Merchandise Planner – Retail (Toys "R" Us)

About the role

The Merchandise Planner supports buying and operational teams to achieve financial goals through accurate planning. You will develop demand forecasts, manage inventory, and provide insights on product performance to align assortments with market trends and customer preferences.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and maintain demand forecasts for key product categories, incorporating sales trends, seasonality, promotions and events.
• Monitor inventory levels across multiple locations to prevent overstock and stock‑outs, working closely with the supply‑chain team.
• Collaborate with buying to ensure assortments match customer preferences, regional differences and market trends, planning new product introductions and phase‑outs.
• Analyse product performance, identify growth opportunities and flag under‑performing SKUs, providing insights to senior management.
• Work with marketing, merchandising and supply‑chain teams to align product launches with promotional calendars and ensure optimal placement in stores and online marketplaces.
• Support financial planning by assisting the Merchandise Planning Manager with budgets, margin targets and in‑season performance tracking.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Merchandising or a related field.
• Proven experience in merchandising, retail or consumer‑goods planning, preferably in toys or similar categories.
• Strong analytical mindset with ability to interpret sales data and market trends.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work across departments.

Required skills

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Familiarity with Microsoft PowerPoint for reporting.