Assistant Buyer

The Cato Corporation, a leading specialty retailer of value-priced women’s fashion apparel with corporate offices located in Charlotte, North Carolina, operates three concepts: Cato, Versona and It’s Fashion. The Company has approximately 1,100 stores throughout the United States and a diverse workforce of over 7,500 associates. The Company’s stock is traded on the NYSE under the symbol “CATO”.

Versona is a unique fashion destination offering apparel and accessories including jewelry, handbags and shoes at exceptional prices every day. Select Versona merchandise can also be found at Versona also offers the Cache label in a majority of Versona stores as a shop-in-shop offering apparel and jewelry. Cache merchandise can also be found at or at We are seeking individuals who are interested in a career in Merchandising to join our team as a Buyer.

Job Summary: The Assistant Buyer supports the brand objectives, deliver sales and profit plans. They work effectively with all cross-functional partners (i.e. Planning & Allocation, Stores, Marketing & Visual, and Product Development etc.) to assist with achieving department plans. They manage and gather customer and competitive information to assist in driving the strategic view of the line. They have an eye for fashion trends and are able to translate that into business results.

Responsibilities:

• Identify emerging fashion trends and customize to Versona for quality, fit and price;
• Provide on order management for stores and ecommerce;
• Execute price changes;
• Assist with sample organization and meeting prep;
• Establish and build strong cross functional relationships including Planning & Allocation, Stores, Marketing & Visual, and Product Development;
• Possess financial understanding and utilization of basic retail math to help analyze the department’s business on a day-to-day basis;
• Understand brand positioning and target customer to aid in the selection of product that is commercially viable.
• Support special projects and cross-functional initiatives as assigned.

Requirements:

• Retail experience gained in retail or ecommerce boutique, internship experience, technical program and/or a relevant bachelor’s degree;
• Proficient computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook;
• Ability to work independently along with cross-functional collaboration;
• Excellent communication, organizational and problem solving skills;
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment and attention to detail;
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills;
• Creative thinker and personal drive to understand fashion retail

The Cato Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, age, sex (including pregnancy), gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.