Overview
The Associate Buyer, Kids Footwear (Running & Seasonal) will support the Buyer in driving the merchandising direction of the department, with the goal of meeting and, when possible, exceeding sales and margin targets. This role leverages competitive intelligence, consumer patterns, and business analysis to provide trend-driven insights.
This position assists with product purchases and vendor negotiations, while partnering with Merchandise Planners to develop strategies that maximize business opportunities. The role also collaborates closely with Planning, Merchandising, Marketing, and Store Optimization teams to deliver assortments aligned to the target customer.
Responsibilities
- Analyze market trends to support projected sales patterns
- Partner with Merchandisers to review and analyze reports for opportunities and liabilities
- Assist the Buyer in planning product lines and building seasonal assortments based on sales and reporting insights
- Attend product meetings and stay informed on current and future trends
- Support preparation of financial data for budget and sales meetings
- Partner with Buyer and Planner to ensure buys are analyzed for optimal results
- Manage multiple priorities while meeting deadlines and adapting to changing needs
- Assist with vendor negotiations to maximize sales and profitability
- Support development of product assortments to drive sales, profit, and gross margin
- Track vendor delivery timelines and communicate updates on high-priority shipments
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree preferred in a related field
- Minimum of 2 years of experience in retail and/or e-commerce merchandising required
- Proficiency in Excel, Access, Word, and PowerPoint
- Knowledge of Power BI or similar systems preferred
- Knowledge of Oracle PeopleSoft or similar assortment tools preferred
- Understanding of product, customer, and fashion trends
- Strong communication skills with Buyer, peers, and cross-functional teams
- Strong financial acumen and analytical ability
- Highly organized with attention to detail and ability to manage tight deadlines
- Creative and strategic thinker
- Ability to travel up to 10%