Retail Buyer

Retail Buyer

Location: Atlanta - onsite 1-2 days/wk

PART TIME: - 20-30/hrs week

This role is responsible for the buying and assortment planning for new retail store concepts as part of the Licensing & Retail (L&R) team in collaboration with the global brand and local operating team.

Key responsibilities include:

• Develop cross category assortments (apparel & hardlines) tailored to the target consumer & market and aligned to the overall strategic vision of the brand and store.


• Responsible for planning and managing the open to buy for the store, ensuring targets are met including Sales, Gross Margin and Avg Stock.


• Work with vendors and with merchandise planners to place orders and forecast replenishment needs.


• Coordinate order timing with US store order placement to ensure MOQ s and cost targets are met.


• Place in season reorders and ensure product is in stock and arrives on time


• Partner with agency, international trade team and suppliers to manage shipping and customs


• Manage licensing contract amendments and new contracts for suppliers


• Partner with Visual Merchandiser to execute compelling and profitable presentations and product placement. Work on VM on an ongoing basis to re-merchandise as needed to maximize sales.


• Work with QA and Product Developer to ensure local product regulatory guidelines are met.


• Establish and execute liquidation plans as needed


• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including visual merchandiser, product developer, planners, strategy, marketing and operating agency


• Provide category, class and item performance analysis and present to leadership


• Continually review and analyze productivity, category and item selling, and recommend actions to optimize the business performance


• Assess learnings and propose assortment changes as needed to maximize results.


• Create Product Knowledge decks to educate store teams


• Create, maintain and update assortment plans reflective of all product and costing information


• Create product related presentations for leadership and cross functional teams

Requirements:

• Retail buying experience in a fast paced environment.


• Solid knowledge of product and retail KPIs


• Merchandise financial planning skills and solid experience managing Open to Buy.


• In tune and consistently keeping up with consumer and market trends


• Excellent collaboration and relationship building skills


• Strong project management capabilities


• Effective communication skills (written, oral, and presentation)


• Comfortable with ambiguity and complexity


• High-level of flexibility and ability to self-manage including tolerance for last minute changes.


• Ability to thrive in a team environment


• High attention to accuracy and detail


• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite


• Successful performance record

Education:

• 4 year College Degree

Years of Experience:

• 5+ years experience retail buying (preferably with apparel experience)

Experience:

• Retail Buying experience


• Track record of delivering financial results


• Experience with international retail stores preferred


• Merchandise experience, Apparel experience preferred


• Experience launching new stores or concepts


• Retail metrics and merchandise financial planning and Open to Buy management.


• Experience leveraging data and insights from consumer data, industry trend and qualitative and quantitative research to drive results.