Staples · 1 day ago
Merchandise Planner-Framingham, MA
Framingham, MA
Full-time
Onsite
Mid Level
3+ years expStaples is a retail company seeking a Merchandise Planner to create and maintain financial plans for assigned categories. The role involves item planning, analysis, and collaboration with Merchants and Inventory Management to achieve sales and inventory objectives.
ConsumerE-CommerceEnterprise SoftwareOffice SuppliesRetail
Hiring Manager
Kendra A.
Responsibilities
Utilize Planning tools to accurately forecast both period and year sales, margin, inventory and turn. Ensure plans support objectives
Create department, class and portfolio level financial plans by analyzing historical, seasonal and current trends
Identify the impact future promotional and ad plans to margin, and work with Product Manager to minimize risk and meet targeted goals
Introduce opportunities to increase sales, margin and turn to meet or exceed budget
Utilize OTB process to maintain budgeted inventory, working with IA to synchronize purchasing plans
Manage Vendor Purchase Planning process to accurately identify purchase volume and mix for financial reporting
Utilize Planning tools to accurately forecast key items to maximize sales, margin service level and turn
Create and maintain key item ladder plans
Analyze key item trends and seasonality, adjusting forecasts, receipts and inventory levels as needed to support plans
Reconcile key item plans with financial plans
Communicate all plans to IA’s, Vendors, Product Managers (multi-channel where applicable) and collaborate with team to ensure plans can be supported
Support Product Manager in Assortment Planning process, compiling and analyzing assortment data utilizing the planning tools available, culminating in the yearly line review to upper management
Manage Inactive inventory, working with Product Manager on dispositions to ensure product is either returned, or proper markdowns are in place to help turn the goods
Forecast sales, margin and inventory for Ads and Promotions to maximize sales and service levels while minimizing residuals
Working with Product Manager, analyze historical information, input from stores, and current business trends to develop accurate item and financial forecasts for Ads and Promos
Based upon analysis, identify and challenge items that will could have a negative impact on inventory and turn due to their low performance
Communicate plans to Vendors and IA’s for all Ads and Promos
Identify any risks and communicate to team
Ensure event databases are maintained with accurate information
Work with IA to ensure top level plans are appropriately executed at DC and store level to achieve targeted sales, turn, and sell through
Manage seasonal purchases, identifying items with seasonality, planning purchases and sell through to maintain high service levels
Monitor event sales and take action to optimize sales and turn and reduce overstocks
Work with Product Manager to proactively address Ad and Promo residuals
Partner with Merchandising and Supply Chain to assist in minimizing key supplier lead times to warehouses and fulfillment centers with improved reliability
Develop and maintain positive and effective relations with vendors, operate as key contact for inventory team
Drive collaborate planning process with Vendors, ensuring plans are aligned and can be supported
Working with IA, monitor Vendor performance and identify any issues to Product Manager
Work with vendors and Supply Chain to improve vendor reliability in meeting metrics
Qualification
Required
High School Diploma or equivalent
Minimum 3 years related work experience required in merchandise planning or retail financial analytics
Flexible, detail oriented, with strong planning and organizational skills
Demonstrated analytical and problem solving skills
Strong oral and written communication skills
Strong oral and written communication skills
Preferred
Bachelor's Degree Preferred
Retail, .com, or Catalog experience in Inventory Management preferred
Experience with Evant, MarketMax, Arthur, MMS or comparable Merchandise Planning System preferred
Solid retail Inventory Management experience, with an emphasis on financial and item analysis and planning
Proficient to advanced computer literacy
Benefits
Generous amount of paid time off
401(k) plan with company match, medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance with many more optional benefits.
Associate store discount and more perks (discounts on mobile plans, movie tickets, etc.)
Company
Staples
Staples is a provider of workspace products such as furniture, technology, cleaning products, and traditional office supplies.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
Staples has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (152)
2024 (172)
2023 (147)
2022 (161)
2021 (121)
2020 (178)
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$7MKey Investors
US Department of Energy
2024-07-09Grant· $7M
2017-06-28Acquired
1999-11-15Post Ipo Equity
Leadership Team
Michele Parzianello
Chief Sales Officer
Recent News
The Morning Call
2025-12-07
Agri Investor
2025-12-02
The Morning Call
2025-12-02
Company data provided by crunchbase