Merchandise Planner

Job summary

The Merchandise Planner owns the end-to-end planning cycle, aligning inventory investments with sales goals to ensure product availability. They are responsible for developing SKU-level demand forecasts, managing Open-to-Buy execution, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to optimize inventory health.

Job details

Merchandise Planner Department: Supply Chain Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time Location: Vancouver Compensation: CA$70,000 - CA$90,000 / year Description Hi there, we’re Article. 👋 Since 2013, we have been redefining the furniture industry one sofa at a time. It’s not easy — it requires solving challenging, meaningful problems. This is where you come in. As a Merchandise Planner, you'll own the end-to-end planning cycle for your assigned categories, aligning inventory investments with sales goals to ensure our customers always find the products they love in stock. On the team, we balance sales velocity, stock availability, and financial performance across all our sales channels. This fits into our larger need to scale our product offerings profitably, preventing costly stockouts or overstock situations while maximizing Open-to-Buy efficiency as Article continues to grow. Within the first few months, you’d establish accurate SKU-level forecasts and reconcile top-down financial goals with bottom-up inventory strategies. In a year, you’ll be proud to say you’ve optimized the inventory health of your assigned categories, directly driving bottom-line growth through data-backed Open-to-Buy management and seamless cross-functional alignment. We are a collaborative, data-driven team that bridges the gap between financial targets and physical inventory. We work closely with Category Management, Sourcing, Order Management, and Finance to ensure our assortment strategy comes to life seamlessly. We leverage tools like Excel/Google Sheets, Tableau, and modern planning platforms (such as SAP IBP, Blue Yonder, John Galt, or Anaplan) to translate complex metrics into clear strategies. We are a hybrid team - you'll be in the office 3 days per week. What You’ll Do You’ll be part of a high-performing team working to solve complex demand forecasting and inventory distribution challenges. Develop and maintain precise, SKU-level demand forecasts to support category growth and satisfy customer demand across all channels. Reconcile top-down category financial goals with bottom-up SKU plans to build achievable, profitable targets. Own Open-to-Buy (OTB) execution, ensuring inventory investments directly mirror our merchandising and financial strategies. Manage stock levels to balance inventory health, maintaining high product availability while mitigating overstock and stockout risks. Analyze historical sales data, market trends, and underlying performance drivers to continuously refine forecast accuracy. Track and report on core key performance indicators, including sell-through rates, inventory turn, and forecast precision. Deliver actionable business insights and strategic recommendations to help Category Managers maximize their product performance. Partner with Sourcing and Order Management teams to align vendor capacity and production planning with real-time customer demand. Identify and drive opportunities for process automation and workflow improvements to increase overall planning efficiency. Who You Are 3+ years of experience in merchandise planning, demand planning, or merchandising. Strong proficiency in Retail Math, Open-to-Buy (OTB) execution, and pre-season planning concepts. Highly skilled in data analysis with advanced expertise in Microsoft Excel and/or Google Sheets. Experience utilizing enterprise planning and analytics tools (e.g., SAP IBP, Blue Yonder/JDA, John Galt, Anaplan, Tableau). Exceptional communication skills with a proven track record of collaborating across cross-functional teams like Finance, Sourcing, and Marketing. Confident decision-maker who uses data and structured analysis to back up strategic choices. Able to influence internal stakeholders and cross-functional partners to drive key initiatives forward. Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to prioritize independently in a fast-paced environment. Legally able to work in Canada. Completion of criminal background check. Perks & Benefits Wealth: The salary range is $70,000 to $90,000 Starting salary is determined by your transferable skills, knowledge, work experience, and the hiring team’s budget, which is based on business needs, market compensation data, and internal equity We believe in Winning Together. When Article hits its annual financial goals, eligible employees will receive a cash bonus 4% RRSP matched contributions through Wealthsimple Life: 15 days of vacation* 1 extra day off (Inclusion and Diversity Day) 6 well-being (sick) days Hybrid work: 3 days a week in the office Work remotely (anywhere in the world) for up to 3 weeks Total Health: Excellent extended health, dental and vision benefits $1000 health/lifestyle spending account* for your total physical and mental well-being TELUS Health App Mental Health Assistance/Counseling Virtual medical appointments Office Space: The Article HQ is a converted warehouse, with an open accessible layout and no offices (even for our founders) Work from your desk, an Article sofa, collaboration spaces, or a private meeting room Standup desks can be requested too Our kitchens are stocked with salty, sweet and healthy snacks, & all the premium coffees and teas to keep you buzzing Onsite fitness equipment with showers and towel service Pickleball, badminton, and table tennis matches happen, from very competitive to very casual A dog-friendly office - well-socialized pups are welcome Getting here: Free street parking (first come, first serve; no reserved spots for senior leaders) Indoor secure bike storage with change rooms and showers 20-minute walk to either Main Street- Science World or VCC Clark Skytrain stations Extra: 45% discount on our entire product range (15% for friends and family) *Prorated #INDARTICLE

What you’ll do

The Merchandise Planner owns the end-to-end planning cycle, aligning inventory investments with sales goals to ensure product availability. They are responsible for developing SKU-level demand forecasts, managing Open-to-Buy execution, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to optimize inventory health.

Requirements

Candidates must have 3+ years of experience in merchandise or demand planning with strong proficiency in retail math and data analysis tools. The role requires advanced expertise in Excel and enterprise planning software, along with the ability to work legally in Canada.

Benefits

• Cash bonus
• RRSP matched contributions
• Vacation
• Inclusion and diversity day
• Well-being sick days
• Extended health benefits
• Dental benefits
• Vision benefits
• Health and lifestyle spending account
• Mental health assistance
• Virtual medical appointments
• Product discount

Listed skills

• Demand Forecasting · Preferred
• Data analysis · Preferred
• Microsoft Excel · Preferred
• Tableau · Preferred
• Inventory management · Preferred
• Cross-Functional Collaboration · Preferred
• Communication · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Merchandise planning
• Demand forecasting
• Retail math
• Open-to-buy execution
• Data analysis
• Microsoft Excel
• Google Sheets
• SAP IBP
• Blue Yonder
• John Galt
• Anaplan
• Tableau
• Inventory management
• Strategic planning
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Communication
• Order Management
• Assortment Strategy
• Influencing Skills
• Influencing Without Authority
• Supply Chain
• Workflow Management
• Demand Planning
• Financial Strategy
• Merchandise Planning
• Planning
• Production Planning
• Category Growth
• Analytics
• Data Analysis
• Mental Health
• Management
• Business Process Automation
• Category Management
• Decision Making
• Customer Demand Planning
• Demand Forecasting
• Finance
• Equities
• Sales
• Forecasting
• Warehousing
• Marketing
• Inventory Distribution
• Inventory Turnover
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Market Trend
• Mathematics
• Merchandising
• Order Management Systems

Job areas

• Retail
• Logistics
• Data & Analytics
• Finance & Accounting
• Management & Leadership
• Merchandise Planner
• Merchandising Specialist
• Sales Demonstrators
• Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers

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