Apparel Buyer

The Stores Apparel Buyer is accountable for implementing the vision, executing the plans, and achieving the financial goals for assigned categories for the Company Store. Relies on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is exercised. Men's apparel and accessories development and buying experience required. Women's apparel and accessories market experience is a plus.

Merchandising and Product Development:
- Research new trends and product lines through competitive shopping, trade show attendance and communication with store managers; report to management and make recommendations for product selection and merchandising.
- Research and monitor existing vendor base and industry developments and identify potential new product opportunities.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with vendors to leverage the Company as a preferred customer, leading to more favorable pricing, exclusive offerings, and markdown and claims assistance.
- Manage product selection for internal sales channels in conjunction with merchandise manager and corporate sales manager.
- Work with store management team to establish and maintain product merchandising standards; act as expert resource in product merchandising; visit Puget Sound stores monthly to track product performance and site merchandising.
- Collaborate with web manager to determine product mix and merchandising plan.
- Visit fulfillment warehouse monthly to monitor performance of distribution procedures and vendor compliance.
- Work with Allocations Manager to ensure correct initial product placement.
- Maintain vendor requirements document that establishes processes for doing business with the Company Store, including trademark usage, sample processes, pre-ticketing, defective claims procedures, shipping requirements, and routing guidelines; monitor vendor performance.
- Assist in copy writing and product knowledge distribution.

Planning and Analysis:
- Set and meet targets for initial markup, gross margin, sales, and percentage to total in assigned merchandise categories.
- Regularly monitor performance data and when necessary modify strategies and tactics to ensure success.
- Minimize markdowns through successful product selection to optimize gross margins; take promotional markdowns as needed to stimulate business, while maintaining overall profitability requirements.
- Provide the best price/value ratio possible, maintaining competitive pricing.
- Review weekly sales reports to monitor merchandise flow and determine appropriate reorder quantity and delivery period.
- Analyze and understand markets, competitors, customers, and future trends.

Brand Communication:
- Create fresh, visually exciting, merchandise in collaboration with Company Brand Management and Graphics.
- Create on-brand merchandise stories that are appealing to wide array of internal and external customers. These stories to be told through store, web, and catalog venues for maximum reach.

JOB SKILLS: BA, 5 years retail buying experience
****trade show attendance and store visitation*****