Associate Buyer

Job Description

Position Overview

The Associate Buyer supports the Buyer in managing retail assortments and buying strategy across US, CA, EU, and UK stores for the brand’s Men’s and Women’s collections.

This role combines hands-on execution — buy sheets, order tracking, and seasonal buy development — with rigorous sales analysis, ensuring the assortment reflects both performance data and the evolving expectations of the luxury consumer.

The Associate Buyer partners closely with Planning, Wholesale, and Retail teams, and plays a visible role in supporting market presentations to senior leadership.

Core Responsibilities

1. Buying & Assortment

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• Partner with the Buyer to develop and execute product assortments, placing seasonal buys with conviction.
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• Participate in the development of Spring and Fall seasonal buy plans.
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• Maintain buy sheets and order forms with accuracy and organization.
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• Enter, update, and track seasonal buys to ensure timely delivery.
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• Identify product opportunities — transfers, reorders — based on sales analysis.
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2. Analysis & Reporting

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• Prepare weekly, seasonal, and ad hoc business recaps to support business optimization.
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• Analyze weekly selling reports and seasonal hindsight recaps to inform assortment decisions.
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• Provide the Buyer with category, subcategory, and item performance analysis.
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• Monitor industry trends and evaluate competitors through store and market visits.
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3. Vendor & Purchase Order Management

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• Issue, track, and reconcile purchase orders against buy sheets, ensuring accuracy in cost, quantity, and delivery dates.
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• Coordinate with vendors and agents on order confirmations, production timelines, and shipping updates.
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• Support market appointments and trade show preparation, including sample coordination and showroom set-up.
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• Monitor inbound receipt flow with the distribution center and flag delays or discrepancies.
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• Assist in managing markdowns, return-to-vendor (RTV), and clearance activity in ways that protect brand positioning and margin.
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4. Cross-Functional Collaboration

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• Collaborate with Planning, Wholesale, and Retail General Managers on business needs.
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• Partner with store managers, sales staff, and operations to gather product feedback and assess inventory.
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• Partner with Visual Merchandising to ensure product presentation reflects the brand’s luxury positioning in every market.
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• Communicate with the Italy office to manage deliveries and business issues.
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• Assist with product knowledge training presentations.
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• Support presentation of buying strategy to the President and Founder during market.
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5. Consumer Insight

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• Develop a deep understanding of the brand’s consumer — their needs, preferences, and shopping experience — to guide selections and optimize product mix.
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6. Project Management

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• Manage ad hoc projects as assigned, ensuring timely execution and alignment with business objectives.
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Qualifications & Skills

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• 2–4 years of experience in buying, merchandising, or planning, ideally within luxury or contemporary fashion retail.
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• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Fashion Merchandising, or a related field preferred.
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• Strong Excel and retail math skills (sell-through, gross margin, weeks of supply, OTB fundamentals).
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• High attention to detail and accuracy in managing buy sheets, purchase orders, and reporting.
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• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple seasonal timelines at once.
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• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with comfort presenting to senior leadership.
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• Genuine passion for luxury fashion and a refined understanding of the brand’s aesthetic and consumer.
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• Willingness to travel for market appointments and store visits as needed.
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