What are the responsibilities and job description for the Merchandise Planner - Remote position at PCNA?
Who are we?
Polyconcept North America (PCNA) is the industry’s biggest and most diverse offering of promotional products and decoration services. Our employees are spread across six locations.
What we offer you
- Full healthcare and benefits! The health and wellness of our employees is important to us, that’s why we offer benefits including medical, vision, dental, short-term disability, and more!
- Flexible scheduling
- 401k Matching
- Generous Paid Time Off and Holidays
- PCNA Cares Share Fund – donating to teammates in times of need
Why you will make it your career
- We invest heavily in modernization, operating more efficiently with cutting edge digital technology
- We value our employee’s contributions in a collaborative and inclusive work environment
- Our culture encourages listening, understanding and a sense of empathy makes PCNA stronger
- As the industry leader for environmental responsibility, sustainability is the key to every decision we make
Our Values
Delight Customers: Treat our customers the way you’d like to be treated.
Work Smart: Time is valuable. Focus on the things that can have the biggest impact on our business and customers. Be inquisitive and innovative
Think Team: Work together to get the job done. Be inclusive and collaborative.
Own It: Be accountable. Embrace challenges as opportunities, roll up your sleeves and make it happen.
Say It Like It Is: Be candid, honest and respectful. Offer constructive insights and welcome other’s input.
Our Businesses
Leed’s is the premier supplier of high-quality promotional products, with goods ranging from pens and drinkware to bags and mobile tech. Bullet is a leading supplier of low-price promotional products, offering deep inventory, reliable service and 24-hour turnaround. Trimark, a member of PCNA, is a leading developer and manufacturer of logo'd apparel for the Canadian and U.S. promotional industries. Trimark sells logo'd apparel across 6 different categories; Polos, T-Shirts and Tops, Woven Shirts, Knits and Fleece, Jackets, and Accessories, including Headwear. At JournalBooks, we believe in creative minds working together to create something truly unique in journals and planners. ETS has always sought to provide the very best in service, product selection, printing capabilities and competitive pricing, focused on drinkware, ETS offers a broad range of high quality drinkware categories. Spoke’s print-on-demand solutions and premium product assortment are standing by to help expand your inventory and fulfill your event and gifting needs!
JOB SUMMARY
The Merchandise (Inventory) Planner plays a critical role within the supply chain team at PCNA. This position is responsible for driving decisions and strategies that optimize sales, margins, inventory turnover, and GMROI goals. Working closely with Category Managers, this individual will develop, execute, and refine strategies aligned with company objectives to deliver best-in-class category and inventory performance.
FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES
Inventory & Category Management:
- Manage designated product categories to achieve company goals for sales, profitability, and inventory turns while maximizing working capital.
- Analyze category and item performance data to influence strategies that maximize category performance, address gaps, and support company objectives.
- Know Open-To-Buy (OTB) inventory management and provide insights into category-level inventory flows.
Demand Forecasting and Planning:
- Forecast, analyze, and manage product demand to optimize stock levels and meet customer demand.
- Partner with cross-functional teams to align forecasts, understand promotional impacts, and adjust inventory strategies accordingly.
- Use demand and supply planning tools to drive accurate forecasting, and work with internal teams and vendors to support forecasted demand.
- Forecast, analyze, and manage product demand to optimize stock levels and meet customer demand.
Sales and Profitability Analysis:
- Conduct in-depth analysis of sales, margin, and profitability to identify trends and optimize category performance.
- Create ad-hoc analyses to react to business trends, support decision-making, and inform senior leadership on category and item-level performance.
Replenishment Strategies:
- Collaborate with Category Managers to develop inventory replenishment and allocation strategies, ensuring balanced stock across channels.
- Monitor product mix across price points, manage individual item performance, and ensure effective inventory turnover.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Actively participate in monthly performance meetings, providing data-backed insights and recommendations.
- Coordinate with the imports, quality control, product compliance, and trade compliance teams to ensure a smooth product flow and regulatory adherence.
Vendor & Capacity Management:
- Develop capacity forecasts and collaborate with vendors to ensure they can meet forecasted demand.
- Address overstock, closeout items, and inventory flow challenges to achieve targeted inventory levels and turns.
Reporting and Analytics:
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- Create regular reports on inventory status, sales performance, and forecasting accuracy.
- Communicate effectively across teams, promoting data sharing and transparency to support cohesive strategies.
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
- Strong critical thinking and analytical skills
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Strong business acumen
- Team player with the ability to collaborate, influence, problem solve and drive performance through strong execution skills
- Ability to prioritize multiple tasks with strong attention to detail in a fast-paced environment
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite with advanced level Excel Skills
- Knowledge of automated demand and supply planning software
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED
- Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Supply Chain/Logistics, or related field
- 3 years related work experience
- APICS certification a plus
- Background in demand forecasting/planning and inventory analysis
Together We Inspire Pride
We want our team members to be proud of the essential work they do, our commitment to the sustainability, and the overall customer experience. We are a culture that will invest heavily in our people, our company and in state-of-the-art technology to be at the forefront of innovation.
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PCNA is an equal opportunity employer. PCNA provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics, or any characteristic applicable under state, federal and local laws.
