Merchandising Planner

Merchandising Planner

City of London Full-Time 36000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Own category-level planning and inventory flow for designer toys across Europe.
  • Company: Join POP MART, a leading global brand in designer toy culture since 2010.
  • Benefits: Enjoy monthly toy gifts, bonuses, training, social events, and paid breaks.
  • Why this job: Be part of a vibrant team, shaping the future of collectible art toys.
  • Qualifications: Bachelor's degree and 5-8 years in merchandising planning; fluent in English and Mandarin.
  • Other info: Ideal for those passionate about youth culture and creative consumer spaces.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.

Industry: Designer toys and collectible pieces

Location: Canary Wharf, London

Job type: Full time Permanent

About POP MART

Founded in 2010, POP MART is a market-leading entertainment company and a global champion of designer toy culture. Through global artist development, IP operations, and designer toy culture evangelism, we have built an integrated platform covering the entire designer toy value chain. Besides our original and iconic IPs such as Molly, Hirono, Skullpanda, and LABUBU, POP MART collaborates with top-tier toys and lifestyle brands including Disney, Universal Studios, and Sanrio to create collectible art toys featuring their iconic characters. POP MART has established a strong presence across key European markets, including the UK, France, Italy, Netherlands, Germany and Spain. As part of our strategic growth initiatives, we are focused on expanding our retail network into additional high-potential markets across Europe, continuing to strengthen our brand's position in the region.

What to Expect

  • Take full category-level ownership of forecasts and inventory flow across multiple European markets
  • Work across cross-functional teams, including HQ, supply chain, retail, and business development
  • Play a key role in ensuring product launches are commercially successful and inventory risks are proactively managed
  • Grow your expertise in regional assortment planning, demand analysis, and product lifecycle decision-making
  • Join a supportive, ambitious merchandising team with clear development pathways

Benefits

  • Selected POP MART toys as appreciation gifts every month
  • A structured bonus scheme in line with the company’s and the individual’s performance
  • Comprehensive training and development programs
  • Regular team social events
  • Paid rest breaks

The Role and Candidate

We are hiring Regional Merchandising Planners (Europe) to take ownership of category-level planning across multiple countries and channels. This role is responsible for aligning forecasts, tracking sell-through performance, and adjusting inventory flow for key product categories within the POP MART assortment. Reporting to the Merchandising Planning Manager, you will act as the go-to category expert for commercial planning, launch execution, and lifecycle analysis. You will work closely with HQ Merchandising, Retail, and Supply Chain to ensure that product launches are well-executed and that stock remains healthy throughout each product’s life.

Responsibilities

  • Category Forecasting & Commercial Planning
    • Develop detailed sales and demand forecasts by SKU, country, and channel, tailored to category dynamics and market seasonality
    • Consolidate commercial goals with bottom-up market data to build accurate, forward-looking category plans
    • Maintain forecast integrity from pre-launch through post-launch performance
  • Product Lifecycle Management
    • Own the planning and sell-through monitoring of all launches, replenishments, and discontinuations in your category
    • Identify ageing stock early and coordinate mitigation actions such as markdowns, reallocation, or liquidation proposals
    • Guide product exit timing and lifecycle decisions in partnership with Merchandising and Retail
  • Planning Governance & Market Coordination
    • Act as the lead category contact for country retail teams, BD managers, and HQ stakeholders
    • Collaborate with the Supply Chain team to ensure inventory flow and launch readiness align with warehouse and allocation timelines
    • Participate in S&OP, campaign planning, and cross-functional readiness meetings as needed
  • Reporting & Commercial Insights
    • Prepare regular dashboards and deep-dive reports to track category performance, sell-through, forecast accuracy, and stock risk
    • Present insights and recommendations to the Merchandising Planning Manager to support decision-making and seasonal reviews
    • Continuously refine tools and planning templates to improve data clarity and usability

