Senior Buyer – Footwear

YM Inc; Toronto; On-site; CAD 50,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Buyer for Footwear to lead the selection and purchasing of fashionable apparel. This role is pivotal in creating a focused fashion assortment that aligns with market trends and customer needs. The ideal candidate will leverage their fashion expertise and analytical skills to negotiate with vendors, manage product assortments, and drive profitability. Join a dynamic and supportive team that values creativity and collaboration, offering opportunities for career development and continuous learning. If you are passionate about fashion and eager to make a significant impact, this position is perfect for you.

Benefits

Health and Dental Benefits Plan

Paid Sick Days

Employee Discount

Tuition Reimbursement

Ongoing Training and Development

Career Advancement Opportunities

Supportive and Collaborative Team

On-site parking

Paid time off

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in Fashion Merchandising with a focus on footwear.
• Strong negotiation skills and ability to analyze market trends.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate with vendors to develop competitive merchandise.
• Analyze buying reports and performance to maximize sales.

Skills

Fashion Merchandising

Negotiation Skills

Analytical Skills

Fashion Trend Awareness

Communication Skills

Education

Post-secondary education in Fashion

DCS / DEC

Tools

AS400

Illustrator

Microsoft Office

Job description

YM Inc. was founded on the strength of a single retail store in the heart of downtown Toronto in 1975, under the name Stitches. Today we are one of North America’s leading apparel retailers operating over 750 stores across Canada and the United States under the following banners: Stitches, Urban Planet, Urban Behavior, Sirens, Forever 21, Urban Kids, Suzy Shier, Le Chateau, Bluenotes, Aeropostale, Amnesia, Thriftys, West 49, Mandee, Charlotte Russe, and Rue21.

Our goal is to sustain performance that exceeds expectations. We are committed to creating a culture where people feel valued and inspired to achieve results. We give our people the appropriate tools, freedom and authority to make decisions. They are accountable for their actions and we recognize their efforts and reward their results. We attract and nurture the best people by providing leadership opportunities, career development and continuous learning. We are committed to leading by example and with integrity. We treat people with respect and dignity, promote the benefits of diversity and address challenges in a direct and compassionate manner. We engage people in our goals and objectives; we listen and act on new ideas where possible. That is our Philosophy.

How you will make a difference:

The Senior Buyer – Footwear is responsible for using their sense of style, knowledge of fashion trends and understanding of their target customers’ needs to create a focused fashion assortment. This role is responsible for selecting and purchasing apparel and accessories from manufacturers, designers, or wholesalers to match seasonal investment requirements and fashion trends. Senior Buyers must positively impact the bottom-line profit of their responsibilities/categories by achieving budgeted sales, GM/ROI, unit turns and inventory levels.

What You’ll Do:

1. Negotiate with vendors to develop merchandise with the best possible price/value relationship in the marketplace
2. Develop and correspond with vendors regarding product development, order placement, delivery follow up, initiation of new orders, PO revisions and cancellations, shipping, packing, and pre-ticketing
3. Lead the creation of specification and detail packages for private label programs to be developed
4. Implement product assortment focusing on cost, price points, key items, vendor, promotions, for areas of responsibility in concert with supervisor
5. Supervise approval of product prior to production
6. Access all buying functions in AS400 and The Eye
7. Create and analyze buying reports
8. Open Order Report – complete all received orders, ensure accuracy of information on report and list vessel information for import orders.
9. Analyze performance and plans to look for sales and margin opportunities that can exceed plans
10. Analyze business reports, OTB, Buying Plans, Assortment Plans, Open Order, Velocity and Class Sales Ranking Reports
11. Coordinate photo shoot samples
12. Coordinate needs with Planner, Allocation Analysts, Assistant Buyers and General Merchandise Manager
13. Visit stores to audit product assortment, allocation, visual set up and presentation
14. Communicate and liaise with all departments of the Company as it applies to the purchase, delivery, receipt, ticketing, processing, pricing, and quality of merchandise
15. Partner with Visual team to develop effective presentation plans and promotions
16. Participate in sales, product, and merchandise meetings
17. Stay abreast of fashion trends, market climate, competition, promotional and test strategies
18. Communicate new ideas, proposals, concepts etc.
19. Train and evaluate direct reports

What You’ll Need:

• Post-secondary education in Fashion and/or related experience required
• Minimum of 4 years of working Fashion Merchandising experience
• Previous work experience with suppliers and buyers an asset
• Knowledge of the retail industry an asset
• Illustrator and AS400 skills are an asset
• Proficient in Microsoft Office

What we offer:

• Competitive Compensation Package
• Health and Dental Benefits Plan
• Paid Sick Days
• Employee Discount
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Ongoing Training and Development
• Career Advancement Opportunities
• Being part of an amazing, supportive and collaborative team

YM Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. If chosen to participate in the selection process, accommodations are available upon request. We will consult with the applicant to provide or arrange suitable accommodation in a manner that takes into account the applicant’s accessibility needs.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Benefits:

• Dental care
• Extended health care
• Life insurance
• On-site parking
• Paid time off
• Store discount

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

• North York, ON M6A 2W1: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Education:

• DCS / DEC (preferred)

Experience:

• Fashion Merchandising: 4 years (required)
• Footwear Buying: 2 years (required)