Job Description
Are you a data-driven strategist with a passion for fashion and retail trends? Velvet & Oak Apparel is seeking a high-caliber Senior Merchandise Planner to lead our inventory strategy and maximize profitability across omni-channel platforms. Operating from our flagship Soho headquarters, you will act as the financial architect of our seasonal collections, turning market insights into highly profitable inventory decisions.
In this role, you will bridge the gap between creative vision and commercial reality. You will collaborate closely with Buying, Design, and Finance teams to establish robust sales, margin, and inventory plans. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and have a proven track record of optimizing Open-to-Buy (OTB) and inventory turn, we want to hear from you.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute seasonal merchandise financial plans (MFP) that align with brand strategy and financial targets.
- Manage the multi-million dollar Open-to-Buy (OTB) process, forecasting sales, markdown, and receipt flows weekly.
- Conduct rigorous post-seasonal analyses to identify product performance trends, translating findings into actionable strategies for future collections.
- Partner with the Buying and Sourcing teams to optimize allocation strategies, ensuring ideal stock depth and maximizing inventory productivity.
- Leverage advanced retail analytics to recommend promotional and markdown strategies that drive sell-through and protect gross margin.
- Lead weekly and monthly business review meetings with executive leadership, delivering clear, data-backed insights and action plans.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising, Business Administration, Finance, or a highly quantitative field.
- 5+ years of experience in retail merchandise planning, preferably within apparel or premium lifestyle brands.
- Advanced proficiency in Retail Math, inventory metrics (GMROI, Turn, WOS), and Microsoft Excel.
- Proven expertise utilizing Enterprise Planning systems (e.g., Oracle Retail, SAS, or Blue Yonder).
- Exceptional analytical capabilities combined with a strategic, solutions-oriented mindset.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional partners and present to senior leadership.