Merchandise Planner

Category Management Planner

The Category Management Planner is a key business partner with the Category Manager and Category Director (CM/CD) to ensure achievement of department goals in terms of sales, gross margin, and inventory.

• Provide CD/CM with analysis and recommendation to optimize sales, margin, and inventory, in-season recommendations to optimize seasonal plans
• Ensure corporate inventory initiatives are included in department strategies
• Optimize seasonal inventory flow
• In-season management and execution of basic assortment exit strategies for resets
• Partner with Financial Planner to develop and execute SKU rationalization goals

• Use MFP (Michaels Financial Planning) to create weekly sales, margin, and inventory plans at subclass level for seasonal and trend programs
• Owns MFP administration for seasonal and basic plans
• Incorporates correction of errors
• Recommend "wave breaks" for seasonal flow
• Recommend optimal inner and master packs
• Partner with pricing and CD/CM to make appropriate in-season MD recommendations for seasonal and trend product
• Evaluate forward buys on market deals and other opportunities
• Develop and adhere to critical timelines

• Ensure assortments are completed within specific time frames
• Participate in assortment plan review with category management team for seasonal and SBA assortments by analyzing historical information, and make appropriate recommendations

• Develop and implement MD strategy following reset financial timeline

• Implement order placement timing for new product with CD/CM and replenishment team
• Monitor progress of reset activities and integrate into MFP sales, margin, and inventory forecast
• Update finance partner on any activities that would require updating reset financials

• BS or equivalent
• Business, retail, or related field

• Microsoft Office literate, especially Excel

• 2-5 years in retail
• Numerical analysis and project management experience

• Ability to work comfortably on unstructured problems/tasks
• Ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure and time constraints

• Planning system skills preferred

• 2+ years in retail planning or allocation preferred

Applicants in the U.S. must satisfy federal, state, and local legal requirements of the job.

Michaels is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are here for all Team Members and all customers to create, innovate, and be better together.

Michaels is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with this commitment, Michaels will assure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. Accordingly, if a reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the job, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Customer Care at (1800-MICHAEL).