Position: Buyer
Department: Buying
Reports to: Senior Buyer, Buying Manager, DMM
Direct Reports: Yes
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: 3880 N Mission Los Angeles, CA 90031
With new owners and strong leadership, Forever 21 is evolving into what can only be described as a well known retail turnaround! Now owned by SPARC Simon Property Group, and Authentic Brands Group, and led by CEO Daniel Kulle, 2020 was a year of reconstructing the foundation of this popular fashion brand to deliver amazing products that our customers expect to be trendy, relevant and value to them. We’re implementing new strategic priorities across the company, determined to make Forever 21 a place where top technologists, creatives, and merchandizers will come to make their mark on the future of fast fashion retail with an enhanced commitment to sustainability and community engagement. We welcome anyone to apply who has big ideas and is willing to roll up their sleeves to make those ideas a reality. There are no “ivory tower” roles at Forever 21. From the C-Suite to the Brand Associates, we’re making our transformation happen together. If you’re obsessed to serve our customer, if you elevate any team you work on, and if you are passionate about fashion, we want to hear from you!
Job Purpose:
Under the general direction of the Sr. Buyer, Buying Manager or DMM the Buyer will use discretion and independent judgement in developing and/or procuring merchandise assortments for main assigned portion(s) of the business. The Buyer will work to create the appropriate merchandise mix based on emerging market trends, along with meeting the assortment strategies established by management.
Deliverables:
- Create and execute a merchandise assortment plan that supports the financial and merchandising objectives set by senior management
- Participate in weekly open-to-buy meetings with Planning & Allocation and provide technical feedback and analysis to ensure the department achieves financial targets for turn and sell-through goals
- Participate in fittings to evaluate the hanger appeal of a garment, making sure that it is salable
- Negotiate product quality, purchase quantity, landed cost, and delivery with vendors
- Conduct the initial garment selection, recommending to management the colors, trims, and fabric that work best with the garment
- Coordinate with cross-functional partners such as Production, Design, and Trend &Print in order to make sure designs are adoptable, costs are measured, and concepts are clearly defined
- Review weekly sales performance to identify potential re-order opportunities and recommend styles that require markdowns
- Perform continuous competitor and market analysis by researching various mediums for emerging trends in color, materials, and categories, in addition to price points and promotional campaigns from competitors
- Analyze selling and inventory reports on a weekly basis in order to maintain a solid understanding of the business
- Train, develop, and mentor the Assistant Buyer and/or Associate Buyer to ensure that financial and product goals are met.
Knowledge, Skills, and Qualifications:
- Must have a BFA or related degree
- Must have 3-5 years of buying experience in a specialty retail environment
- Proven track record of success as an Apparel or Non Apparel buyer (depending on category opening)
- Must possess the ability to understand and act upon financial retail indicators such as sales, gross margin, inventory productivity, sell-through and turn
- Must be able to effectively communicate with Management and subordinates
What we Expect
Customer Obsession: You know who your customer is and working in service to them is working in
service to our end consumer.
Commitment to Top Talent: You are passionate about working with the best possible people. You know how to attract them, develop them, and teach others to do the same.
Retail is Detail: The details tell the real story! You are obsessed with quality product, quality experience, quality regardless of the segment of the company that your role occupies. Even if you find some details challenging, you know who to ask for backup because what is most important is that your customer has the most excellent experience possible.
Entrepreneurial Spirit: Your work is not just your job, it’s your passion. You have and act on ideas about how to make your role, your department, and the company a better place. You know why you want to be part of building Forever 21’s future, are a highly collaborative and resourceful individual who can function at a high level, and are committed to collaborating every day.
Forever 21 will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories for employment in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring, Ordinance NO. 184652.