and forward-looking projections Identify trends, risks, and opportunities through data analysis Inventory & Assortment Planning Analyze SKU and category productivity to support assortment decisions Monitor inventory health and help maintain an appropriate balance of supply and demand Support product lifecycle and assortment planning initiatives Assist with inventory optimization across categories and locations In-Season Business Management Monitor weekly product and sales performance to identify opportunities and potential risks Support product launches and merchandise initiatives across channels Identify opportunities to maximize in-season sales and minimize inventory liability Assist with adjustments based on changing business needs and product performance Pricing & Promotions Analyze pricing, promotional, and markdown opportunities Provide data-driven insights to help improve sell-through and overall sales performance Support promotional effectiveness analysis Cross-Functional Support Partner closely with Merchandising and Location Planning teams Support the Location Assortment Planning (LAP) process Communicate purchase order changes, including delays, cancellations, and shifts, to appropriate partners Help ensure alignment around assortment plans, location metrics, inventory, and buying strategies Qualifications Bachelor's degree preferred, or equivalent relevant experience Internship or previous experience in retail, merchandising, merchandise planning, finance, inventory, analytics, or a related field preferred Strong analytical and problem-solving skills Proficiency in Microsoft Excel Comfortable working with large datasets and translating information into actionable insights Strong attention to detail and organizational skills Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment Excellent written and verbal communication skills Collaborative and comfortable partnering across multiple teams Preferred Experience Exposure to inventory management, assortment planning, financial forecasting, or merchandise planning Understanding of retail KPIs such as sales, margin, inventory turn, and sell-through Experience with planning or reporting systems such as MFP, LAP, Flex PLM, Business Insights, Oracle, or similar platforms Experience analyzing product or business performance Consumer products or retail industry exposure is a plus Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate is analytical, organized, curious, and eager to grow within merchandise planning . You do not need to have extensive planning experience to be considered. We are looking for someone with strong foundational analytical skills who can learn quickly, execute accurately, and effectively collaborate with cross-functional partners. This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience in merchandise planning, inventory optimization, financial analysis, assortment strategy, and retail business performance within a fast-paced consumer products environment.
