Assistant Planner

Welcome to the Toys R Us world of awwwesome, where we want your little one’s imaginations to run free! Toys R Us and Babies R Us are well established international brands. Commonly referred to as the “World’s Greatest Toy Stores”, Toys R Us SA currently boasts 50 physical stores, three of which are located in Namibia, Botswana and Zambia, as well as an ALL NEW AWWWESOME online store.

The key focus of the group is to ensure that customers, young and old, from children to grandparents, are offered an amazing range and experience, complimented by great value! Are you a dynamic, energetic and passionate individual?

We are looking for an Assistant Planner for our Durban based
Head Office
,who would like to join our amazing team!!

The Assistant Merchandise Planner develops, maintains, analyzes and executes category level item plans for one or more departments. The Planner is also responsible for store allocations and works directly with Buyer and Merchandise & Planning Manager to achieve strategic goals. The position works directly with suppliers to exchange orders, sales data and item availability information. Manage, train and monitor the Orders Clerks.

• Strong analytical and financial skills
• High attention to detail
• Inventory management
• Sales planning
• Forecasting
• Expert level skills in retail merchandising tools and Microsoft tools/applications such as Excel and Outlook
• Must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Proven ability to work with all levels within an organization
• Replenishment system
• Able to interpret numerical data, form conclusions and make quick decisions based on this
• Able to multi-task and prioritise time/workload effectively
• Highly driven, motivated and confident with a diverse range of people
• Imaginative and creative in identifying workable solutions
• Taking responsibility for development and have a hunger for autonomy and accountability
• Passionate about retail with a desire to progress through to Buyer and beyond

Job description

• Develop and maintain item sales and inventory plans
• Overall management and utilization of inventory procurement plan
• Develop item unit plan using the replenishment system software
• Develop inventory plan by week by chain.
• Recommend changes to assortment, markdowns, markups, and to promote items based on current rate of sales and go forward plans
• Track weekly sales performance and make adjustments to sales, forecast receipts and markdowns as needed
• Review item plans (forecasted sales and inventory) with Buyers and suppliers to ensure product availability
• Communicate inventory concerns for promotional and inline sales through the proper communication vehicles.
• Work with Buyers to develop consensus on forecast sales
• Provide Buyers with promotional forecast for input into ROI and marketing submissions

• Order and manage inventory investments according to OTB and to ensure the right product arrives in the right location in the right quantity at the right time
• Analyze and determine allocation methods for items (Supplier to DC or Direct to Store), based on range profile, store profile and ranking
• Analyze, determine and execute initial orders for new items to include quantity and timing
• Utilizing the ordering, replenishment and inventory procurement plans, review, maintain and execute vendor orders to ensure proper flow of product from supplier to all stores/DC, within given Open To Buy, Weeks Of Supply, and in stock goals
• Works directly with suppliers sharing orders, information on sales plans, performance metrics, and gathering data on item availability
• Maintain the supplier/category ordering calendar to optimize inbound flow of goods.
• Analyze store and DC inventory and in-stocks to ensure appropriate store replenishment; execute changes either manually or utilizing allocation tools
• Collaborate with stores and marketing team to develop specific allocation segmentations, support critical roto and Key Item processes, and store specific merchandise requests
• Collaborates with Sales and Operation Team to address supply chain and system issues
• Collaborates with Logistics Team to ensure proper prioritization of hot/ needed…