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree or above
  • 5–8 years of experience in merchandising planning, category management, or commercial forecasting
  • Solid background in managing high-SKU portfolios and supporting multi-country or multi-channel retail businesses
  • Excellent analytical skills and comfort working with Excel; experience with planning systems or BI tools is a plus
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills; able to work effectively across functions and regions
  • Fluent in English and Mandarin to communicate with local design and product team

Desirable but Not Essential

  • Experience in fashion, beauty, lifestyle, or collectible goods
  • Prior involvement in high-frequency product drops or trend-led categories
  • Familiarity with regional vs HQ planning processes in international businesses
  • Passion for youth culture, art toys, or the creative consumer space

Merchandising Planner employer: POP MART

At POP MART, we pride ourselves on being a dynamic and innovative employer in the designer toy industry, located in the vibrant Canary Wharf, London. Our multicultural team fosters a collaborative work culture that encourages creativity and professional growth, offering structured training programmes and clear development pathways. With unique benefits such as monthly appreciation gifts and regular social events, we ensure our employees feel valued and engaged while contributing to the exciting world of collectible art toys.
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Contact Detail:

POP MART Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Merchandising Planner

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with POP MART's product lines and their unique selling points. Understanding the brand's identity and its key products will help you demonstrate your passion for their designer toys during interviews.

✨Tip Number 2

Network with professionals in the designer toy industry, especially those who have experience in merchandising planning. Engaging with industry experts can provide valuable insights and potentially lead to referrals.

✨Tip Number 3

Brush up on your analytical skills, particularly with Excel and any relevant BI tools. Being able to showcase your proficiency in data analysis will be crucial for the role, as it involves forecasting and performance tracking.

✨Tip Number 4

Prepare to discuss your experience with cross-functional collaboration. Highlight specific examples where you've successfully worked with teams across different departments, as this is essential for the Merchandising Planner role.

We think you need these skills to ace Merchandising Planner

Category Management
Commercial Forecasting
Sales and Demand Forecasting
Inventory Management
Product Lifecycle Management
Analytical Skills
Excel Proficiency
Business Intelligence Tools
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Communication Skills
Fluency in Mandarin
Market Analysis
Data Reporting
Problem-Solving Skills
Understanding of Retail Dynamics

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in merchandising planning, category management, or commercial forecasting. Use specific examples that demonstrate your analytical skills and ability to manage high-SKU portfolios.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for designer toys and youth culture. Mention your fluency in Mandarin and English, and how it will benefit the role. Be sure to align your skills with the responsibilities outlined in the job description.

Showcase Analytical Skills: Since the role requires excellent analytical skills, consider including a section in your application that details your experience with Excel and any planning systems or BI tools you've used. Provide examples of how you've used data to drive decisions.

Highlight Cross-Functional Collaboration: Emphasise your experience working across different teams, such as supply chain and retail. Provide examples of successful collaborations that led to effective product launches or inventory management.

How to prepare for a job interview at POP MART

✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills

As a Merchandising Planner, you'll need to demonstrate strong analytical abilities. Be prepared to discuss your experience with data analysis, forecasting, and how you've used Excel or BI tools in previous roles. Bring examples of how your insights have positively impacted inventory management or sales.

✨Understand the Brand and Market

Familiarise yourself with POP MART's products and their position in the designer toy market. Research their collaborations and key competitors. Showing that you understand the brand's ethos and market dynamics will impress the interviewers and highlight your genuine interest in the role.

✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration

This role involves working closely with various teams, including supply chain and retail. Think of examples from your past experiences where you successfully collaborated across departments. Highlight your communication skills and how you can bridge gaps between different functions.

✨Demonstrate Passion for the Industry

POP MART values a passion for youth culture and art toys. Share your enthusiasm for the designer toy industry and any relevant experiences or interests you have. This could be personal collections, attending events, or following trends in the collectible space, which will show your alignment with the company's culture.

Merchandising Planner
POP MART
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