Senior Buyer
Senior Fashion & Apparel Buyer
Location: On-site, Miami Florida
Employment Type: Full-Time
Department: Merchandising / Buying
About the Role
We are seeking a strategic, trend‑driven Senior Fashion & Apparel Buyer to lead product selection, seasonal assortment planning, and vendor strategy for a high‑growth fashion and apparel organization based in Florida. This role is ideal for a buyer who thrives in a fast‑paced retail environment and has deep knowledge of both domestic and international fashion markets.
As a senior leader on the merchandising team, you will own category performance, drive margin growth, and guide product strategy from concept to consumer.
Key Responsibilities
Buying & Merchandising Strategy
- Develop and execute seasonal buying strategies aligned with brand positioning, financial goals, and market trends.
- Lead assortment planning, SKU optimization, and lifecycle management across assigned categories.
- Analyze sales, inventory, and market data to identify growth opportunities and underperforming segments.
- Ensure collections align with trend direction, target customer preferences, and competitive pricing strategies.
Vendor & Supplier Management
- Build and maintain strong partnerships with global vendors, manufacturers, and design teams.
- Negotiate pricing, delivery schedules, payment terms, exclusives, and margin targets.
- Evaluate supplier performance and quality compliance, ensuring on‑time delivery and production accuracy.
- Source and onboard new vendors to expand product offerings and enhance competitiveness.
Financial & Inventory Management
- Own category P&L by managing budgets, OTB (Open-to-Buy), markdown strategy, and gross margin targets.
- Monitor weekly business performance and adjust orders based on sales trends and inventory forecasts.
- Collaborate with planning and allocation teams to optimize stock levels and maximize sell-through.
Market & Trend Research
- Lead market research efforts by attending trade shows, fashion weeks, vendor showrooms, and competitive shop visits.
- Identify emerging trends, fabrics, silhouettes, and consumer behaviors relevant to the Florida and broader Southeast markets.
- Partner with marketing and design teams to translate trend insights into compelling product stories.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with planning, design, e‑commerce, marketing, and store operations teams to ensure cohesive execution.
- Provide guidance to junior buyers and assistants, contributing to skill development and team leadership.
- Support product launches, promotional strategies, and merchandising directives across channels.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Fashion Merchandising, Business, Retail Management, or related field.
- 3+ years of buying experience in apparel, accessories, or fashion-related categories.
- Strong understanding of trend forecasting, product construction, and global sourcing.
- Advanced analytical skills with proficiency in Excel, merchandising systems, and retail KPIs.
- Excellent negotiation, communication, and vendor management skills.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally for vendor meetings, tradeshows, and market appointments.
- Experience working in Florida or coastal/sun‑belt markets is a plus (familiarity with resortwear, swim, and warm‑climate categories is beneficial).
FAQs
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