Retail Buyer - Dresses

Citi Trends, Inc.; New York, Northern (NY, KY); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Citi Trends, Inc. in New York is seeking a Dress Buyer with strong off-price retail experience to curate assortments that deliver value and growth. You will identify trends, negotiate with vendors, and build compelling dress assortments for today’s value-conscious customer.

You will analyze sales and inventory, collaborate with Planning, Merchandising, Marketing, E-commerce, and Store Operations to drive seasonal strategies. Travel up to 40% is required.

Qualifications

• 3-5+ years of retail buying experience.
• Experience in off-price or value fashion environments.
• Strong vendor negotiation and supplier relationship skills.
• Analytical mindset with data-driven decision making.
• Advanced Excel and reporting tools experience.
• Ability to manage multiple classifications in a fast-paced setting.

Responsibilities

• Develop trend-right dress assortments aligned with demand and company goals.
• Source and negotiate product within the off-price marketplace.
• Identify fashion trends, silhouettes, fabrics, colors for strategy.
• Analyze sales, inventory, margins, and customer behavior.
• Collaborate with Planning, Merchandising, Marketing, E-commerce, Store Ops.
• Manage product life cycles including reorders and markdowns.
• Attend markets and vendor events to identify new brands.
• Monitor dress categories to ensure relevant, profitable assortments.
• Partner with cross-functional teams for balanced assortment.

Skills

Retail buying

Off-price experience

Vendor negotiation

Data analysis

Excel skills

Merchandise planning

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Merchandise planning tools

Job description

0983 NY Office Citi Trends, 1385 Broadway, Suite 1108 New York, NY 10018

Position

Buyer

External Description

Are you passionate about women's fashion, dress trends, and discovering the next must-have style?We're looking for a results-drivenDress Buyerwith strong off-price retail experience to curate compelling assortments that deliver exceptional value, excitement, and profitable growth.

In this role, you'll identify emerging dress trends, cultivate strategic vendor partnerships, and build assortments that resonate with today's value-conscious customer. You'll combine trend awareness, business acumen, and negotiation expertise to bring the right styles, silhouettes, and brands to market at the right time and price.

What You'll Do

• Drive the Dress business by developing trend-right assortments that align with customer demand, seasonal opportunities, and company objectives.
• Source and negotiate product within the off-price marketplace while building strong partnerships with vendors, brands, and manufacturers.
• Identify emerging fashion trends, silhouettes, fabrics, colors, and key seasonal influences to inform buying strategies.
• Analyze sales performance, inventory productivity, margin results, and customer purchasing behaviors to make informed assortment decisions.
• Collaborate closely with Planning, Merchandising, Marketing, E-commerce, and Store Operations to execute seasonal strategies and maximize performance.
• Manage product life cycles, recommending reorders, markdowns, and inventory actions to optimize sales and profitability.
• Attend markets, trade shows, vendor appointments, and industry events to identify new brands, fashion trends, and sourcing opportunities.
• Monitor trends across casual dresses, career dresses, occasion dressing, fashion dresses, knit dresses, denim dresses, and seasonal categories to ensure a relevant and profitable assortment.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to deliver a balanced assortment strategy focused on value, fashion, quality, and customer demand.

What You Bring

• 3-5+ years of retail buying experience, preferably withinoff-price, value retail, department store, or specialty fashion environments.
• Strong understanding of the women's dress business, including trends, silhouettes, fabrication, fit, occasion dressing, and customer preferences.
• Proven success negotiating with vendors and building strategic supplier relationships.
• Analytical mindset with demonstrated ability to leverage data to drive profitable assortment decisions.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience working with merchandise planning and reporting tools.
• Ability to manage multiple classifications simultaneously while thriving in a fast-paced retail environment.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills.
• Entrepreneurial spirit with a passion for identifying trends, opportunities, and emerging brands.
• Willingness to travel up to 40%.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Merchandising, Fashion Merchandising, Business, Marketing, Retail Management, or a related field preferred.

Why This Role Matters

As aDress Buyer, you'll directly influence one of the most important and exciting categories within our business. Your decisions will shape the assortment our customers shop every day, strengthen vendor partnerships, and drive sales growth through trend-right, value-focused merchandise. This role blends fashion intuition, trend forecasting, negotiation, and business strategy, making it ideal for a merchant who thrives on discovering great styles, great brands, and great opportunities.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that values diversity, equity, and belonging.