Apparel Buyer Jobs

Buyer - Girls, Intimates, Sleep & Lifestyle

The Cato Corporation is seeking individuals who are interested in a career in Merchandising to join our team as an Buyer.

JOB SUMMARY: The Buyer support the brand objectives and deliver sales and profit targets as determined. They work effectively with all cross-functional partners (i.e., Design, Planning & Allocation, Product Development, Marketing & Visual, etc.) to deliver departmental plans. They manage and gather customer and competitive information that drives the strategic view of the line. They have an eye for fashion trends and are able to translate that into business results.

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• Competitive and aspirational shopping with design
• Develop seasonal strategies that align to company financial goals, drive top line sales and margin.
• Drive assortment strategy to achieve financial goals—include style counts by month
• Monthly best seller meetings—communicate effectively what is driving your business
• Drive online sales and assortment, identify key items to be exclusive to ecommerce while ensuring that we are driving outfit selling.
• Communicate changes in strategy to the appropriate cross functional team members on a timely basis
• Hindsight quarterly—what worked, what didn’t work and what should be done differently
• Train and mentor direct reports; motivates and encourages success
• Identify business opportunities and risks in season through analysis of current sales with timely direction in order to react.
• Work with design and merchandise partners to create key looks and outfits
• Adhere to Product Development Calendar
• Assume ownership once decisions are made to drive business
• Responsible to assort the line which includes quantification of key ideas and looks
• Work cross functionally with your design partner to ensure that you have the on trend merchandise that drives sales.
• Customer champion—visit stores monthly, getting to know the customer, what she wants and what could have been done differently.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be accurate, proactive, display a sense of urgency, and be able to anticipate next
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize
• Exceptional ability to bridge and enhance cooperative working relationships
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills
• Bachelor's degree in related field or equivalent experience, Fashion Merchandising preferred
• Strong organizational skills
• Systems and computer savvy, including Microsoft Office Applications
• Ability to manage through conflict and problem-solve

The Cato Corporation, a leading specialty retailer of value-priced women’s fashion apparel with corporate offices located in Charlotte, North Carolina, operates three concepts: Cato, It’s Fashion and Versona. The Company has over 1,300 stores throughout the United States and a diverse workforce of over 7,500 associates. The Company’s stock is traded on the NYSE under the symbol “CATO”.

The Cato Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, age, sex (including pregnancy), gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.