Senior Merchandise Planner

Senior Merchandise Planner

Tie Bar

Chicago, IL • On-site, Remote

Full-time

Posted 23 hours ago


Job description

About Us
The Digital Stronghold is a modern commerce collective built around four distinctive, high-performance brands: Taylor Stitch, The Tie Bar, Boston Scally, and Pedal Mafia. Each brand stands on its own with a loyal community and a clear sense of purpose, yet together, they define what contemporary menswear looks like across lifestyle, tailoring, and performance apparel.
Our Values
  • Own the outcome
  • Move with purpose
  • Speak truth, listen fully
  • Learn and share
  • Drop the ego
  • Build for the long haul
About the Role
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
What We're Looking For
  • 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
Why Join Us?
At The Digital Stronghold, you'll join a collaborative and entrepreneurial environment where thoughtful planning, creativity, and operational excellence come together to support a portfolio of distinctive brands. You'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact while helping shape the future growth of modern menswear and lifestyle brands.
If you're passionate about retail planning, inventory strategy, and data-driven decision making, we'd love to hear from you.



Frequently asked questions

Q: What skills or qualities help someone succeed as a Merchandise Planner?

A: To succeed as a Merchandise Planner, key technical skills include proficiency in data analysis, Excel, and inventory management software, as well as knowledge of supply chain operations and market trends. Soft skills such as strong communication, problem-solving, and analytical abilities, along with a strategic mindset and attention to detail, are also crucial for effective merchandise planning. By combining these technical and soft skills, a Merchandise Planner can drive business growth, optimize inventory levels, and make informed decisions that support the company's overall sales and revenue goals.

Q: What is the career path for a Merchandise Planner?

A: A Merchandise Planner's typical career progression involves starting as a Junior Planner or Assistant Planner, where they develop skills in data analysis, trend forecasting, and inventory management. As they gain experience, they can move into mid-level roles such as Planner or Senior Planner, where they take on more responsibility for product assortment, pricing, and sales forecasting. Senior Merchandise Planners or even Department Heads can then oversee entire product lines, drive business growth, and develop strategic plans to stay competitive in the market.\n\nKey opportunities for skill development and professional growth in this role include learning data analysis tools, developing forecasting models, and staying up-to-date with industry trends and consumer behavior. Additionally, Merchandise Planners can expand their skill set by taking on leadership roles, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and pursuing certifications in supply chain management or business analytics.\n\nLong-term career prospects for Merchandise Planners may include transitioning into senior leadership roles, such as Vice President of Merchandising or Chief Merchandising Officer, or exploring related fields like retail management, product development, or supply chain optimization.



Tie Bar job posting for a Senior Merchandise Planner in Chicago, IL with a salary of $57,700 to $91,700 Annually with a map of Chicago location.