Uniqlo
Junior Merchandise Planner
| company: | Uniqlo |
| job title: | Junior Merchandise Planner |
| location: | Melbourne |
| work type: | Full-time |
| level: | Junior |
Role Description
Uniqlo stems from the words ‘unique’ and ‘clothing’ – simple and clever, just like our clothes. Our philosophy is based on the premise of Life Wear: apparel that comes from the Japanese values of simplicity, quality and longevity. Designed to be of the time and for the time, Life Wear is made with such modern elegance that it becomes the building blocks of each individual’s style.
Uniqlo continues to open large-scale stores in some of the world’s most important cities and locations, as part of its ongoing efforts to solidify its status as a global brand. Today the company has more than 2,400 stores in 26 markets – including Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Japan, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, India, Malaysia, Macau, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, U.K, U.S and Vietnam.
The Junior Merchandise Planner is responsible for driving the merchandise strategy and optimising inventory to meet and exceed financial goals. They develop seasonal product strategies based on business opportunities and collaborate with cross-functional departments to execute their vision. They will manage and plan merchandise inventory positions and markdown strategies to drive departmental sales, inventory, profit and sell-through objectives. The Merchandise Planner also provides in-season financial projections and strategies while identifying risks and opportunities to maximise profits. They are also responsible for providing the store allocators with the necessary guidance and direction to help them achieve their objectives.
Key Responsibilities
- Drive customer satisfaction and expand Uniqlo’s ‘LifeWear’ concept by delivering exceptional product experiences
- Collaborate with stakeholders to identify opportunities in the Australian market and optimise sales while meeting customer satisfaction goals
- Develop weekly item-level financial plans for sales, gross margin, and inventory to support business growth.
- Devise pricing strategies that maximise sales and gross profit, ensuring competitiveness in the market
- Re-forecast business in-season based on current performance, present revised projections and recommendations to cross functional teams and senior leadership
- Create allocation strategies that align with merchandise plans and flow strategies to meet inventory needs across stores
- Strategically create and plan product assortments (item, colour, size) for each product category to optimise sales and manage replenishment plans/ production plans.
- Place orders for both seasonal and replenishment product buys, maintaining optimal stock levels
- Collaborate closely with cross-functional departments, such as Marketing and Store Operations to align product strategies for success
- Proactively gathering feedback from voice of customers and store members, identifying new opportunities, and ensuring appropriate product line up
- Coordinate with visual merchandisers to execute monthly layouts across different store formats
KEY SKILLS
- Minimum 1-2 years’ experience in merchandise planning and/or minimum 2-3 years’ experience in allocation
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook)
- Knowledge of retail industry trends and an understanding of consumer behaviour
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret data and make informed decisions
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams
- Detail-oriented mindset, ensuring accuracy and precision in merchandise planning
- Proactive and results-driven attitude, with a passion for achieving and exceeding targets
- Ability to handle multiple projects effectively with a sense of urgency and commitment to accuracy
Apply via LinkedIn only, do not use the ‘apply now’ form below.
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