Position Summary: Store Planner
The Store Planner manages the flow of products to Guitar Center stores in line with assortment strategy and replenishes active assortment to ensure best in class in-stock position. The Store Planner helps build regional, district, and store stocking strategies to assist in strategic allocation of products to drive sales. They will work with merchandise planners to communicate store needs and avoid shortages. They will monitor DC activity and reserves to monitor the progress of stock from DC to store.
Responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to the following:
- Initiate model stock quantities for new product launches in alignment with merchant team strategies, ensuring optimal distribution to the right stores based on historical sales, store tiering, customer demographics, and localized market nuances.
- Monitor sales velocity and inventory health to ensure top-selling items and seasonal gear are consistently in-stock across high-performing stores.
- Customize allocations to reflect regional preferences (e.g., demand for DJ gear in urban locations vs. acoustic instruments in suburban markets).
- Track item-level performance across categories and adjust distribution based on sales trends, product popularity, and market response.
- Identify underperforming or overstocked items and adjust allocation or initiate transfers to maximize turns and minimize markdowns.
- Anticipate allocation needs around key events (e.g., holiday promotions, NAMM launches, BTS season) and exclusive drops.
- Partner with merchandise planners to execute strategies aligned with financial targets and open-to-buy (OTB) plans.
- Communicate store-level trends, product feedback, and regional anomalies to help inform future buys and assortments.
- Work closely with DCs and logistics teams to ensure accurate and timely delivery of products to stores.
- Execute allocation strategies for new openings, remodels, or relocated stores based on projected sales potential and community needs.
- Support exit strategies for discontinued SKUs and aged inventory by reallocating to high-performing clearance locations.
- Leverage tools like Relex, SO99, JDA, and internal platforms to execute order proposals, automated replenishment, and inventory optimization.
- Analyze sales and inventory data using Omni, EDW, Excel, or Power BI to generate actionable insights and influence allocation decisions.
- Support special requests as needed, such as providing detailed analysis of inventory and sales performance at the store level for senior leadership.
To join our band, you'll need the following experience:
- Bachelor's Degree preferably in Business, Merchandising/ Supply Chain (or 4 years of relevant work experience)
- 2 years of relevant work experience (in addition to degree or years of previous experience).
- Strong analytical, data manipulation to gain insight into the business. Strong knowledge of planning systems. Excel intermediate to advanced.
- Comprehensive knowledge of the retail industry, omnichannel, supply chain and logistics. Merchandising experience a plus.
About Guitar Center
The Guitar Center Company embodies the world of creativity and music by encouraging our teammates to find their own individual sound. Our mission is to develop and nurture lifelong musicians and make a difference in the world by enabling musicians and non-musicians alike to experience the joy that comes from creating music. We believe in putting our customers first, engaging with respect and integrity and fulfilling our mission with passion.
The Guitar Center Company operates through several business divisions. Guitar Center is the world's largest retailer of guitars, amplifiers, drums, keyboards, recording, live sound, DJ, and lighting equipment, with more than 290 stores across the United States. 2014 marked the milestone 50th anniversary of the Guitar Center Company as the organization continues to help people make music from coast to coast.
E-Commerce brands Guitar Center, Musician's Friend and WWBW offer online sales of a broad selection of music products. The Music & Arts division operates more than 220 stores specializing in band & orchestral instruments for sale and rental, serving teachers, band directors, college professors, and students since 1952. AVDG and GCPro headline the enterprise audio-visual integration business, delivering a best-in-class commercial and residential customer experience.
Pay Rate: $26.00- $33.65 / hourly depending on background and experience.
The job posting is not necessarily reflective of actual compensation that may be earned, nor a promise of any specific pay for any specific employee, which is always dependent on actual experience, education, and other factors. The pay range(s) listed are provided in compliance with state specific laws. Pay ranges may be different in other locations
Guitar Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides fair and equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected status prohibited under Federal, State, or local laws. All employment decisions are based on valid job‐related requirements.
If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our website, you may request a reasonable accommodation to express interest in a specific opening. You can request reasonable accommodation by calling 1‐818-735-8800 ext. 2862 or by sending an email to [email protected].
Why join us?
With a career at Guitar Center, you become part of the world's largest multichannel musical instrument retailer. Whether at our Stores, Contact Centers, Distribution Centers, or Support Center, Guitar Center employees have a common goal: to help people find their sound and fill the world with more music.
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Send your resume and cover letter today along with salary expectations!
