ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Buying
- Own end to end merchandising and buying strategies, identify and seek opportunities to positively affect company’s overall point of view and financial outcome.
- Review seasonal collections, strategize investments based on OTB, sales analysis, trend projection, and historical performance for their assigned brand and/or category.
- Build, evaluate and revise sales plans at category and collection level.
- Develop monthly allocation and product launch plans in collaboration with Marketing, Visual Merchandising, and Store Operations, in accordance with marketing and promotion strategies.
- Identify new business opportunities through sales analysis, retail feedback and competitive research.
- Maintain margin by managing seasonal markdowns and eventual RTV strategy.
- Ensure all steps of data entry and POs for new collections are accurately entered in the system
- Attend merchandising, marketing, and product related meetings for the assigned brand and/or category
- Partner with the Director to formulate and execute assortment plans for seasonal buys, strategize investments based on OTB, sales analysis, trend projection, and historical performance
Inventory Management and Replenishment
- Consistently monitor sales and stock for all stores, analyze and execute replenishments, transfers, and consolidations accordingly to provide optimal size integrity, maximize sales opportunity, and minimize leftover stock.
- Review weekly replenishment/ transfer recommendations made by Retail Support Team and make necessary adjustments
- Validate all replenishment POs written by Retail Support Team and send to Corporate Customer Service
- Analyze stock performance and recommend merchandise for markdown and eventual RTV
- Execute markdowns and other price changes in retail system
- Manage minimums for auto replenishable stock, review and adjust when necessary
- Plan and communicate Monthly Delivery Calendar for retail and online stores to ensure merchandise are delivered promptly and according to marketing plans; coordinate and negotiate with Shipping Department to minimize impact on merchandise delays
- Work with Store Managers, Retail Operations, Customer Service, and Shipping Departments to resolve shipping discrepancies
- Review and process damage returns, record damage reasons and spot trends for possible defective items or production issues and communicate with the Director and the Corporate Merchandising Team
- Manage all inventory adjustments and cycle counts
- Recommend and perform other analyses and actions needed to maintain inventory health
Business Intelligence
- Provide necessary reports and analytics to stores and corporate stakeholders
- Have in depth understanding of retail, online, and business intelligence systems, be the “go-to” person for resolving issues and creating new report modules
- Provide ad hoc reports as needed in a timely manner
Retail and Online store support
- Communicate new product arrivals and business trends
- Participate in store openings, closings and events as required
- Attend weekly conference calls, store and manager meetings, and training sessions as required
- Participate in weekly Online and Merchandising meetings and provide support as necessary
- Attend monthly Online Target meetings to coordinate product launches in accordance with marketing plans
- Work with Marketing to develop product knowledge materials for store teams
- Lead bi-weekly product touch base with store managers, understand each store’s sales trend and adjust strategies accordingly
Other responsibilities
- Build strong working relationships across departments throughout corporate and in stores
- Handle other duties as assigned by the Director
Work Environment
- Adhere to company guidelines of dependability, including attendance requirements, professionalism, and conduct, as listed in the employee handbook
QUALIFICATIONS:
- College graduate or equivalent required
- Minimum four years (4) of retail buying experience
- Previous inventory control experience necessary
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Meticulous attention to detail and high analytical thinking
- Ability to multi-task and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
- Ability to exercise strong judgment and decision-making
- Expertise in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook etc.)
- Prior experience with point-of-sale systems preferred
Mathematical Skills:
- Expertise in retail math is required
- The ability to understand, navigate and create complex calculations and formulas is required
Physical Demands:
- Ability to sit for long periods of time.
- Ability to stand for 8+ hours or duration of scheduled shift
- Ability to stand, walk, bend, squat and or twist
- Ability to grasp, push, reach and manipulate objects with right/left hand(s).
- Ability to bend at waist with some twisting
- Reaching above or below shoulder level
- Ability to occasionally climb ladders to store, receive and/or place materials and/or merchandise
COMPENSATION: $55,000 - $65,000 annually, commensurate with experience