Merchandise Planner

Job description / Role

Key responsibilities

1. Merchandise & item management

• Create and maintain accurate item master data in the system.
• Raise and track purchase orders (POs) ensuring timely updates.
• Edit and update PO and item master details based on buying changes.
• Ensure overall data accuracy and compliance within the system.

2. Vendor management

• Coordinate with buyers and vendors for order confirmations and delivery timelines.
• Follow up on vendor payments in collaboration with the finance team.
• Maintain professional vendor communication to ensure smooth execution.

3. Open-to-buy (OTB) management

• Prepare and manage base data for OTB budgets and templates.
• Monitor OTB utilization and highlight variances.
• Track margin performance and ensure alignment with financial targets.
• Provide recommendations for OTB reallocation based on sales performance.

4. Range planning & assortment support

• Consolidate and maintain the range plan.
• Ensure assortment planning aligns with category and brand strategy.
• Support buyers with data-driven insights and analysis.

5. Stock & promotion support

• Provide stock management inputs including store-wise launch checks and warehouse fulfillment tracking against allocations.
• Support promotion planning by ensuring accurate stock and OTB data uploads.
• Monitor sell-through performance and recommend corrective actions where needed.

6. Pricing management

• Execute pricing updates (RSP - F5) accurately in the system.
• Ensure price accuracy and margin compliance.
• Coordinate price changes with relevant stakeholders.

7. Logistics coordination

• Track shipments using the logistics tracker.
• Coordinate with logistics teams to ensure timely dispatch and delivery.
• Proactively resolve supply chain or shipment-related issues.

8. Reporting & analysis

• Prepare daily sales reports (DSR).
• Generate periodic performance reports for buyers and management.
• Analyse sales, stock, margin, and OTB performance.
• Present actionable insights to support commercial decision-making.

9. Cross-functional coordination

• Work closely with buyers, logistics, suppliers, and finance teams.
• Ensure seamless communication and operational alignment across departments.

Key competencies

• Strong analytical and numerical skills
• High attention to detail and data accuracy
• Commercial awareness and margin understanding
• Effective communication and stakeholder management
• Time management and ability to manage multiple priorities

About the Company

The Apparel Group is a global fashion and lifestyle brand conglomerate residing on the crossroads of a modern economy - Dubai, UAE. The mercurial growth in the last 17 years has been by acquiring a host of world class fashion labels from around the world - Nine West, Tommy Hilfiger, Kenneth Cole, Aldo & Tim Hortons just to name a few.

Today the group caters to thousands of eager shoppers through its over 1530 stores, 75 International brands and employing 12,000 multi cultural staff in over 4 continents. Apparel believes in turning dreams in to reality and we give everyone - our customers, our stakeholders, our employees - an equal opportunity to do so.

Apparel group has carved its strong presence not only in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia but opened thriving gateways to market in India, South Africa, Poland, Singapore, Jordan, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. Additionally, clear strategies are in place to enter emerging markets such as Hungary, Pakistan, Egypt and Philippines.