Buyer

Position Overview

This role is responsible for coordinating, running, and overseeing the work of a Buying team, product classification, or a major program, depending on the size and complexity of the business area. The Buyer supports the Senior Buyer/DMM in shaping, carrying out, and communicating a product approach that achieves or surpasses financial objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Study product trends and historical performance at the department or classification level.
• Collect and organize data to help build seasonal plans and financial targets.
• Join pre-season meetings between Buying and Planning teams.
• Prepare assortment sheets, maintain them as changes occur, and share updates with the right business partners.
• Contribute ideas during line edit meetings and support assortment review discussions.
• Take part in product review meetings with cross-functional teams.
• Participate in bottom-up planning sessions that define quantities for every style.
• Assess buys at the style, class, and department level against initial plans and set retail prices for styles.
• Join management review meetings for bottom-up plans and support senior management line reviews with data and analysis.
• Track area performance to help ensure results meet or exceed targets for sales, gross margin, GMROI, and turnover.
• Review sales results and market intelligence to spot trends and business opportunities.
• Recommend changes to future assortments and strategy based on in-season findings and observations.
• Support sales forecast and OTB conversations by comparing sales and inventory to financial goals and suggesting adjustments to order quantities, deliveries, pricing, or markdowns.
• Build strong knowledge of the customer by visiting local stores, reviewing product presentation, and gathering feedback from customers and store associates.
• Participate in competitive shopping to study direct competitors and other trend-leading stores, including assortment quality, pricing, merchandising, and business potential.
• Record findings and observations as needed.
• Join weekly cross-functional meetings to share current business issues and gather field feedback on sales, fit, and related topics.
• Coach peers and junior buying team members through on-the-job training, feedback, modeling, and identification of formal training needs.
• Work effectively with Merchandising, Planning, Production, and Distribution teams through strong communication and shared accountability for goals.

Requirements

• Ability to develop strong working relationships with retail staff connected to the apparel categories you manage.
• Proven skill in reviewing detailed sales reports to guide buying decisions and adjust price points up or down when needed.
• Working knowledge of merchandise trends and how they affect financial outcomes, along with an understanding of merchandising, planning, and the retail sector.
• Ability to retrieve and interpret information from systems and spreadsheets.
• Strong grasp of financial metrics and how to apply them in decision-making.
• Excellent listening, presentation, speaking, and writing skills.
• Ability to manage several tasks in a fast-moving environment.
• Strong prioritization, planning, and execution skills.
• Team-oriented mindset with sound problem-solving ability and logical reasoning.
• Bachelor's degree preferred in Fashion Buying, Merchandising, Retail Management, Marketing, Economics, or Business Administration.

Additional Information

This is a mid-level role in a fast-paced retail buying environment. The position requires regular collaboration with cross-functional teams and ongoing analysis of customer, store, and market feedback to support financial performance and product strategy.