APPAREL BUYER JOB DESCRIPTION

An Apparel Buyer owns the merchandise selection decisions that determine whether a season sells through or sits. Managing seasonal range plans across autumn/winter and spring/summer cycles, this role carries direct accountability for Open-To-Buy budgets and the department's price architecture. Supplier negotiations, critical path oversight, and markdown strategy all fall within scope. Few roles in fashion retail demand the same combination of trend literacy and financial discipline.

As the Apparel Buyer, you will manage a department's full merchandise lifecycle, from range planning and supplier negotiation through to seasonal markdown execution, with measurable accountability for sales, margin, and stock turn. You will work cross-functionally with design, planning, and sales teams, reporting into a Buying Director or Buying Manager, with scope spanning both brick-and-mortar and online channels.

Career Impact: Deep ownership of Open-To-Buy management and seasonal range sign-off builds the kind of commercial track record that opens doors to senior buying and head-of-category roles in fashion retail.

Business Impact: The merchandise ranges you select and price directly shape the department's sell-through rate and seasonal profitability, making your decisions visible in weekly trading reports reviewed by senior management.

Growth Opportunity: Exposure to both wholesale and DTC channel planning, combined with markdown cadence strategy, develops the cross-channel commercial skill set that merchandising directors and category leads are hired for.

• Plan and manage seasonal range selections across autumn/winter and spring/summer cycles to meet budgeted Open-To-Buy and margin targets.
• Negotiate lead times and product specifications with suppliers to ensure on-time delivery and price architecture integrity.
• Monitor weekly sales, stock levels, and order flow, presenting key financial takeaways to the buying and senior management team.
• Develop and execute markdown cadence strategies to clear end-of-season inventory at optimized margin.
• Conduct fit meetings with production coordinators and garment technicians, providing direction on construction, trim, and styling.
• Analyse competitor pricing and market trend data to ensure the department range remains commercially competitive.
• Coordinate critical path milestones, including fabric approvals, lab dip sign-offs, and bulk confirmation timelines.
• Partner with planning and sales teams to align forecasting assumptions with company-wide inventory and channel targets.

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Buying, Merchandising, Business, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• 2 or more years of buying experience in apparel retail or a fashion manufacturer, with demonstrated range planning responsibility.
• Proven ability to manage Open-To-Buy budgets and interpret sales and stock reports to drive commercial decisions.
• Solid understanding of garment construction, fabric sourcing, and critical path management across a seasonal development cycle.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable range and pricing recommendations.
• Experience negotiating with suppliers on lead times, pricing, and product specifications.
• Proficiency in spreadsheet-based financial modelling and data reporting at a level suitable for senior management review.

• Prior exposure to both wholesale and direct-to-consumer channel planning, including inventory sharing across warehouses.
• Familiarity with open-to-buy or ERP-based planning systems used in mid-to-large retail environments.
• Experience in presenting seasonal range plans to a Buying Director or executive team for sign-off approval.
• Knowledge of international sourcing markets and an established supplier network within apparel manufacturing.

• Seasonal sell-through rate, measuring how effectively selected ranges clear within the planned markdown cadence.
• Open-To-Buy variance, tracking actual intake spend against budgeted OTB by week and month.
• Gross margin by department, reflecting the combined outcome of pricing decisions and markdown timing.
• Critical path on-time rate, measuring the percentage of milestone approvals completed by target date.
• Stock turn ratio, indicating how efficiently inventory is moving relative to the department's holdings.
• Typical tools: OTB and planning systems (commonly SAP or equivalent ERP); spreadsheet software (commonly Excel at advanced level).

• Base Salary Range: $60,000 - $90,000 per year, depending on experience and company size
• Bonus: Annual performance bonus typically 5-15% of base, tied to department margin targets
• Equity: Rarely offered at this level; possible in startup or DTC-native fashion brands
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage standard across US retail employers
• PTO: 15 to 20 days annually, with additional summer or post-season closure at some retailers
• Common Perks: Staff merchandise discount, trade show travel, and seasonal market trip allowances

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Successful completion of a background check is required as a condition of employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations will be made available to individuals with disabilities upon request. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

