Company Overview
BFL Group is one of the world's leading off-price retailers of fashion and homeware. With headquarters based in the United Arab Emirates, we serve multiple markets across the region and Southeast Asia.
Our goal is to delight customers and entice them back with the promise of exceptional pieces that excite, all at up to 80% off the original retail price for fashion designer brands. Our unique Treasure Hunt model ensures there is always something new to explore, desire, and discover within our stores. Our customers walk out with new items every time they visit any of our stores.
Role Purpose:
The Demand Planner is responsible for forecasting customer demand, optimizing inventory levels, and ensuring the right product is available at the right location and time. This role plays a critical part in improving sales, reducing stockouts, and minimizing markdowns by analyzing historical sales, market trends, and upcoming product launches in the fashion retail environment.
Key Responsibilities:
Demand Forecasting & Planning
- Develop accurate SKU-level demand forecasts for seasonal and core fashion categories.
- Analyze historical sales, market trends, promotions, and seasonality to determine future demand.
- Collaborate with Buying, Merchandising, and Planning teams on assortment planning and product lifecycle management.
- Create monthly, quarterly, and annual forecast reports for all retail and e-commerce channels.
Inventory Management
- Monitor inventory levels for all stores and DCs to ensure optimal availability.
- Manage replenishment cycles and maintain stock coverage based on demand patterns.
- Identify slow-moving, overstock, and understock items and recommend corrective actions.
- Assist in markdown planning strategies based on inventory ageing and sell-through rates.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with Buying, Merchandising, Logistics, and Finance teams on business planning.
- Provide demand insights to support collection development, buying decisions, and OTB planning.
- Coordinate with Marketing teams on promotional calendars and forecast uplift.
Performance Monitoring
Track KPIs including:
- Forecast Accuracy (FA)
- Sell-through %
- Stock Turn
- Weeks of Supply (WOS)
- Prepare weekly and monthly business reports highlighting risks, opportunities, and actionable recommendations.
- Conduct root-cause analysis for forecast variance and improve forecasting models over time.
System & Data Management
- Maintain accurate data in planning tools (ERP, Demand Planning Systems, BI dashboards).
- Ensure data consistency for SKU creation, category hierarchy, pricing, and inventory updates.
- Utilize advanced analytics tools for planning (Excel, Power BI, SAP, Oracle, or similar).
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, or Fashion Merchandising.
- 6+ years of experience in demand planning, preferably within fashion or retail.
- Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel and demand planning systems.
- Experience working with large SKU counts, seasonal assortments, and fast-moving retail environments.
- Knowledge of inventory management, forecasting methods, and retail KPIs.
- Strong numerical and analytical mindset.
- Proficiency in Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, forecasting models).
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced fashion retail environment with tight deadlines.
If you think you are fit for this job position, then apply right away. You are steps away from joining a Great Place to Work and we would love to meet you soon!
