Merchandise Planner

The region's most trusted online shopping destination for mothers. Built by parents, for parents.

Role Overview

The Merchandise Planner is responsible for driving optimal inventory availability across a broad assortment of categories that cater to the parenting eco-system. In turn, their role is expected to drive and contribute towards revenue growth, margin performance, and working capital efficiency. The role combines demand forecasting, inventory optimization, and commercial decision-making in a high-SKU, fast-paced e-commerce environment that supports both retail and marketplace operations.

This position partners closely with Commercial, Category, Operations, Finance, and Marketing teams to ensure inventory decisions are data-driven, scalable, and aligned with business growth targets.

Key Responsibilities

1. Inventory Planning & Commercial Alignment

• Own inventory planning at SKU and category level to support sales, margin, and growth targets.

• Translate category strategies, promotions, and seasonal plans into inventory investment decisions.

• Prioritize stock allocation toward high-velocity and high-margin SKUs to maximize ROI.

• Balance product availability with working capital and inventory turns.

2. Demand Forecasting & Analysis

• Develop and maintain demand forecasts using historical sales, seasonality, and trend analysis.

• Factor in marketing campaigns, events, launches, and promotional activity into forecasts.

• Partner with Commercial Operations (Planning & Performance) and Category teams to continuously refine forecast assumptions.

• Identify demand risks and opportunities early and recommend corrective actions.

3. Inventory Optimization & Performance Management

• Monitor and manage key inventory metrics including sell-through, weeks of cover, stockouts, excess, and aging inventory.

• Recommend markdowns, liquidation, reallocation, or replenishment strategies based on performance signals.

• Support SKU rationalization and new assortment introductions using demand and profitability insights.

• Drive reduction of excess and obsolete inventory.

4. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Supply Chain and Operations teams to align inventory plans with inbound capacity and lead times.

• Partner with Finance to align inventory investments with budget, cash flow, and margin targets.

• Support launches, peak events, and seasonal spikes with data-backed inventory scenarios.

• Provide inputs to pricing and promotion planning to maximize sell-through and returns.

5. Reporting, Insights & Continuous Improvement

• Build and maintain inventory dashboards and reports highlighting health, risks, and opportunities.

• Conduct post-event and post-season performance reviews to improve planning accuracy.

• Translate data into clear, actionable recommendations for senior stakeholders.

• Continuously improve planning processes, tools, and forecasting accuracy.

Qualifications & Experience

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Commerce, Supply Chain, Engineering, or a related field.

Experience

• 2–5 years of experience in inventory planning, demand planning, commercial planning, or category planning.

• Experience in e-commerce, large-scale retail, or high-SKU environments preferred.

• Exposure to fast-moving categories such as apparel, FMCG, lifestyle, or general merchandise is a plus.
  Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a commercial mindset.

• Advanced Excel skills; ability to work comfortably with large datasets.

• Experience working with ERP, planning tools, or retail/e-commerce platforms.

• Solid understanding of inventory economics, margin impact, and working capital.

• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.

• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, ambiguous, and high-growth environment.

Preferred Attributes

• Highly data-driven with strong business judgment.

• Comfortable making trade-off decisions between growth, margin, and cash.

• Proactive, structured, and execution-oriented.

• Thrives in scale-driven, metrics-led operating environments.