Merchandise Planner and Sourcing Specialist

Company Description JESS LEA LLC is a United States–based company located in Magnolia, TX. The company operates in a dynamic retail and wholesale environment and focuses on delivering stylish, quality merchandise to its customers. Team members at JESS LEA collaborate closely to support growth, customer satisfaction, and efficient operations. The organization values a proactive mindset, attention to detail, and a strong commitment to meeting customer needs.

Role Description The Merchandise Planner and Sourcing Specialist is a full-time, on-site role based in Magnolia, TX. This role is responsible for forecasting demand, planning assortments, and managing inventory levels to support sales and margin objectives. The specialist will analyze sales trends, monitor stock performance, and adjust purchasing plans accordingly. Day-to-day tasks include sourcing products from suppliers, negotiating terms, tracking deliveries, and coordinating with sales, marketing, and operations teams to ensure merchandise availability. The role also involves maintaining accurate reporting, preparing merchandising recommendations, and supporting seasonal and promotional planning.

Key Responsibilities

Merchandise Planning & Forecasting

Develop seasonal and monthly merchandise plans based on historical sales, current trends, customer purchasing behavior, and company sales goals.

Analyze historical sales by style, category, color, size, price point, collection, and sales channel.

Develop sales and inventory forecasts to support wholesale and retail business.

Recommend initial order quantities and replenishment quantities based on expected demand.

Monitor actual sales against forecasts and identify significant variances.

Track sell-through, weeks of supply, inventory turnover, markdowns, and gross margin.

Identify best-selling and underperforming products and make recommendations accordingly.

Work with Sales and Marketing to understand upcoming promotions, campaigns, launches, and customer demand.

Help establish appropriate inventory levels to minimize both stockouts and excess inventory.

Provide weekly and monthly reporting on merchandise performance.

Buying & Inventory Management

Assist with purchasing decisions based on sales forecasts and inventory requirements.

Analyze open-to-buy and inventory commitments.

Monitor inventory levels across wholesale and retail channels.

Recommend transfers between wholesale and retail when appropriate.

Identify aging and excess inventory early and develop recommendations to improve sell-through.

Monitor cancelled orders and changes in wholesale demand that may impact inventory planning.

Work closely with Operations and Warehouse teams to ensure inventory availability aligns with sales plans.

Help establish reorder points and replenishment strategies for successful products.

Sourcing

Research and identify new domestic and international vendors and manufacturers.

Develop and maintain relationships with existing factories, suppliers, and sourcing partners.

Request and compare pricing, minimum order quantities, lead times, payment terms, and production capabilities.

Negotiate pricing and terms when appropriate.

Evaluate vendors based on quality, pricing, reliability, production capacity, and delivery performance.

Maintain an organized sourcing database.

Source fabrics, trims, packaging, and other materials as needed.

Identify opportunities to improve product cost and gross margin without sacrificing quality.

Vendor Management

Communicate regularly with vendors regarding pricing, samples, production, delivery dates, and quality.

Maintain vendor scorecards and performance reports.

Track production timelines and identify potential delays before they become issues.

Escalate production, quality, or delivery issues to management.

Help negotiate improved lead times, costs, and terms.

Build strong long-term relationships with key vendors and manufacturing partners.

Data Analysis & Reporting

Utilize ERP and reporting systems, including Acumatica, to analyze merchandise and inventory data.

Create and maintain Excel reports and planning spreadsheets.

Analyze customer purchasing behavior and identify buying patterns.

Provide management with actionable recommendations based on data.

Track key performance indicators including sales, gross margin, sell-through, inventory turnover, weeks of supply, average unit retail, average unit cost, replenishment, markdown percentage, inventory aging, and forecast versus actual sales.

Present findings and recommendations to management on a regular basis.

Cross-Functional Responsibilities

This position will work closely with the following teams:

Design: Product development, new styles, fabrics and trims, color and trend direction.

Sales: Wholesale customer demand, key account feedback, upcoming orders, and customer purchasing patterns.

Marketing: Product launches, promotional calendars, campaign timing, and retail and wholesale marketing initiatives.

Operations/Warehouse: Inventory availability, receiving schedules, inventory transfers, and production and delivery timing.

Finance: Inventory investment, purchase commitments, gross margins, and cash flow considerations.

Ideal Candidate

3+ years of experience in apparel merchandising, buying, merchandise planning, sourcing, or product development.

Strong understanding of women's fashion and the apparel industry.

Experience working with domestic and/or international apparel manufacturers.

Strong Excel and analytical skills.

Experience analyzing sales and inventory data.

Experience with ERP systems; Acumatica experience is a plus.

Strong understanding of inventory planning and forecasting.

Excellent vendor negotiation and communication skills.

Strong attention to detail.

Ability to manage multiple products, vendors, and deadlines simultaneously.

Ability to work in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

Strong organizational and project-management skills.

Ability to make decisions based on data while also understanding fashion and customer preferences.

Key Performance Indicators

Forecast accuracy

Inventory turnover

Sell-through

Reduction of excess and aged inventory

Gross margin performance

Product cost improvements

Vendor performance

On-time production and delivery

Successful product launches

Inventory availability

Achievement of seasonal merchandise plans

Reduction in inventory dollars tied up in slow-moving product