Merchandise Planner

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Job description

About Free Fly:

Free Fly Apparel is a Charleston, SC-based performance clothing company specializing in unique bamboo material blends. Before launching in 2011, we spent over two years of research and development to come up with the softest performance fabrics imaginable. Our design philosophy is anchored in fun and adventure while superior design and craftsmanship remains our focus. Whether you're on the water, exploring the mountains or hitting the gym, we're confident this will quickly become your favorite shirt. Free Fly's products are sold throughout 400+ specialty stores (domestic and international) and they are also available through our website at .

Our Customer:

Free Fly's target customer is 25-40 years old and is a part-time adventure/thrill seeker. Works hard, plays hard mentality with a passion for life. They like to get out on the weekends and surf, travel, fish, boat, and most likely end the day over a beer with friends. Our customer is an early adopter and appreciates those who go against the grain to build a premium product that matches their on-the-go lifestyle.

The Merchandise Planner will create and manage style-level inventory plans that align with top-down financials from channel partners and proactively manage performance to plan in-season to help uncover opportunities, mitigate risks, maintain a preferred margin structure, and build-out end of season inventory strategy. This role is highly collaborative and will work closely with the Buyer on ensuring inventory plans mirror financial, product, and marketing strategy. This role will also provide support to the Operations team and other areas of Free Fly on quantifying the impact of strategic inventory investments, new initiatives, and other key areas related to inventory.

Seasonal Tasks

• Partner with Buyer to develop and manage seasonal inventory plans (at a style level) that align with product strategy and top-down financial targets
• Establish annual inventory budgets and strategies that align with product launch and replenishment flow direction from Buyer and Product teams
• Own bottoms up financial reconciliation of inventory plans at a weekly, monthly, and seasonal level, relaying necessary insights to Leadership and Ops team
• Partner with Buyer to manage in-season pricing strategies to ensure sales targets are met while maximizing product margins
• Provide analytical support to Buyer and E-comm teams to quantify impact of strategic, assortment, or promotional changes
• Partner with Buyer on building and presenting the Seasonal Buy Review to Leadership and other relevant teams
• Create and maintain quarterly hindsight reports to drive strategic assortment decisions for future investments

Recurring Tasks

• Manage inventory levels and strategy closely with Buyer to ensure we're tracking to targeted campaign and product launch dates (PO delays, air freight needs, overselling, underselling, etc.)
• Communicate monthly OTB forecasts and supporting action plans to management and cross-functional teams
• Manage weekly, monthly, and quarterly analysis to ensure we're tracking to inventory and margin targets while improving WOS / aging styles for in-season inventory
• Work closely with Buyer on quantifying in-season risks and opportunities with recommendations, categories vulnerable to price increases, in-season excess planning / strategizing
• Partner with other members of the Operations team by managing supplier lead time schedule, assisting in uploading seasonal buys to ERP and communicate POs to suppliers, managing inventory delivery schedule, determining potential need for air freight deliveries, and assisting with in-season and new product pricing structure based on supplier costs, logistics related costs, potential cost increases etc.

Qualifications and Required Competencies

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Finance, or related field
• Strong knowledge of MS Office Suite, ERP systems
• Three to five years of related experience
• Merchandise planning experience preferred
• Strong financial and analytical skills with the ability to understand inventory planning from a finance perspective
• Ability to take ownership of and manage the planning space within Free Fly
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to formulate recommendations to leadership and maintain comfort with leadership-level presentations
• Excels in collaborative environment
• Strong organizational skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and leadership skills

Free Fly is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace for all employees.