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Entry Level Merchandise Planning Allocation Jobs

The Container Store

Merchandise Planner

Coppell, TX · On-site

$69K - $107K/yr

Overview The Merchandise Planner is responsible for executing the merchandise planning process for ... Experience with Planning and Allocation tools preferred; Oracle / JDA plus. * Proficient in ...

Maurices Incorporated

Merchandise Planner

Duluth, MN · On-site

$70K - $85K/yr

Clearly communicate and collaborate with key business partners including merchants, planning analysts, allocation, and planning peers. Other partners include pricing/promotions team, Company Planning ...

Maurices

Merchandise Planner

Duluth, MN · Hybrid

$70K - $85K/yr

Clearly communicate and collaborate with key business partners including merchants, planning analysts, allocation, and planning peers. Other partners include pricing/promotions team, Company Planning ...

Clare V.

Merchandise Retail Allocator

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$65K - $75K/yr

The Merchandise Retail Allocator is responsible for ensuring the right product is in the right ... Inventory Allocation & Planning * Develop and execute weekly and seasonal inventory allocation ...

Clare V

Merchandise Retail Allocator

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$65K - $75K/yr

The Merchandise Retail Allocator is responsible for ensuring the right product is in the right ... Requirements Inventory Allocation & Planning * Develop and execute weekly and seasonal inventory ...

Clare V.

Merchandise Retail Allocator

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$65K - $75K/yr

The Merchandise Retail Allocator is responsible for ensuring the right product is in the right ... Requirements Inventory Allocation & Planning * Develop and execute weekly and seasonal inventory ...

Nautica

Associate Merchandise Planner

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$62K - $114K/yr

Responsible for providing the Store Planning Team with the necessary guidance and direction to help ... allocation strategies, incorporating the merchandise plan and flow strategy to meet store inventory ...

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Entry Level Merchandise Planning Allocation information

See salary details

$55.5K

$97.2K

$152K

How much do entry level merchandise planning allocation jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level merchandise planning allocation in the United States is $97,202.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $73,500.00 and $116,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Entry Level Merchandise Planning Allocation vs Entry Level Merchandiser?

AspectEntry Level Merchandise Planning AllocationEntry Level Merchandiser
Primary FocusAllocating inventory and planning merchandise distributionSelecting and presenting products to meet customer demand
Skills RequiredData analysis, inventory management, forecastingVisual merchandising, product knowledge, sales analysis
Work EnvironmentPlanning departments, retail or wholesale companiesStore floors, retail outlets, or online platforms
Common Industry UsageRetail, apparel, consumer goodsRetail, fashion, specialty stores

While both roles support retail operations, Entry Level Merchandise Planning Allocation focuses on inventory distribution and planning, whereas Entry Level Merchandiser emphasizes product presentation and sales support. Understanding these differences helps candidates choose the right career path in retail and merchandising.

What is entry level merchandise planning allocation?

Entry level merchandise planning allocation involves assisting with the distribution of products to stores or online channels based on sales data, inventory levels, and forecasted demand. Professionals in this role help analyze trends, monitor stock, and ensure the right products are in the right locations at the right times. They work closely with buyers, planners, and store teams to support sales goals and minimize excess inventory. This position is a starting point for a career in retail merchandising and provides valuable experience in supply chain and inventory management.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Entry Level Merchandise Planning Allocation specialist, and why are they important?

To excel in Entry Level Merchandise Planning Allocation, you need strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and a bachelor's degree in business, finance, or a related field. Familiarity with Excel, inventory management systems, and retail planning software is typically required. Excellent communication, organizational skills, and adaptability help you work effectively with cross-functional teams and respond to shifting priorities. These capabilities ensure optimal inventory levels, efficient allocation of merchandise, and support for sales and profitability goals.

What are some common challenges faced by entry-level merchandise planning allocation professionals, and how can they be addressed?

Entry-level merchandise planning allocation professionals often face challenges such as managing large volumes of data, learning how to forecast demand accurately, and adapting to fast-changing market trends. Balancing inventory levels to avoid overstock or stockouts can also be complex, especially when collaborating with various teams like buying, logistics, and store operations. These challenges can be addressed by developing strong analytical skills, becoming proficient with planning software, staying organized, and actively seeking support and feedback from more experienced team members.
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Entry Level Merchandise Planning Allocation jobs near you
Infographic showing various Entry Level Merchandise Planning Allocation job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 5% Locum Tenens, 87% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $97,202 per year, or $46.7 per hour.

Associate Merchandise Planner

LULUS FASHION LOUNGE LLC

Los Angeles, CA • Hybrid

Full-time

Posted 16 days ago

Job description

The Associate Merchandise Planner is responsible for pre- and in-season planning of sales and inventory. This includes planning inventory to hit target in-stock levels while minimizing overstocks, tracking & reporting results to management and working closely with cross-functional teams to maximize the business. They are also expected to use analytics to solve complex problems.

Schedule: This is a Hybrid role working out of our LA Office 3 days a week (Tues-Thurs). 

What You’ll Do

  • Take a leading role in managing inventory and work toward creating a collaborative, innovative and results-oriented environment with cross-functional teams.

  • Balance workload priorities across in-season and pre-season planning deliverables to ensure successful execution of inventory management (including buy planning, pre-season forecasting and bi-weekly re-forecasting).

  • Reconcile top-down & bottoms-up department plans to division plans and forecasts.

  • Analyze pre-season plan and merchandising strategies for significant changes against last year.

  • Conduct weekly sales analysis and recommend products that need to be taken to markdown.

  • Create category level quarterly hindsight reports to drive strategic assortment decisions for future quarters and in-season management.

  • Own and drive the OTB actualization process monthly.

  • Identify and communicate tool and process improvement opportunities to the Manager of Merchandise Planning.

  • Provide support to leadership on special projects as needed.

  • Conduct ad-hoc analysis and reporting as needed.

What You’ll Need

  • 2+ years of retail apparel planning, allocation, or analytical experience.

  • Strong Microsoft Excel skills.

  • Strong analytical skills and ability to understand financial metrics and reporting.

  • Detail oriented.

  • Ability to problem solve and make effective decisions.

  • Cultivate strong working relationships across multiple cross-functional partners to ensure business success.

  • Demonstrate an ability to set objectives and goals and organize work appropriately to meet and exceed his/her goals.

  • Anticipate risks and identify contingency plans and processes to prevent disruptions when risks occur.

  • Demonstrate strong listening, written and oral communication skills.

Nice to Have - Bonus Points!

  • Bachelor’s degree required (in Business or Finance preferred).

We’re ready to meet you! Come help us achieve our ambitious goals!

At Lulus, we believe our people are our greatest asset and we seek to structure competitive compensation offers to ensure that we can attract and retain the best talent. Our job postings include an annual base salary range for the role. The stated base salary range represents our good faith estimate as to what candidates are likely to expect, and we tailor our offers within the range based on several factors, including the selected candidate's educational and professional experience, industry knowledge, location, technical and communication skills, and other factors that may prove relevant during the selection process. Base salary is a part of a total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include an annual bonus and other benefit programs.

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