Urban Outfitters Merchandise Planner

A Merchandise Planner plays a crucial role in retail management by optimizing inventory levels and ensuring that the right products are available at the right time. They use data and judgment to support financial success by meeting or exceeding sales, gross margin, and inventory turn goals. 

Merchandise Inventory Planning: Develop Department and style-level plans based on customer strategy, historical trends, and test information. 

• Responsible for the quantification of the buy to drive profitable topline sales. 

• Create and maintain assortment plans, including style counts, by class and channel, for upcoming season. 

• Create color-level planning based on inventory needs to support the rate of sale, store presentation, targeted sell-through percentages, current risk parameters, and historical trends (long-range goals). 

• Develop entrance and exit strategies for styles. 

Open to Buy Management: Forecast sales, markdowns, receipts, IMU, and margin based on current sales trends using O9 Planning. 

• Create and manage weekly regular and markdown sales and inventory plans for their area of responsibility by channel. 

• Lead discussion with key cross-functional partners about decisions to grow, maintain or decline the business. 

• Responsible for profitably growing sales and ensuring responsible inventory investment.  

In-Season Management: Analyze sales performance, customer reactions, and market trends to anticipate product needs and adjustments. 

• Summarize weekly, monthly, and quarterly financial and assortment performance vs. plan at class and attribute levels and drive action points in partnership with their buyer. 

• Drive class-level planning to determine promotional activities and clearance sales 

• Conduct seasonal hind sights to support future buy plans 

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: 

• Education: A bachelor’s degree in business, finance, merchandising, or a related field is preferred. 

• Experience: 2 to 4 years of related experience 

• Skills:  

• Analytical Skills: Ability to analyze sales data, market trends, and customer behavior to make informed decisions. 

• Attention to Detail: Ensuring accuracy in inventory levels, sales forecasts, and promotional plans. 

• Collaboration & Communication Skills: Effectively collaborating with various departments such as marketing, buying, and production. 

• Problem-Solving Skills: Identifying issues in the supply chain and developing strategies to address them. 

• Time Management: Prioritizing tasks and managing time efficiently to meet deadlines. 

• Technical Proficiency: Familiarity with planning software and tools like O9 Planning, Excel, and similar inventory management systems. 

• Business Acumen: Understanding key retail math concepts including gross margin, inventory turnover, and open-to-buy management. 

• Adaptability: Being flexible and responsive to changing market conditions and business needs. 

• Strategic Thinking: Developing long-term plans and strategies to optimize inventory and support business goals. 

URBN offers comprehensive Perks & Benefits to employees. Availability and eligibility to specific benefits may be subject to your location and employment status. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, PTO, generous employee discounts, retirement savings and much more! For additional information visit www.urbn.com/work-with-us/benefits

URBN celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are proud to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression), religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic as established by law. We believe strongly in fostering a safe, fair and respectful work environment. To ensure compliance with our non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies, we offer anti-harassment training to managers and employees.