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- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
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 iconic characters and collaborations will help you demonstrate your passion for their products during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the designer toy and collectible industry. Attend relevant events or join online communities to connect with others who share your interests, which could lead to valuable insights and potential referrals.
✨Tip Number 3
Brush up on your analytical skills, especially with Excel and any planning systems. Being able to showcase your proficiency in data analysis will be crucial for the role, so consider taking a short course if needed.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your experience with category management and forecasting in detail. Be ready to provide examples of how you've successfully managed inventory flow and product launches in previous roles, as this will be key to impressing the hiring team.
We think you need these skills to ace Merchandising Planner
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in merchandising planning, category management, and 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 Your Analytical Skills: Provide examples of how you've used data analysis in previous roles. Discuss any experience you have with Excel or BI tools, as well as how you've contributed to successful product launches or inventory management.
Highlight Cross-Functional Collaboration: Emphasise your experience working with cross-functional teams. Detail how you've collaborated with supply chain, retail, or business development teams to achieve common goals, as this is crucial for the role at POP MART.
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 these skills to drive successful product launches in the past.
✨Understand the Designer Toy Market
Familiarise yourself with POP MART's products and the designer toy culture. Showing genuine interest and knowledge about their iconic IPs and collaborations will set you apart and show that you're passionate about the industry.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration
This role involves working closely with various teams. Think of examples from your previous roles where you successfully collaborated across functions, and be ready to discuss how you can bring that experience to POP MART.
✨Demonstrate Your Language Skills
Since fluency in Mandarin is required, be prepared to showcase your language skills during the interview. You might be asked to conduct part of the conversation in Mandarin, so practice discussing relevant topics in both English and Mandarin.
