[Hiring] Senior Merchandise Planner @The Tie Bar

Role Description

The Digital Stronghold is seeking a Merchandise Planner to support inventory strategy, forecasting, and merchandise planning initiatives for The Tie Bar, a premium menswear and accessories brand founded in Chicago over a decade ago. This role will play a key part in balancing inventory across channels, supporting financial goals, and ensuring the right product is available at the right time. The ideal candidate is analytical, detail-oriented, and collaborative, with experience in merchandise planning within apparel, retail, or eCommerce environments.

You'll work cross-functionally with buying, marketing, supply chain, eCommerce, and sales teams to help drive inventory optimization, assortment planning, and business performance across a fast-moving retail environment.

What You'll Do

• Merchandise Planning & Forecasting
  • Develop monthly, quarterly, and annual merchandise plans aligned with business objectives and sales targets.
  • Build and maintain demand forecasts based on historical sales data, seasonal trends, and market insights.
  • Support inventory planning and forecasting strategies to maximize product availability while minimizing excess inventory.
  • Manage open-to-buy budgets and provide reporting on performance, projections, and opportunities.
• Inventory Management & Optimization
  • Monitor sales performance and inventory levels across channels, adjusting plans to meet changes in demand.
  • Analyze sell-through performance and inventory trends to identify opportunities for optimization.
  • Support allocation strategies to ensure timely and effective product distribution across markets.
  • Partner with supply chain teams to help manage product flow and delivery timelines.
• Product Assortment & Financial Performance
  • Collaborate with buying teams to support assortment planning and sales forecasting initiatives.
  • Assist in monitoring sales, margin, and inventory performance against financial targets.
  • Provide analytical insights and recommendations related to assortment planning, inventory allocation, and sales performance.
  • Support planning adjustments tied to promotions, product launches, and evolving market conditions.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner closely with Marketing, Buying, Supply Chain, Sales, and eCommerce teams to execute merchandise plans effectively.
  • Help align planning strategies with promotional calendars and broader business priorities.
  • Prepare regular reporting and performance updates for stakeholders and leadership teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Merchandising, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of merchandise planning experience, preferably within apparel, retail, or eCommerce environments.
• Strong experience with inventory management, forecasting, and sales analysis.
• Must be eligible to work in the US.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and experience using merchandise planning systems such as NetSuite.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a high attention to detail.
• Experience collaborating cross-functionally with buying, marketing, supply chain, sales, and eCommerce teams.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience supporting global markets and understanding regional consumer demand trends is a plus.

Benefits

• Collaborative and entrepreneurial environment.
• Opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
• Support for the future growth of modern menswear and lifestyle brands.