Head Buyer

American Threads is searching for an experienced and dynamic Head Buyer to join our team! If you're passionate about fashion, data-driven decision making, and leading a team to success, we want to hear from you.As the Head Buyer, you will play a pivotal role in shaping our product assortment and ensuring we meet our sales, profit, and inventory targets. This role involves working cross-functionally with our marketing, merchandising, and store teams, while managing relationships with vendors and suppliers. You'll also be responsible for driving growth through strategic product sourcing and identifying key opportunities for expansion.Responsibilities:Partner with owners to plan in-season and pre-season category plansManage information across various company functions (marketing, merchandising, stores) to drive profit, sales and inventory targetsPurchase & manage a variety of products, overseeing the entire dress categoryOversee order placement and tracking to ensure timely receipt of merchandiseFind opportunities within existing partners to identify areas of expansion through exclusives, depth or category opportunitiesMaster in identifying opportunities and risks in-season through analyzing sales performanceAble to make key takeaways and speak to the business with ease. Able to calculate gross margin and turnover. Manage OTB and identify areas of opportunity/ where to optimize on a macro levelRegularly source new products and vendors, on the pulse of the latest emerging trendsWork on special projects as assignedReview sales results to strategize mark-downs and manage aged inventory through strategic liquidationTrain, support and manage departments responsibilities and tasks across 2 Associate Buyers and 1 Buying AssistantMust be able to work flexible hoursSome travel requiredResponsible for assortment selection consisting of planning, customer needs, trends, competitors and merchandisingStudy sales history and inventory levels to evaluate what product is needed, able to make key takeaways to the team from a macro-level business perspectiveAble to speak to production teams for product developmentCan effectively negotiate with all vendors on needs of the business and confident in pitching high-level target brandsResponsible for approving all orders from restocks & reorders to allocations and new purchase ordersWorks with CEO on a regular mark down strategy for e-commerceKey Competencies:Negotiation Skills: Strong ability to negotiate favorable terms with vendors, including discounts and guaranteesProblem-Solving: Logical thinking to address issues quickly in a fast-paced environmentAnalytical Skills: Ability to assess sales history, market trends, and inventory levels, while making data-driven decisionsLeadership & Communication: Leading a team and communicating effectively with different teams across the companyIndustry Knowledge: A solid understanding of current industry trends and how they affect business decisionsMultitasking & Organization: Strong ability to juggle multiple tasks and prioritize effectivelyQualifications:Bachelor's degree in Fashion, Business, or a related field (preferred)5+ years of Women's Buying experience, with a strong track record in both online and retail buyingProven management experience as a Buyer, including leadership of buying teamsAdvanced knowledge of retail math concepts, including markup, margin planning, open-to-buy, and inventory productivity measuresHighly skilled in Excel; experience with other relevant buying software programs such as Inventory Planner is a plusStrong experience working with manufacturers and understanding the product development cycleExcellent negotiation skills and the ability to manage vendor relationships effectivelyFamiliarity with trends, customer needs, and competitor activities within the fashion industry

Created: 2025-03-03