Senior Buyer/ Product Development

Company: Specialty Retailer

Position: Senior Buyer/Merchandiser

Salary: Competitive package

Location: Montreal

*HYBRID WORK POSSIBILITY*

Are you an experienced BUYER/MERCHANDISER seeking a new challenge with imminent potential? Do you want to join a company that is in reinvention mode? Our client is looking for a driver and visionary to help create the next evolution of their retail experience with you.

• Manage inventory across the network to an appropriate level as agreed with the CEO
• Analyze business performance to drive growth; review reports, analyze sales data, and make appropriate recommendations based on this data
• Determines store initial seasonal distributions by utilizing store volume rankings and merchandise classifications by understanding how to merge historical statistical data with current trends and forecast future opportunities
• Performs other duties as required/assigned by manager
• Owns the short and long-term product strategies to grow the business and brand. Input into the product creation process; and advocate for products/collections that will provide a point of difference and drive top-line sales growth
• Works with retail planning to develop seasonal merchandise plans that reflect future opportunities and deficiencies. In-season assists retail planning with the OTB reforecasts of sales, markdowns, purchases, and inventory based on actual business trends and product availability
• Work with suppliers and sales to select the styles; negotiate pricing from suppliers
• Work with the Retail Operations Manager and the stores to ensure there is a planogram in place that differs as appropriate by location
• Coach, supervise and work with inventory analyst to create/manage model stock per location based on planogram
• Develops seasonal assortment plans for showcasing the brand with attention to demographic profiles and geography and a keen understanding of the brand customer
• Communicate category and buying strategies to cross functional and category business partners
• Establish key working partnerships with private label brands and/or exclusive items with new or existing suppliers
• Continuously source and procure new items to test including exclusive product

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills needed
• Demonstrated ability to bring in new methods used to optimize inventory
• Ability to work well independently as well as develop strong working relationships with the other department members
• Excellent accuracy and detail-focus
• Exceptional organizational skills
• Must possess a fashion sense and understand how to meet the needs of the customer
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Merchandising, or Mathematics or equivalent work experience
• Strong experience in Microsoft office; especially Excel
• Strong coordination and communication skills; ability to present data and influence discussion with managers, peers and members of cross-functional teams
• Fashion accessories/footwear background preferred but not required
• 7-10 years of retail buying/merchandising experience - multi-site retailer a MUST
• Experience with buying, negotiating and managing inventory for a multi-site retailer