Overview
The Merchandising Buyer is responsible for product selection, pricing, and promotional strategies to achieve sales, margin, and profit goals for their assigned business. This role is highly product-focused and drives results through strong vendor partnerships, detailed analysis, and customer-centric decision-making. The Buyer collaborates closely with the Merchandising and Planning teams to ensure the right products are available at the right time and place, maximizing inventory investment and enhancing the customer experience. Key responsibilities include trend analysis, strategy development, and proactive response to sales performance. This position reports to the VP of Merchandising and Planning and requires strong attention to detail, sound judgment, and effective problem-solving skills.
Duties and Responsibilities
• Support the "Cavender's Culture" and drive our Mission, Vision and Values
• Serve as a strategic partner and key support resource to the company
• Lead junior Merchandising Department Associates to deliver on financial and talent goals and objectives
• Manage a high volume, complex or multi-department area which includes website for Omni-channel business
• Make focused decisions based on brand integrity and company values to ensure an understanding of our core customer for highest customer satisfaction
• Set priorities, foster cohesion and provide motivation to cross-functional teams
• Develop and communicate a conceptual assortment plan for department needs that tie to financial expectations (style assortment, key item needs, retails, IMU's, AUR's) in a timely manner
• Partner with Planning to ensure the appropriate financial strategies and distribution to maximize sales, margin and turn of the business
• Determine quantities to order by style, size and color; validate to OTB plan in a timely manner
• Validate space with assortment plan to ensure appropriate depth is achieved by store volume (size)
• Maximize Web sales, margin and messaging
• Partner with Director of Marketing to identify product to be advertised
• Manage, develop and educate direct reports while providing guidance, mentoring and coaching
• Assess the competition with respect to financial condition, trends, marketing and product strategy; react accordingly to ensure market leadership
Qualifications and Requirements
• Bachelor's degree in Retail merchandising, Business, or related field or equivalent work experience
• 6+ years of progressive experience as a merchant in a specialty retail environment
• 2+ years of merchandising department leadership experience
• Must be hands-on and capable of developing, preparing and implementing tactical plans in support of strategic company goals
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Must possess a clear understanding of retail financial measurements and how to impact them
• Excellent negotiation skills
• Ability to travel up to 20% of the time
Preferred Skills
• Demonstrated knowledge and proven ability to identify trends and business opportunities
• Functional expertise in all areas of Buying, Merchandising, Planning, Allocations and Inventory Control
• A proven track record developing and building an apparel business
• Experience in developing and curating a private label plan is a plus
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills
• Previous experience with western wear
