Inventory & Merchandising Planner

Job Description – Inventory & Merchandising Planner (Retail) Location: Pune (On-site) Employment Type: Full-Time Department: Retail / Merchandising & Supply Planning About Frido Frido is a fast-growing comfort-tech brand focused on footwear designed for enhanced comfort, mobility, and long-hour usage. With a strong D2C presence and expanding offline retail network, we aim to deliver seamless and efficient customer experience across all channels. We are looking for an Inventory & Merchandising Planner to strengthen our retail supply chain, inventory accuracy, and product availability at all stores. Role Overview The Inventory & Merchandising Planner will be responsible for end-to-end demand planning, stock allocation, replenishment, merchandising accuracy, and sales analysis across Frido’s retail stores and modern trade outlets. This role ensures the right product is available at the right store, in the right quantity, at the right time. Key Responsibilities 1. Inventory Planning & Replenishment • Plan and forecast inventory requirements for all Frido retail locations and partner stores. • Ensure optimal stock levels based on sales velocity, seasonality, and product lifecycle. • Monitor daily stock movement and initiate replenishment to avoid stock-outs or overstocking. • Maintain ideal size curves, assortment planning, and SKU distribution per store. 2. Merchandising & Allocation • Define merchandising plans for new store launches, category expansions, and product introductions. • Allocate inventory based on store performance, regional trends, and demand patterns. • Work with the Retail Sales Team to understand store-specific requirements and fast-moving styles. • Manage display standards and ensure all stores follow Frido’s visual merchandising SOPs. 3. Demand Forecasting & Sales Analysis • Analyze historical sales trends, sell-through, seasonal peaks, and product adoption. • Prepare weekly, monthly, and quarterly demand forecasts for production and procurement teams. • Conduct SKU-level performance reviews and recommend discontinuation or scaling up. • Identify underperforming products and propose corrective actions. 4. Stock Accuracy & Operational Control • Track inventory health: ageing stocks, slow movers, shortages, damages, and returns. • Coordinate with warehouse teams for timely dispatches and inventory counting. • Implement best practices for inventory hygiene across stores. • Ensure alignment between POS data, ERP records, and physical inventory. 5. Cross-Functional Collaboration • Work closely with: o Retail Sales Teams – to increase store productivity o Supply Chain & Warehouse – for dispatches and replenishment o Product & Category Teams – for collection planning o Finance – for inventory valuation updates • Provide insights on store performance, assortment needs, and new product opportunities. Skills & Qualifications Required • 1–4 years of experience in retail inventory planning / merchandising / demand planning for D2C or retail brands. • Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel, Google Sheets, and MIS. • Good understanding of retail operations, product assortment, and inventory flow. • Ability to work with data and convert insights into actionable plans. Preferred • Experience in footwear, fashion, lifestyle, FMCG, or D2C brands. • Knowledge of ERP systems, inventory management software, or POS systems. • Exposure to modern trade and LFR environments (Reliance, Shoppers Stop, etc.).