Assortment Associate - Housewares

Overview

Be part of an amazing story at Macy's. Macy's is more than just a store. We're a story that has inspired customers and colleagues for more than 160 years, known for innovations, traditions, and memorable moments.

The Associate, Assortment Planner reports to the Director of Assortment Planning and supports the strategic development and execution of buying frameworks for a designated category. This role collaborates with cross-functional teams to align with top-line strategic and financial objectives and contributes to various aspects of assortment planning, from pre-market analysis to in-market quantification and post-market adjustments.

Overall:

• Collaborate with the Director to develop and execute the buying framework for the designated category.
• Work with cross-functional teams to align with strategic and financial objectives.
• Assist in conducting analyses of pre-market, in-market, and post-market activities.
• Support crafting and implementing Private Brand line plans, considering historical performance and adoption rates.
• Contribute to style outs to ensure alignment with customer preferences and market trends.
• Assist in overseeing the allocation process, confirming store matrix, and applying Min/Max at the Style level.
• Foster a culture of excellence and collaboration within the Assortment Planning team.
• Foster an environment of acceptance and respect that strengthens relationships with colleagues, customers, and communities.

Pre-Market:

• Support the development of by-store sales and turn plans aligned with annual financial targets.
• Assist in inspecting receipt flow plans, addressing variances with Financial Planning.
• Define clustering strategies by channel, tier/climate differences by category.
• Coordinate with the Divisional Merchandise Manager (DMM) to build and maintain category C-1.
• Assess current season performance and determine future season replenishment assortment.
• Establish bottoms-up targets for key-item volume drivers, trends, and newness.
• Support ownership of Private Brand line plans, adjusting based on historical performance.
• Evaluate breadth, depth, and productivity of the assortment.
• Collaborate on finalizing the shopping list composition prior to market appointments.

In-Market:

• Quantify Buyer's curated assortment by brand, style, channel, and store cluster.
• Align with cluster financial targets and the assortment framework.
• Identify duplication across styles and vendors during the style out process.

Post-Market:

• Support style outs in NuOrder or within the market cycle based on system capabilities.
• Address key style out questions, including customer attributes and tier differences.
• Finalize changes after style out and Buy Review; support sending orders for allocation.

Key Process Updates:

• Pre-Market: participate in discussions led by the Senior Director, Assortment Planning, reviewing each Assortment Wedge; discuss goals, risk, clustering, breadth/depth, and key door initiatives.
• In-Market: collaborate within the Assortment Planning team to support the quantification process; attend market appointments when needed.
• Post-Market: conduct style outs in NuOrder and address customer attributes and tier differences; confirm store matrix and Min/Max at the Style level during allocation.
• Allocation: confirm store matrix; apply Min/Max at the Style level; support EDI allocations to vendors 30 days prior to In-DC dates; inspect receipt availability before releasing orders.

Additionally, foster an environment of acceptance and respect and perform other duties as assigned.

• Analytical
  
  Skills:
  
  Analyzing sales data, turn plans, and financial targets to inform assortment decisions.
• Collaboration and Communication: Ability to collaborate within the Assortment Planning team and contribute to a culture of excellence.
• Retail Knowledge: Understanding of retail concepts, including assortment planning, Private Brand line plans, and allocation processes.
• Quantitative
  
  Skills:
  
  Proficient in quantitative analysis, including building and maintaining category C-1 and evaluating current and future season replenishment.
• Planning and Organization: Strong organizational skills for developing…