Buyer, Women's Apparel 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 a 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:

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

REQUIREMENTS:

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

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.