Merchandise Planner

VICI is an e-commerce company that sells quality, affordable, on-trend clothing for the contemporary woman. Established in 2012, VICI has experienced over 200% growth in the past two years from 50 to over 250 employees. The VICI brand has a strong e-commerce presence and sells 90% of its product online.

VICI’s brand was created based on trends the founders saw after the 2009 recession. Consumers were becoming cautious about spending, yet women’s desire for affordable fashion remained. What sets VICI apart is an unwavering commitment to customer service and a zeal for social media marketing.

Summary/Objective:

The Merchandise Planner plays a pivotal role in our organization, collaborating with finance, marketing, and merchandising teams to achieve financial and inventory objectives. This position requires effective communication and presentation skills to secure buy-in from leadership on forecast and inventory strategies. The Merchandise Planner drives all planning activities, including the development of financial sales, gross margin, and inventory plans for their assigned departments.

Essential Functions:

Forecast Sales Performance and Assess Risk & Opportunities:

·        Collaborate with finance, operations, and merchandising teams to create and maintain monthly and weekly sales and margin forecasts.

·        Assess financial risks and opportunities, addressing concerns promptly through cross-functional collaboration.

·        Develop forecasts for new product rollouts, influencer collaborations, and promotions using historical data and market trends.

·        Continuously analyze and update forecasts based on industry trends and changes in marketing and sales plans.

Collaborate and Influence Cross-Functional Teams (CFT):

·        Foster a collaborative, innovative, and results-oriented environment within the cross-functional team.

·        Partner with the buying team to create assortment and inventory plans, utilizing historical and trend SKU productivity performance.

·        Provide promotional and product feature recommendations to drive inventory while maximizing sales and margin.

Own Inventory Strategies:

·        Create and maintain Open-to-Buy (OTB) plans to maximize monthly sales, profit, and inventory turns.  Partner with buying to ensure open-to-buy targets are filled appropriately and in a timely manner.

·        Monitor and analyze inventory turns, sell-through rates, and other key performance indicators to identify opportunities for improvement.

·        Develop replenishment forecasts by sku and provide recommendations to buying for re-orders and color extensions.

·        Manage seasonality and End-of-Life (EOL) for products, planning and executing markdowns, and analyzing aged inventory.

Analyze Business Performance and Share Insights:

·        Optimize product data and reporting to provide insights on product performance.

·        Manage department recaps, weekly selling, and best-sellers reports.

·        Create quarterly hindsight reports to drive strategic assortment decisions for future quarters and in-season management. 

·        Analyze results tied to fit, quality and vendor performance and provide insights to buying team.

·        Develop ad-hoc analytical reports and tools to meet evolving business needs.

Qualifications, Education, Experience:

·        4 years of Inventory or Merchandise Planning experience; high SKU count e-commerce experience is a plus.

·        Comfortable in a fast-paced startup environment, with the ability to adapt and shift focus based on business needs.

·        Ability to work independently and collaboratively, demonstrating self-motivation.

·        Strong problem-solving skills and a willingness to think creatively to resolve issues.

·        Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.

·        Knowledge of standard applications (Slack, Office365, Chrome, etc.).

·        Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.

·        Familiarity with NetSuite Demand Planning software or similar platforms.

Expected Hours of Work:

This is a full-time position

VICI is committed to growing and empowering a more inclusive community within our company, and industry. That is why we hire and cultivate diverse teams of the best and brightest from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. VICI is an equal opportunity employer and dedicated to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, pregnancy status, veteran status, or disability status. We believe that a variety of perspectives will make our teams and business stronger.