Associate Buyer

Cult Gaia; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with Company Match

Life Insurance

Pet Insurance

Flexible Time Off/PTO

Job summary

Cult Gaia, based in Los Angeles, is seeking an Associate Buyer to support the execution of the brand's buying strategy across key product categories. You will work with the Associate Director of Buying to develop compelling assortments that balance creativity, newness, demand, and financial performance.

You will analyze sales, market trends, and inventory to inform product selection and sizing, collaborating with Merchandising, Planning, Design, and Retail across multiple channels.

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years of buying experience within contemporary, luxury, or premium fashion.
• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Merchandising, Business, Retail Management, or a related field preferred.
• Experience supporting seasonal buys, assortment planning, inventory management, and product performance analysis.
• Strong understanding of retail financial metrics, including sales, margin, sell-through, Open-to-Buy, and inventory productivity.

Responsibilities

• Support the Associate Director of Buying in developing and executing seasonal buying strategies aligned with Cult Gaia's brand vision and financial objectives.
• Assist in building seasonal assortments across assigned categories, balancing fashion, newness, proven sellers, and core products.
• Analyze historical sales, customer demand, and market trends to make recommendations on product selection, quantities, pricing, and assortment opportunities.
• Partner with Merchandising and Planning to support assortment architecture, SKU counts, depth, and category investments.
• Participate in seasonal buy meetings, product reviews, and assortment planning sessions.

Skills

Buying experience

Advanced Excel

Analytical skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Multi-channel experience

Fashion sense

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fashion Merchandising/Business

Tools

ERP systems

Retail planning software

Job description

Reports To: Associate Director of Buying

Job Summary

Cult Gaia is seeking a highly motivated, detail-oriented, and commercially driven Associate Buyer to support the execution of the brand's buying strategy across key product categories. This role will work closely with the Associate Director of Buying to develop compelling, brand-right assortments that balance creativity, newness, customer demand, and financial performance. The Associate Buyer will support seasonal buying decisions through product analysis, market research, sales reporting, and inventory management to help drive sales, margin, sell-through, and overall assortment productivity.

The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of the contemporary or luxury fashion customer, a sophisticated eye for product, and the ability to combine creative instincts with data-driven decision-making.

This individual will collaborate closely with Merchandising, Planning, Design, Product Development, Production, Retail, E-commerce, and Wholesale to ensure the right product is available in the right quantities, at the right time, and across the right channels.

Key Responsibilities:

Buying & Assortment Development

• Support the Associate Director of Buying in developing and executing seasonal buying strategies aligned with Cult Gaia's brand vision and financial objectives.
• Assist in building seasonal assortments across assigned categories, balancing fashion, newness, proven sellers, and core products.
• Analyze historical sales, customer demand, and market trends to make recommendations on product selection, quantities, pricing, and assortment opportunities.
• Partner with Merchandising and Planning to support assortment architecture, SKU counts, depth, and category investments.
• Participate in seasonal buy meetings, product reviews, and assortment planning sessions.
• Identify opportunities for reorders, FastTrack orders, exclusive products, and emerging product categories.
• Seasonal Buy & Reorder Sizing: Assist in calculating and allocating buy quantities for seasonal buys, reorders, and FastTrack opportunities across Accessories, Footwear, and RTW for DTC channels. Leverage rate of sale, weeks of supply, and inventory projections to determine appropriate investment by style, color, and size.
• Retail Assortment Curation: Assist in curating store-specific assortments that feel balanced across product categories, silhouettes, price points, and seasonal color stories. Ensure product selections reflect each store's customer demographics, regional preferences, and market demand while maintaining a cohesive brand identity.
• Maintain accurate assortment plans, buy sheets, purchase orders, and product information throughout the buying process.
• Partner with Design and Product Development to provide commercial feedback on product, pricing, color, fabrication, and assortment gaps.
• Support the management of seasonal Open-to-Buy budgets in partnership with the Associate Director of Buying and Planning.
• Monitor weekly sales, inventory levels, sell-through, weeks of supply, margin, and SKU productivity.
• Analyze product performance by category, style, color, size, channel, and location to identify opportunities and risks.
• Size Curve Optimization: Analyze size-level sales performance and customer demand to identify opportunities to refine size curves across RTW and Footwear. Recommend adjustments to size distributions to maximize full-price sales and minimize stockouts and excess inventory.
• Recommend in-season actions, including reorders, inventory transfers, cancellations, and markdown opportunities.
• Support replenishment and chase strategies to maximize full-price sales and minimize excess inventory.
• Prepare weekly, monthly, and seasonal sales reports, identifying key business trends and actionable recommendations.
• Assist with seasonal hindsight analysis to improve future buying decisions and assortment productivity.
• Ensure buying decisions and product investments remain aligned with approved financial plans.
• Maintain a strong understanding of the Cult Gaia customer, brand aesthetic, and competitive landscape.
• Conduct ongoing competitive research across contemporary and luxury fashion brands, including product assortment, pricing, trends, and category opportunities.
• Monitor runway, market, consumer, and cultural trends to identify relevant product opportunities.
• Gather insights from Retail, E-commerce, and Wholesale teams to better understand customer preferences and purchasing behavior.
• Participate in store visits, market appointments, and industry events as needed.
• Identify emerging trends and product opportunities while maintaining Cult Gaia's distinctive brand identity.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Planning to monitor inventory, forecasts, replenishment needs, and seasonal financial targets.
• Partner with Merchandising to ensure assortments align with seasonal direction and category priorities.
• Collaborate with Design and Product Development to communicate product opportunities, customer feedback, and commercial needs.
• Coordinate with Production to track deliveries, identify delays, and support timely product launches.
• Partner with Retail and E-commerce to review product performance and identify store-specific and digital assortment opportunities.
• Support Marketing and Creative teams with identifying key products, seasonal launches, and commercial priorities.
• Maintain clear and consistent communication with cross-functional teams regarding product availability, assortment changes, and business needs.

Buying Operations & Reporting

• Maintain accurate buying calendars, assortment documents, purchase orders, and reporting tools.
• Track purchase order status, delivery timelines, and product changes to ensure alignment with business needs.
• Prepare presentations, assortment recaps, and performance reports for the Associate Director of Buying and senior leadership.
• Ensure all product and buying information is accurate, organized, and updated in internal systems.
• Identify opportunities to improve buying processes, reporting accuracy, and operational efficiency.
• Support the Associate Director of Buying with additional projects, seasonal initiatives, and business priorities as needed.

Qualifications & Skills

• 3–5+ years of buying experience within contemporary, luxury, or premium fashion.
• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Merchandising, Business, Retail Management, or a related field preferred.
• Experience supporting seasonal buys, assortment planning, inventory management, and product performance analysis.
• Strong understanding of retail financial metrics, including sales, margin, sell-through, Open-to-Buy, and inventory productivity.
• Strong fashion sensibility with an excellent eye for product, design, color, proportion, and emerging trends.
• Highly analytical with the ability to interpret sales and inventory data and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
• Advanced Excel skills and proficiency with retail planning, merchandising, and ERP systems.
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Proactive, resourceful, and solutions-oriented with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Ability to balance creative product instincts with commercial and financial objectives.
• Experience working within a multi-channel fashion business, including retail and e-commerce, preferred.
• Passion for Cult Gaia's brand identity, product innovation, and continued growth.

What We Offer

• 401(k) with Company Match
• Life Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Flexible Time Off/PTO, based on eligibility