6 hard skills or competencies (industry competencies) for Merchandise Planner
Skill definition-Applying comprehensive knowledge of retail principles, inventory management, pricing strategies, and consumer behavior to effectively manage and operate retail businesses.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Names commonly used tools and systems for processing transactions and managing retail inventory levels.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Supports the implementation of standard procedures and store protocols to ensure smooth retail operations.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Works closely with merchandising teams to create visually appealing displays and maximize product visibility.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Supervises the team in conducting market analysis and competitor research to gain a competitive advantage.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Promotes the use of e-commerce platforms and retail channels to drive online sales and customer engagement.
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Skill definition-Strategically planning, executing, and managing product merchandising, pricing, and promotions to increase customer engagement and maximize revenue.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Lists the factors to consider for determining and setting appropriate pricing for merchandise.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Supports the planning and execution of promotional campaigns to drive customer engagement and sales.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Works closely with the marketing and other retail teams to develop promotional campaigns for various product lines.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Oversees the development and implementation of store layouts to ensure product visibility and increase sales.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Recommends advanced retail layout and design systems to maximize merchandising results across sales locations.
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3 general skills or competencies (Job family competencies) for Merchandise Planner
Skill definition-Allocating financial resources and developing business strategies.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Documents and maintains information used for the ongoing financial planning process.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Carries out the implementation of financial planning recommendations.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Operates with representatives to ensure clients' financial security.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Consults with clients regarding tax considerations of any step in the financial planning process.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Builds detailed financial models to support strategic business decisions.
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Skill definition-Developing and implementing promotional activities to attract and increase the awareness of customers in buying products.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Describes the significance of brand image development to promotion efforts.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Documents information needed for promotional activities such as product details and features.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Generates reports that outline customers’ interest levels and questions asked at various events.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Leads market research studies and evaluates findings to understand customer and market opportunities.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Creates engaging promotions including deals to encourage target market purchases.
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8 soft skills or competencies (core competencies) for Merchandise Planner
Skill definition-Ability to plan and organize activities, tasks, and resources to achieve business goals and objectives within timeframe and budget.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Compiles a list of tools used to effectively schedule activities, such as Google Calendar and Canva.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Identifies and resolves scheduling conflicts between employees to ensure a smooth workflow.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Makes adjustments and recommendations for optimizing scheduling to maximize service and quality.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Coordinates with cross-functional teams to align work schedules with project activities.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Builds integrated database tracking tools for staffing shrinkage patterns to optimize staffing scheduling forecasts.
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Skill definition-Knowledge of and ability to apply a set of quantifiable measurements to determine how effectively an individual, team or organization is achieving a business objective.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Contrasts KPI with other performance management tools, such as Balanced Score Card (BSC) and Objectives and Key Results (OKR).
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Compiles and updates KPI data to show impact on productivity.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Communicates KPI-related initiatives such as what, why, and how to ensure transparency.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Consults on using KPI for business review and forecasting.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Conducts lectures on KPI best practices at industry conferences.
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Summary of Merchandise Planner skills and competencies
There are 6 hard skills for Merchandise Planner, Retail Industry, Merchandising, Category Management, etc.
3 general skills for Merchandise Planner, Financial Planning, Promotion, Inventory Control.
8 soft skills for Merchandise Planner, Scheduling, Key Performance Indicators (KPI), Attention to Detail, etc.
While the list totals 17 distinct skills, it's important to note that not all are required to be mastered to the same degree. Some skills may only need a basic understanding, whereas others demand a higher level of expertise.
For instance, as a Merchandise Planner, he or she needs to be proficient in Scheduling, be proficient in Key Performance Indicators (KPI), and be proficient in Attention to Detail.