Job description

Develop business strategies and seasonal assortment plans to maximize the development of the brand, sales and profits for a department or assigned area. Identify opportunities and recommend new product or concepts for department. Manage information across functions working closely with Design, Inventory Management, Sourcing, Production, Packaging and Visual to ensure the process is followed and timelines met. Manage and develop one to two Assistant Buyers.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Perform market analysis, competitive shop and analyze sales trends to keep abreast of current trends. Obtain feedback from stores to improve product and add to collections.
• Identify emerging trends. Develop business strategies outlining strengths, weaknesses, new opportunities and threats Communicate annual and seasonal strategies to functional areas (Inventory, Design, Sourcing, Production, Packaging, Visual).
• Develop and recommend seasonal and core product mix for department or area. Collaborate with Inventory Management to develop annual and seasonal financial plans.
• Collaborate with Inventory Management to provide Sourcing and Production Management with purchase quantities, delivery dates, flow and exit strategies for initial cost and production negotiations for new programs.
• Maintain relationships, resolve issues and conduct final negotiations with significant suppliers and agents as necessary (domestic and overseas).
• Recommend and collaborate with Visual to plan floor layouts.
• Provide Inventory Management with final assortment plans (line lists), product details, target retails, estimated IMU, importance to overall assortment (big bets), flow to DC and floor plan location for developing purchase projections and buy plans.
• For assigned areas, approve final: Product collections from Design s recommendations, Order quantities from Inventory Management s recommendations, Costing and delivery dates from Sourcing and Production, Changes that affect production deadlines and plan objectives, Floor plan layouts from Visual, and Signage and in-store collateral.
• Collaborate with Inventory Management and recommend adjustments (markdowns, delivery changes and quantity changes) to the plan to maximize sales, profits, budget (OTB) and to protect the brand. Determine contests and provide awards.
• Investigate and respond to field issues. Coordinate communication strategies with Store Operations. Provide appropriate merchandising information for Store Newsletters.
• Visit stores and contact field management to gather information on customer feedback and product issues.
• Provide information to Visual on in-store promotion strategies and placement of markdown goods.
• Develop one to two Assistant Buyers. Clarify objectives, assess performance and provide regular feedback.
• Determine workload for staff; recommend effective processes and procedures to improve workflow and results.
• Interview candidates and make hiring recommendations. Present seasonal product information (inspirations and facts) to field.
• Work closely with catalog counterpart to develop appropriate merchandising/pricing strategies for the brand.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• BA/BS Required.
• Buying/Merchandising experience.
• Experience or degree in Food

Compensation

this position is:

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline