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Merchandise Planner - buybuy Baby
Company : Kirkland's, Inc.
Location : Brentwood, TN, 37027
Job Type : Full Time
Date Posted : 11 January 2026
Overview
Under minimal supervision, the Merchandise Planner for the buy buy Baby brand will create and manage department/class sales, inventory, and profit plans for assigned departments. This position will effectively analyze and identify business risk and opportunities and partner with merchandising team to propose solutions based on this analysis in order to achieve and exceed the organization’s financial goals.
Responsibilities
- Create 12-month seasonal sales, inventory, and profit plans for assigned departments. Reforecast weekly; sales, and margin based on current trends as well as initiating discussions with the buying team as needed to ensure that open-to-buy is accurate, and inventory is in line with sales trend and plan.
- Partner with buying team to properly manage sku count through assortment planning and markdown strategies.
- Partner with allocation team to maximize inventory balance within the stores as well as ensuring stock levels on promotional merchandise.
- Partner with buying team to plan item level reorders of current items to maximize sales while minimizing inventory risk.
- Responsible for approving all purchase orders based on open-to-buy and the needs of the business.
- Run and analyze reports to react to current business trends as well as anticipate future business trends.
- Perform other duties as necessary.
- Demonstrates a commitment to The Brand House Collective.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree required.
- 3 – 5 years planning experience.
- Or any equivalent combination of experience and training that demonstrates the ability to perform the key responsibilities of this position.
- Highly motivated and results oriented.
- Ability to negotiate with and influence peers and members of cross functional team.
- Ability to build and maintain strong working relationships.
- Ability to formally present business strategies and action plans.
- Ability to meet deadlines.
- Ability to multi-task and prioritize.
- Demonstrates strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office.
- Ability to work at a computer for extended periods of time
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Frequently asked questions
Brentwood's retail sector has moderate demand for merchandise planners, with local companies valuing candidates who bring strong analytical skills and cross-team collaboration. Kirkland's, Inc. offers a unique opportunity to engage in inventory and sales planning, but candidates should be prepared to stand out through experience and strategic insight.
While no strict certifications are mandated in Brentwood for merchandise planners, credentials in inventory management, data analytics, or retail planning often enhance a candidate's profile. Employers like Kirkland's, Inc. appreciate proficiency in Microsoft Office and real-world planning experience over formal certificates.
Success in this role hinges on sharp trend analysis, precise sales forecasting, and deft inventory balancing. A planner must collaborate effectively with buying and allocation teams, leveraging data to minimize risk while maximizing profit margins through intelligent SKU assortment and markdown strategies.
Starting as a Merchandise Planner opens pathways to senior planning or managerial roles by mastering seasonal forecasting, inventory control, and cross-functional negotiation. Proving ability to deliver consistent profit and sales growth often accelerates advancement within retail merchandising hierarchies.
Besides routine sales and inventory analysis, planners here must adapt quickly to shifting baby product trends and collaborate closely with buying teams to adjust open-to-buy limits. Managing promotional stock levels and anticipating seasonal shifts add layers of complexity unique to this niche market.
At Kirkland's, Inc., the Merchandise Planner acts as a strategic partner to buyers and allocation teams, ensuring coordinated SKU counts and inventory flow. This integration fosters agile responses to sales trends and supports achieving company-wide financial goals through shared data insights.
This role emphasizes a commitment to the brand house collective, blending independent analysis with teamwork. Kirkland's prioritizes planners who can proactively identify business risks and opportunities, fostering innovation in assortment planning and markdown strategies within a collaborative environment.
Merchandise Planners in Brentwood typically earn between $60,000 and $75,000 annually, depending on experience and skill set. Given the specialized focus on buybuy Baby, candidates with 3-5 years' planning experience can anticipate compensation toward the upper range, reflecting the role's strategic responsibilities.
While remote roles are growing in retail, buybuy Baby's merchandise planner positions at Kirkland's generally require on-site collaboration in Brentwood to synchronize closely with buying and allocation teams. Physical presence supports quicker decision-making and hands-on inventory management.
The planner collaborates indirectly with ecommerce merchandising by ensuring that SKU assortments and inventory levels align with online sales trends. This synergy helps optimize stock availability both in stores and digital channels, enhancing overall brand performance.