You should be a JDA Certified Merchandise Planner - RAPID Product if you:

• Create and maintain detail class plans to achieve financial objectives
• Incorporate fashion, lifestyle, fit, pricing and advertising support with merchandise flow across time and store characteristics
• Collaborate with buyers to develop strategic vision
• Analyze, understand and anticipate market trends and competitors’ tactics to maintain competitive  advantage
• Execute to goals that are aligned with a brand strategy
• Perform investment buying for a price discount or price increase

As a certified Merchandise Planner - RAPID Product you will be able to:

• Better analyze plan performance and use this knowledge in your next period plan
• Continually update in season forecast to react to current business trends
• Maintain a running financial forecast of sales dollars, margin components and inventory
• Develop upside strategies and prepare contingency plans to drive sales and profit objectives
• Increase margin through pricing and product exit strategies
• Create a department financial plan which supports detailed unit plans
• Identify and react to opportunities to increase sales, improve margin, optimize inventories, and decrease markdowns