Apparel Buyer Job Description
Apparel buyer
provides key pricing and deadline information to the subsidiaries and oversees purchasing and distribution of career apparel.
Apparel Buyer Duties & Responsibilities
To write an effective apparel buyer job description, begin by listing detailed duties, responsibilities and expectations. We have included apparel buyer job description templates that you can modify and use.
Sample responsibilities for this position include:
Manages receipt flow and secures timely deliveries by partnering with business planning and customer service
Assists with planning and executing pricing strategies in accordance with fiscal responsibilities, maximizing sales, margin, & inventory management
Develop seasonal assortment plans to maximize the development of brand, sales and profits for Apparel
Partner with planning and merchandising team in order to maximize results
Partner with the Allocation and Planning team to recommend product opportunities to buyer
Responsible for the seasonal buy budget and buy strategy for Non-Apparel departments
Optimize sales, inventory levels and gross margin dollars by analyzing, evaluating/recommending, negotiating and executing adjustments as needed, with their business partners (Vendors, Planning & AR)
Work with the DMM and Planning Manager on revising plans to ensure that sales and margin are optimized by class
Work with Designer(s) and Technical Design to manage the timeline on all product development
Build and leverage relationships with cross-functional teams
Apparel Buyer Qualifications
Qualifications for a job description may include education, certification, and experience.
Education for Apparel Buyer
Typically a job would require a certain level of education.
Employers hiring for the apparel buyer job most commonly would prefer for their future employee to have a relevant degree such as Bachelor's and High School Degree in Business, Merchandising, Marketing, Education, Fashion, Fashion Merchandising, Retail Management, Business/Administration, Management, Finance
Skills for Apparel Buyer
Desired skills for apparel buyer include:
Distribution of domestic and overseas manufacturing
Planning
Product development
Various manufacturing processes for appropriate lines of business
Word
Accessories
Apparel
Apparel industry practices & standards is highly
Excel
Garment construction and manufacturing
Desired experience for apparel buyer includes:
Strong relationship builder who can partner with internal external constituents, flexible to change and can be a change agent
Working with the Buyer to manage the Annual buy budget, selection and buy strategy for the department to achieve sales and margin plan
Managing and flexing OTB within Brands and Departments to hit the Annual plan but remaining opportunistic and driving the best possible return for the OTB in conjunction with the Buyer and Merchandiser
Analyse weekly reports and work with Buyer & Merchandiser to review risks and maximise opportunities
Deputising for the Buyer when appropriate
Proactive continuous global product sourcing in an opportunistic environment, developing existing relationships and fostering new relationships, including international travel
Apparel Buyer Examples
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Apparel Buyer Job Description
Job Description Example
Our growing company is looking for an apparel buyer. Thank you in advance for taking a look at the list of responsibilities and qualifications. We look forward to reviewing your resume.
Responsibilities for apparel buyer
- Assist the Buyer in developing the merchandising strategy, and assist with sales analysis in order to identify and react to trends in-season
- Manage the bi-monthly forecasting of sales and inventories through the OTB review process
- Publish quarterly store guidelines with the visual team to map out and strategize floor space to maximize sales
- Take leadership role in the creation of merchandising strategies for the Full Price that tie back to financial goals for the Retail division and company
- Responsible for growth and development of junior merchants
- Manages purchase order process from top to bottom, ensuring specified deadlines are met
- Assists in developing assortment plans, sales forecasts, writing reports, & analyzing sales figures
- Assists with reviewing & reacting to sales performance and selling reports
- Communicates needs/strategies with Store Operations
- Act as a role-model within the Department by coaching and teaching team members to work cooperatively and to remain focused Other duties as assigned
Qualifications for apparel buyer
- Extremely well-organised, methodical and efficient with the ability to self-motivate and drive initiative
- A sense of personal style
- Fluency in Italian and/or French desirable
- Positive “can do”, “roll-up-sleeves”, “how can I help” attitude
- A minimum two years of related experience
- The ability to prioritize tasks in order to balance the immediate and long term needs of the business with a high sense of urgency
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Apparel Buyer Job Description
Job Description Example
Our company is growing rapidly and is hiring for an apparel buyer. Please review the list of responsibilities and qualifications. While this is our ideal list, we will consider candidates that do not necessarily have all of the qualifications, but have sufficient experience and talent.
Responsibilities for apparel buyer
- Takes on specific buying accountability (Dept., Category, Vendor, ..) as determined by their Buyer and DMM
- Work in conjunction with the Buyer and vendor to establish a line of product that meets the needs of our customer
- Keep up-to-date on current and future trends
- Communicate with merchandising team in order to analyze data and capitalize on opportunities
- Create SKUs with accurate attributes
- Analyze and interpret sales and market trends
- Development of promotions
- Anticipate future needs and opportunities and think creatively to deliver successful product strategies
- Work with merchandisers, review reports and studies
- Responsible for negotiation of terms, conditions and deliveries to ensure consistent and flow of stock to maximize sales and margin
Qualifications for apparel buyer
- Attends trade fairs and other relevant industry events
- Should be currently working at Junior Buyer or Senior Assistant Buyer level
- Off price experience not necessary but must demonstrate an enthusiasm and interest in off-price
- Bottom-line financial accountability for a portion of the business fo r minimum of 6 months
- 1+ years experience in chain-store buying
- Knowledge/experience in retail math
3
Apparel Buyer Job Description
Job Description Example
Our company is looking to fill the role of apparel buyer. Thank you in advance for taking a look at the list of responsibilities and qualifications. We look forward to reviewing your resume.
