Free People Buyer - Heavyweight Knits

Role Responsibilities

• Develop a compelling assortment, based on store and direct strategies that meet/exceed sales volume and profits
• Expand product line to enhance appeal to target market
• Analyze velocity reports and respond to current trends as appropriate
• Ensure key fashion trends are well represented in the assortment
• Test emerging trends for selling viability
• Facilitate finalizations to plan and merchandise product assortments for all channels
• Shop domestic and international market to fill voids, check on current trends and identify “chase opportunities”
• Distort classifications to ensure positioning within the market
• Manage inventory levels and flow
• Develop new resources
• Develop new design collaborations and manage artist relationships
• Negotiate price to insure mark-up goals are achieved
• Maintain clear vision of store and direct customer and her needs
• Work with Merchandising team to develop strong story lines for the website, emails and store presentations
• Organize and analyze weekly and monthly data
• Conduct in-season and post-season analyses to better evaluate and control the business
• Clearly communicate current trends, opportunities, successes, and failures at best/worst meetings
• Manage daily sample management and collection of product information for style-outs, meetings, and photo shoots
• Train, manage, and delegate daily activities to Buying team
• Oversee Product Information prior to Turnover and develop compelling story lines to increase productivity for all channels
• Drive and understand the private label process for product development
• Contribute to continuous improvement in efficiencies, execution, brand/product positioning, timing, and quality
• Shop competition and inspirational stores
• Read all pertinent trade, trend, consumer publications
• Stay connected to current industry trends, fashion shows, design fairs, art exhibitions, and other influential cultural events
• Challenge the buying team to interpret seasonal trends for all channels

Qualifications

• Creative problem solving
• True entrepreneurial risk mentality
• Demonstrated ability to lead a business
• Lead by example
• Be positive, support company initiatives, mentor others, and be a part of the solution
• Own, articulate, and execute a clear vision
• 5+ years buying or related experience