On this International Women’s Day, we at the #retailfam wanted to write about the amazing opportunities available for ambitious Millennial and Gen Z professional women in the retail and e-commerce merchandise planning and buying fields.
Retail merchandise planning is a dynamic and exciting career that is perfect for Millennial and Gen Z women professionals. It involves analyzing data, predicting trends, and developing strategies to optimize sales and profits for a retail company. Here are some reasons why this career path is particularly well-suited to women in these age groups.
Reason #1 – Merchandise planning is a career that values data analysis, creativity and innovation. Retail companies need to constantly come up with new and innovative products that appeal to customers. As a merchandise planner, you will be responsible for identifying trends, forecasting demand, and selecting the right products to bring to market. This requires a great deal of creativity and imagination, as well as the ability to think critically and analyze data. Millennial and Gen Z women professionals are very used to leveraging technology as well as data and analytics to make business critical decisions, oftentimes with significant impacts to the bottom line.
For example, a merchandise planner for a clothing retailer might analyze sales data to determine which styles and colors are most popular with customers. Based on this analysis, she might work with designers and manufacturers to create new products that incorporate these trends. She might also use a retail merchandise software solution to make decisions about pricing, marketing, and promotions to maximize sales and profits.
Reason #2 – Merchandise planning is a career that offers a great deal of opportunity for growth and advancement. Many retail companies have well-defined career paths for merchandise planners, with clear expectations and criteria for promotion. This allows women to develop their skills and experience and advance in their careers, regardless of their background or education.
Case in point – a merchandise planner for a beauty retailer might start out in an entry-level position, analyzing sales data and assisting with product selection. Over time, she might take on more responsibility, such as managing a team of planners or developing new product lines. As she gains experience and skills, she might be promoted to a senior merchandise planning role, with greater decision-making authority and a higher salary.
Reason #3 – Merchandise planning is a career that offers a great deal of flexibility and work-life balance (for those women that prefer these types of benefits). Many retail companies offer flexible work arrangements, such as telecommuting or part-time work, that allow women to balance their career with other responsibilities, such as caregiving or education. This may be particularly important for Millennial and Gen Z women, who may value work-life balance and want the ability to balance family and personal commitments against work.
For example, a merchandise planner for a home goods retailer might work from home two days a week to care for her young children. She might also take advantage of flexible scheduling to attend school events or volunteer at her child’s school. This flexibility allows her to pursue her career goals while still meeting her other responsibilities.
And Reason #4 – Merchandise planning is a career that is well-suited to women who are passionate about fashion, beauty, or other consumer products. Retail companies need merchandise planners who are knowledgeable about the products they sell and can anticipate trends and customer preferences. Women who are passionate about fashion or beauty can use their knowledge and expertise to excel in this field and make a significant contribution to their companies.
As an example, a merchandise planner for a luxury fashion retailer might have a degree in fashion design or merchandising and be passionate about haute couture. She might use her knowledge of fabrics, colors, and styles to create product assortments that appeal to high-end customers. She might also attend fashion shows and industry events to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and innovations in the industry.
TL;DR – Merchandise planning is a great career for Millennial and Gen Z women professionals. It offers opportunities for quantitative analysis, creativity, flexibility, growth, and passion that are particularly well-suited to women in these age groups. If you are a woman who is interested in fashion, beauty, or other consumer products, and who values work-life balance and career advancement, then merchandise planning might be the perfect career for you.
