Footwear Buyer/Footwear Department Manager

OVERVIEW The Lead Footwear Buyer / Footwear Department Manager is a pivotal role that combines expertise in product selection, inventory management, sales strategy, customer service, and team leadership. This position is responsible for the overall performance of the footwear department across both Base Camp locations, ensuring that product assortments meet customer needs, align with market trends, and achieve sales and profitability goals. This is an in-house position that combines dedicated buying and administrative desk time with active sales floor responsibilities . The employee is expected to work on-site, balancing purchasing, inventory analysis, database management, and vendor communication with customer service, merchandising, and department leadership. This is not a remote or desk-only position. KEY RESPONSIBILITIESInventory Management Maintain appropriate in-stock rates, healthy inventory turnover, and strong margins within the footwear department. Actively monitor stock levels between stores and initiate transfers to fill size runs, improve product availability, and maximize sales. Communicate regularly with footwear department leads in both Helena and Billings to evaluate inventory needs, product performance, customer feedback, and ideal assortments for each location. Analyze sales data to forecast demand, identify opportunities, and adjust orders accordingly. Write fill-in orders as necessary to maintain appropriate inventory levels. Coordinate with vendors and shipping and receiving teams in both stores to ensure timely and accurate product deliveries. Monitor slow-moving inventory and proactively develop strategies to improve sell-through. Product Selection, Purchasing & Procurement Attend trade shows and network with industry peers to stay informed of market trends, product innovations, and emerging brands. Research and identify sales trends in both stores, developing thoughtful, location-specific assortments that reflect customer needs and buying patterns. Build and maintain strong relationships with vendor representatives, negotiating favorable purchasing terms, pricing, and delivery schedules. Anticipate preseason ordering deadlines and use sales reports, historical performance, and inventory analysis to establish achievable sales goals and purchasing budgets. Monitor upcoming deliveries, communicate with vendors, and make adjustments to purchase orders as needed. Maintain accountability for purchasing decisions, open-to-buy budgets, product performance, and overall department profitability. Buyers Database & Lightspeed Management Take responsibility for accurately and promptly entering all footwear buys into the company's Buyers Database, ensuring purchase orders, vendor information, delivery windows, costs, quantities, and other required details are complete and up to date. Preload footwear purchases into Lightspeed using established company procedures and appropriate product entry methods, ensuring all required product information is accurate and consistent. Verify product descriptions, SKUs, size runs, colorways, costs, retail pricing, margins, and other relevant information prior to product arrival. Work closely with database management and shipping and receiving teams to ensure consistent product entry protocols between locations and systems. Maintain accurate purchase order records, updating changes, cancellations, delivery dates, and adjustments promptly. Coordinate with the appropriate team members to resolve database discrepancies and ensure that incoming merchandise can be received and processed efficiently. Ensure that buying and database responsibilities are completed within established timelines to avoid delays in receiving, inventory availability, and reporting. Footwear Department Communication & Leadership Maintain frequent, proactive communication with footwear department lead(s) at both store locations,ensuring consistent coordination of inventory, merchandising, staffing needs, product kn…

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