FOOTWEAR BUYER

Our client is seeking out a Footwear Buyer that will be responsible for growing the sales volume and profit for all categories of footwear. They are looking for someone with a strong background in specialty merchandising, retail analytics and operational execution in both a brick and mortar and an e-commerce environment. He/she must be able to consistently apply a standard of quality and taste, as well as a sense of urgency in building a market-leading assortment. Reconcile receipts to OTB plan Develop, plan, and execute strategy for assortment and allocation Coach and mentor Assistant Buyers to maximize sales, margins and turns Leverage merchandising team’s skills at recognizing new fashion trends, items, looks, etc., early in their life cycles; maximize these opportunities Understand and develop buying strategy for branded and private label Identify opportunities to increase sales, improve margins, optimize inventories, and decrease markdowns Compile and present financial analysis including category sell-through, margins and key product performance; recap and analyze business results versus plan Develop intimate understanding of the customer. Leverage customer knowledge for product development, category, assortment, and allocation optimization Ensure financial goals and timelines are met Communicate necessary actions to maximize profit/reduce risk Qualifications: Minimum 2-4 years of buying experience and product development Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Fashion Merchandising, or something similar Proven track record of merchandising multi-category, large SKU product lines Proven ability to synthesize sales data, customer insights, competitive and market trends, and market data into merchandising strategies Existing relationships with current or potential market brands and/or private label resources.