The Apparel Buyer owns the end-to-end product development process for the apparel category, from fabric and fit approval to price architecture and trend-driven range construction, within an established design and buying team at Forever New. Working alongside Design, QA, and Planning, this role delivers a commercially balanced offering that drives maximum sales and profit for the category.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive product offering to ensure fabrics and style details are consistent with brand vision.
• Construct a commercially balanced range.
• Work with Design and QA to ensure best fit, consistency of fit, and best possible quality of fabric, trim, make, and finish.
• Drive commercial decisions throughout the development process to deliver the most commercial style.
• Proactively drive approval timelines on lap dips, strike-offs, trim, and bulk fabric confirmation.
• Ensure a clear and commercial price architecture to drive maximum sales and profit.
• Ensure the category delivers innovation, speed to market, and calculated risks in new trends.
• Trade and optimise the department in collaboration with the Buying Manager and Planner.
• Monitor production progress against the department's critical path.
• Negotiate and confirm individual product lead times with suppliers.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or qualification in Fashion, Buying, or a related field.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in a Junior Buyer or Buyer role in apparel.
• Experience working in a major clothing retailer or manufacturer.
• Understanding and solid interpretation of global trends.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Outlook, and Word.
• Skilled in fashion-related software.

Embedded within the Wholesale and DTC planning function, the Apparel Buyer delivers seasonal and core range strategies that meet or exceed sales and inventory targets across channels, accounts, and classifications. Working closely with Sales, Merchandising, and Production teams, this role advances inventory optimization and financial accountability across global open-to-buy planning.

Core Functions

• Partner with the Sales team to build annual and seasonal top-down and bottom-up sales and inventory plans by channel, account, and classification.
• Create and maintain the Retail Open-To-Buy, tying all forecasting to company-wide goals and accountability.
• Create seasonal merchandising strategies and line plans to achieve financial objectives in assigned categories.
• Visit key markets consistently to understand specific store and customer needs and track purchasing trends.
• Determine aged merchandise and propose run-out plans and end-of-season markdown cadence strategies.
• Monitor sales and inventory plan performance in Open-To-Buy on a weekly and monthly basis.
• Run weekly reports, analyze data, and communicate key financial takeaways to the Sales team and management.
• Monitor receipt flow and partner with Production to ensure delivery dates are met, and orders are filled.
• Partner with Wholesale, International Sales, and DTC teams to optimize inventory sharing across channels and warehouses.
• Forecast raw materials for the Core program to improve lead times for recuts.
• Partner with Merchandising to oversee global OTB and gauge optimal seasonal ATS position.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's or master's degree in a related field preferred.
• 7 or more years of experience in an apparel-related planning or buying role.
• Apparel industry experience or knowledge, with familiarity in Golf or specialty retail a plus.
• Strong knowledge of data management, planning systems, financial calculations, and executive-level reporting.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel, with comfort working across multiple data sources.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, SAP, and Business Objects.
• Experienced people leader with the ability to build, develop, and retain high-performing teams.
• Strong strategic and analytical mindset with the ability to present complex material to diverse audiences.
• High degree of creativity, self-motivation, and adaptability in a dynamic work environment.

Reporting to the Buying Director, the Apparel Buyer leads full department management spanning stock reviews, range planning, seasonal order placement, and team leadership across stores and online channels. Partnering with production coordinators, garment technicians, and senior management, this role shapes a competitively priced and commercially viable merchandise offering that delivers consistent profit growth.

Primary Duties

• Fully manage a department, including stock reviews, sales, orders, forecasting, and option count planning across stores and online.
• Analyse reports and make commercially sound recommendations based on figures and market experience.
• Plan ranges to maximise profits and provide a commercially viable merchandise offering at competitive prices.
• Present seasonal range plans to the management team for approval, reflecting company goals and ambitions.
• Source new merchandise and re-evaluate existing products to ensure the range remains as competitive as possible.
• Select the type and quantity of product given the budgeted OTB and place orders across A/W and S/S seasons.
• Monitor market trends and react to changes in demand, keeping the department aligned with customer needs.
• Conduct colour planning each season in collaboration with the Buying Director and other Buyers.
• Manage the Buying team to deliver consistent growth and like-for-like profit.
• Attend fit meetings with production coordinators, garment technicians, and models, signing off on samples.

Skills & Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of experience as a Buyer within a retail chain or equivalent environment.
• Experience in fully managing the critical path for a buying department.
• Commercial awareness of competitors and market pricing to ensure best value positioning.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to build and manage relationships with colleagues and suppliers.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel or equivalent spreadsheet software.
• Strong time management and prioritisation skills.
• Ability to manage a high-volume workload.