Buyer Dress Occasion

At David’s Bridal, every Dream Maker plays a powerful role in shaping unforgettable moments for our customers—and we know great careers are built from great opportunities. If you are Passionately Enthusiastic about your work, Endlessly Curious about learning and growing, and truly Customer Obsessed in everything you do, this lateral or next-level role may be the perfect chance to expand your impact.

About the role

The Apparel Dress Buyer is responsible for developing and executing merchandise strategies that drive sales, profitability, and customer satisfaction across Prom, Homecoming and Guest Of Wedding dress categories. This role combines fashion expertise, customer insight, trend forecasting, and financial acumen to create compelling assortments that align with brand objectives and deliver a seamless omnichannel shopping experience. The ideal candidate is a strategic merchant who can translate market trends and customer needs into profitable product assortments while building strong partnerships across planning, product development, sourcing, marketing, and store operations.

Responsibilities

• Merchandise Strategy & Assortment Planning
  • Develop and execute seasonal merchandise strategies that support company sales, margin, and growth objectives.
  • Curate balanced assortments that reflect current fashion trends, customer preferences, and brand positioning.
  • Establish category pricing strategies that optimize value perception, profitability, and market competitiveness.
  • Identify opportunities for assortment expansion, category growth, and product innovation.
• Business & Financial Management
  • Own category performance, including sales, gross margin, inventory productivity, and turnover.
  • Partner with Planning teams to develop financial plans, forecasts, and inventory strategies.
  • Manage open-to-buy budgets and inventory investments to maximize return while minimizing risk.
  • Analyze sales performance, customer behavior, and market trends to inform merchandising decisions.
• Product Development & Vendor Partnerships
  • Collaborate with Design, Product Development, and Sourcing teams to create exclusive and differentiated product offerings.
  • Build and maintain strong vendor relationships to ensure product quality, delivery performance, and competitive costing.
  • Lead negotiations related to pricing, costs, lead times, and business terms to achieve margin objectives.
  • Monitor competitive trends and marketplace developments to identify new opportunities.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner with Marketing, E-commerce, Visual Merchandising, and Store Operations teams to ensure consistent product storytelling and execution.
  • Support product launches, promotional campaigns, and seasonal initiatives across all customer touchpoints.
  • Present category performance, assortment strategies, and business recommendations to senior leadership.
• Leadership & Team Development
  • Mentor and develop Assistant Buyers, Associate Buyers, and Merchandising Coordinators.
  • Foster a collaborative, performance-driven culture focused on accountability and continuous improvement.
  • Share industry insights, best practices, and merchandising expertise across the organization.

Requirements

• Education & Experience
  • Bachelor's degree in Merchandising, Fashion Merchandising, Business, Marketing, or a related field.
  • 5–8 years of buying, merchandising, or category management experience within apparel, fashion, bridal, or specialty retail.
  • Experience managing product assortments and financial performance in a multi-channel retail environment.
• Skills & Competencies
  • Strong fashion trend forecasting and market awareness
  • Customer-focused merchandising mindset
  • Advanced retail math and financial planning skills
  • Inventory management and open-to-buy expertise
  • Vendor negotiation and relationship management
  • Data-driven decision making and analytical problem solving
  • Excellent presentation, communication, and influencing skills
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic retail environment
  • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and merchandising systems

Success Measures

• Achievement of sales and gross margin targets
• Inventory productivity and turnover performance
• Assortment productivity and sell-through rates
• New product launch performance
• Vendor performance and cost savings
• Customer satisfaction and category growth
• Team development and leadership effectiveness