Merchandise Allocator & Planning Associate

Merchandise Allocator & Planning Associate

Full Time, Santa Monica

The Merchandise Allocator & Planning Assistant is responsible for maintaining appropriate inventory levels in our stores, including initial allocations as well as replenishment of all goods, to ensure the proper flow of merchandise to the correct stores at the correct time.  In addition, you will assist in all planning-related tasks, including but not limited to pulling reports, analyzing sales data for both retail and e-commerce, and seasonal merchandising planning. You are a strategic thinker who will create processes, and ensure a clear and streamlined pipeline of inventory information flows between the retail fleet, our distribution center, and internal cross-functional partners as needed. Your analytic skills, focus on optimizing inventory performance, meeting financial targets and other accountability metrics, and employing a customer-first mindset will help you succeed in this role. You are cool with an evolving process, possess an owner mentality, and engage in both creative and analytical approaches to business strategy. You are also hard-working, multitasking, driven, entrepreneurial, and fun to be around (obviously), and will be accountable for the following:

• Analyze store trends and shifts in business to identify risks and opportunities, and affect future allocations;
• Monitor fabric, style, color, and size selling performance at the store level, and strategize accordingly to improve store inventory levels going forward; 
• Execute the release of initial inventories and in-season replenishment to stores;
• Ensure/monitor accuracy of inventory flow from warehouse to stores, and communicate any discrepancies;
• Initiate, execute, and track all in-season and post-season inventory movement, including return authorizations, transfers, damages, etc., and ensuring appropriate systemic warehouse allocation;
• Analyze door and regional cluster selling and communicate regularly with stores to capitalize on opportunities - suggest and execute transfers and consolidations;
• Manage inventory for all core carry-forward styles to meet forecast plans;
• Contribute to the success of retail stores via sales targets, inventory productivity goals, and other KPI metrics;
• Provide systemic support to execute inventory movement needs for growing wholesale channel and International;
• Serve as liaison and key point person between HQ, Retail, and Warehouse for inventory-related matters;
• Create ad-hoc reports based on business needs;
• Assist with meeting prep, ad hoc projects, and help the team with requests as they arise; 
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners, such as retail, logistics, operations, marketing/events, etc., and execute day-to-day tasks as necessary to achieve common goals

WHO YOU ARE: 

• A positive, energetic self-starter who thrives in a team environment, but also works well independently, takes initiative, and exhibits ownership; 
• Strong analytical and numerical skills relating to retail math and performance metrics including contributions and penetration breaks, margin, sell-through, AUR, etc.;
• Eagle-eye attention to detail, and exceptional organizational skills, as well as multitasking and time-management;
• Superior communication (both written and verbal), and excellent interpersonal skills;
• Goal-oriented, with a strong sense of urgency, can hit the ground running, and creative problem solving; 
• Adaptable with the ability to manage changing work demands and tasks efficiently, and remain focused;
• Excited to contribute, add value, and join a brand that is passionate about its mission

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: 

• At least 3-5 years of relevant experience in an allocation and pl-related position, ideally for a specialty brand/retailer
• Advanced computer skills and working knowledge of Excel including V-Lookups and Pivot tables, Google docs, and an ERP + POS system, experience with an automatic replenishment system, NetSuite and Shopify is a plus!
• Bachelor's Degree preferred
• Comfort and confidence presenting to groups, as well as interacting with top-level management 

Please send your resume to jobs@lunya.co so that you can help us change the world – one bedroom at a time.