Back to category
J
Jawad B.
Senior Merchandise Planner
South Africa20+ years experienceAvailable now$12,000/mo
Compare at US rates $36,000/mo?
AI Experience
✨ Gemini - Runs regular market scanning and scoping, market segmentation and competitor promotion tracking, with reminders that flag when retailers discount lines such as puffer and insulated jackets. Also applies it to company research and interview preparation, and uses it inside Excel where it helps.
Notable Highlight
Successfully launched and scaled the premium beauty and cosmetics division for a previous company South Africa from the ground up, establishing prestige brand partnerships including Lancôme, Benefit, and Smashbox, and growing the division into a multi-million ZAR business across more than 500 stores. Works hands-on with Gemini - the AI Experience section above has the examples.
Experience Summary
Jawad was a retail executive with 20 years of global experience in merchandise planning, category management, and omni-channel operations. Beginning his career in 2000 in prestige beauty and cosmetics, he worked across South Africa, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Germany, and Saudi Arabia. He specialized in end-to-end management of both hard lines and soft lines, including apparel, luxury cosmetics, big-box home furnishings, and athletic goods. Throughout his career, J. operated at large enterprise scale, managing retail portfolios valued up to 1.2 billion ZAR, spearheading commercial division roll-outs across 500+ stores, and directing multi-tiered planning teams.
Key Achievements
- Successfully launched and scaled the premium beauty and cosmetics division for a previous company South Africa from the ground up, establishing prestige brand partnerships (Lancôme, Benefit, Smashbox) and growing the division into a multi-million ZAR business across more than 500 stores.
- Served as Planning Manager at MP, directly managing a multi-category portfolio valued at 1.2 billion ZAR and leading a team of 12 corporate planners (8 senior and 4 junior).
- Partnered with global entrepreneur Michael Mikborg in Hong Kong to establish the e-commerce fashion platform CC, serving as E-commerce Manager and Merchandise Manager to build business infrastructure from scratch.
- Spearheaded the multi-category Planning Analyst division at a previous company, managing data orchestration, commercial insights, and inventory tracking across the health, beauty, and baby divisions.
Skills
Commercial PlanningRetail StrategyMerchandise PlanningP&L ManagementFinancial PlanningAssortment PlanningInventory ManagementStock OptimizationSupply Chain ManagementOracle MFPQlik SenseOracle Retail IntelligenceSAPJDA Blue YonderJDA Enterprise PlanningOracle SQL DeveloperMicrosoft Power BIMicrosoft Power QueryMicrosoft ExcelData AnalysisDemand PlanningVendor ManagementCategory ManagementMarket AnalysisTeam LeadershipWSSI AnalysisOTB ManagementForecastingRange PlanningStock AllocationStockturn OptimizationMargin ExpansionSales GrowthROI Analysis
Work Experience
Senior Merchandise Planner
CUM · Aug 2024 - Present
- Develop pre-season financial plans and post-seasonal range review meetings.
- Conduct market share analysis and scoping, and determine pre-season range structure.
- Execute NOOS forecasting and monthly MFP reprojections.
- Drive efficiencies across the supply chain and manage vendor relationships.
- Plan K-Way factory production and mitigate production risks.
- Develop new store budgeting and assortment planning strategies.
- Coordinate stock across corporate divisions and wholesale channels to service sales.
- Execute in-season planning and optimization.
- Lead and manage allocators and replenishment analysts.
- Manage replenishment parameters and optimize store grading.
- Collaborate with visual merchandise on trading space optimizations, key product launches, and hotspots.
- Provide merchandising-to-marketing input on seasonal launches and product innovation.
- Optimize online sell-through by ensuring optimal product availability.
- Manage end-to-end supply planning and key account management for branded apparel (Salomon, The North Face, XTM, Jack Wolfskin).
Planning Analyst
a previous company · June 2020 - July 2024
- Planning Analyst (Healthcare | Baby | Beauty | Accessories)
- Translated business financial plans into category-specific sales, margin, and inventory budgets.
- Developed annual Financial Merchandise Plans at a previous company, Department, and Class levels.
- Drove S&OP and reviewed Demand Plans to overall Department Financial Plans; managed exceptions.
- Managed OTB and Projected Intake Spend through supply planning.
- Delivered weekly Executive Scorecard management and reporting.
- Approved buy plans and innovation planning.
- Managed range reviews and identified missed opportunities to optimize category performance.
- Provided vendor strategy input through robust supply planning analytics.
- Managed critical path for event-specific programs (Christmas, Easter, Mother's Day, etc.).
- Developed business processes and designed management reporting.
- Senior Category Planner (Medicinal | External Health)
- Developed and executed merchandising strategies to maximize sales and profitability.
- Managed assortment planning, stock allocation, and inventory levels for optimal product availability.
- Analyzed sales trends and consumer behavior to inform buying and planning decisions.
- Oversaw seasonal planning, product launches, and markdown strategies.
- Aligned merchandising strategies with business objectives through retail team collaboration.
- Conducted market and competitor analysis to identify growth opportunities and refine product strategies.
- Provided regular performance updates and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
- Ensured data accuracy and integrity across reporting and merchandising tools.
Planning Manager (FTC)
a previous company · Jan 2019 - Jul 2019
- Led department trading actions and aligned team forecasts with business financial plans.
- Assessed channel performance and directed decisions on stock optimization.
- Established clear line card processes and communicated strategy and performance to stakeholders.
- Identified trends in WSSI and communicated risks and opportunities to senior management.
- Translated long-term sales plans into actionable department strategies for all KPIs.
- Oversaw inventory management and provided cross-functional solutions to reach end-of-season stock targets.
- Conducted hindsight assessments to formulate financial building blocks for strategy planning.
- Partnered with buying counterparts to formulate department forward pricing strategy.
- Managed OTB process, influencing buying strategies to meet department KPIs.
- Optimized buying strategies to maximize opportunities and demonstrated flexibility in approach.
- Conducted regular store visits and competitor reviews.
- Developed and mentored team, fostering growth and skill development.
- Collaborated with key stakeholders on cross-functional projects and process improvements.
Brand Planning & Operations Manager
BI · Jun 2016 - Mar 2017
- (No detailed responsibilities provided in source document)
Senior Planning and Buying Manager
LISA · Nov 2015 - Apr 2016
- (No detailed responsibilities provided in source document)
Senior Product Buying Manager
PR · Mar 2014 - Oct 2015
- (No detailed responsibilities provided in source document)
Buying & Merchandising Manager
CC · Nov 2012 - Feb 2014
- (No detailed responsibilities provided in source document)
Planning Manager
a previous company · May 2012 - Oct 2012
- (No detailed responsibilities provided in source document)
Planning Manager
MPA · Apr 2010 - Mar 2012
- (No detailed responsibilities provided in source document)
Senior Planner
a previous company · Jun 2006 - Mar 2010
- (No detailed responsibilities provided in source document)
Merchandise Planner
TU · Aug 2004 - May 2006
- (No detailed responsibilities provided in source document)
Buyer (Beauty)
a previous company · May 2000 - May 2004
- (No detailed responsibilities provided in source document)