Responsibilities for apparel buyer
- Provides leadership and direction to Suppliers and Sourcing on product development
- Analyse weekly reports and work with Merchandiser to review risks and maximise opportunities
- Up to date competitor knowledge within both off price and full price to ensure The Outnet is the premier off price destination
- Feedback on department to Buying Manager and Buying Director
- Develop and manage merchandise assortments for subcategory of product, in partnership with the buyer – including selecting and purchasing merchandise by considering type, quality, source, timing, delivery, mix, and promotion
- Establishing ad quantities and orders with Allocations Department to support planned sales for our regional marketing initiatives
- Shop national DSG stores, other comparative retail stores, to identify new trends and opportunities, evaluate merchandise mix, evaluate competition, and translate findings into executable product plans
- Build strategic relationships with vendors and cross functional partners and Directors to discuss the business overall, recent trends, Leverage vendor relationships to gain knowledge and data as it pertains to product category
- Creates reports to assist in managing the business
- Work with Buyer/Senior Buyer, E-commerce on company and divisional objectives, executing top level strategic initiatives with direct reports
Qualifications for apparel buyer
- Knowledge/experience in AS400 and Island Pacific preferred
- Must have 3-4 years of Speciality and or Branded buying experience in a specialty retail environment
- Preferred but not required skills with Revionics, Aptaris, Sharepoint, Media Compass, and R Reports / Report Builder
- Domestic travel may be required on a seasonal basis
- Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Merchandising or Business Related field
- Make fact‐based decisions to improve and/or drive the business, using historical analysis to determine purchases
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Apparel Buyer Job Description
Job Description Example
Our company is looking for an apparel buyer. Please review the list of responsibilities and qualifications. While this is our ideal list, we will consider candidates that do not necessarily have all of the qualifications, but have sufficient experience and talent.
Responsibilities for apparel buyer
- Along with DMM, recognize and react quickly to all trends, both major and minor, in the business, whether product or store related
- Ensure that buying direction is on target based on partnering with DMM and comprehensive analysis of the business, , last year results, current trends
- Manage the financial elements of the business, , OTB, IMU, MD’s, for assigned classes
- Manage styles to the plan, ensuring that each item is a winner and that the assortment is properly balanced and invested by ensuring there is an appropriate balance of looks, silhouettes, fabrics, patterns, color, price points, , and that we are taking the correct inventory position with key items and fringe and/or new items
- Attend all fittings to ensure that sizing is standardized throughout the assortment
- Ensure that vendor relations are optimal , getting the best possible prices, quality and service levels with an appropriate level of “partnership”
- Work with the DMM, GMM, CEO and staff on a regular, formalized basis to ensure the unity and appropriateness of our merchandise vision
- Develop a thorough understanding of the needs, wants and expectations of the consumer
- Build on a comprehensive understanding of the marketplace and competitors
- Create long-term brand building strategies with existing brands to ensure volume plans are met/exceeded and identify margin opportunities
Qualifications for apparel buyer
- Mentor & train associate & assistant buyer(s)
- 2 years of Replenishment Analyst experience preferred
- Understanding of financial plans
- Must have 3-4 years of Plus Womans buying experience in a specialty retail environment
- Previous experience as Assistant Buyer preferred
- Must be Fluent in Chinese
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Apparel Buyer Job Description
Job Description Example
Our company is searching for experienced candidates for the position of apparel buyer. To join our growing team, please review the list of responsibilities and qualifications.
Responsibilities for apparel buyer
- Develop buying and merchandising strategies for the Women’s apparel business that tie back to financial goals for the division and company
- Execute buy process from concept to completion, including partnership in product development
- Foster and leverage cross-functional relationships to create opportunities for the business – specifically partnering with Visual Merchandising, Global Merchandising, Design and Planning – partners in our Full Price division
- Analyze brand and category successes to optimize performance and improve future decision making
- Negotiate offerings, terms, pricing and other terms of business
- Manage timely communication between in-house Teams and Brand to ensure best of breed customer experience
- Development of a strategic vision for the department integrating customer insight, competitive information, market intelligence, sales, fashion trends, fashion intuition and product distortion to maximize sales and profit
- Architecture of a balanced line plan that integrates fashion, lifestyle, fit, pricing pyramids and tiered strategies
- In season, reaction to current business trends
- Track and provide in-season sales information and reports to buying team to help identify new opportunities to increase sales, improve margins, maximize inventories, and decrease markdowns
Qualifications for apparel buyer
- Executes sales, margin and inventory plans for their assigned area • Monitors and respond to issues and opportunities resulting from deviations in plan variances • Maintains relationships with vendors and interacts with the vendor community within Sears standards and codes of ethics
- Previous experience in buying minimum of 3 years
- College Degree in a related field of study
- Aggressively pursues new ideas
- Knows where we are going and why, makes sound decisions
- Exceeds customers’ expectations