What are the responsibilities and job description for the Footwear Buyer - Performance position at 24 Seven Talent?
Our client, a footwear brand, is seeking an experienced Retail Buyer specializing in Performance Athletic Footwear. This is a full-time role that is onsite in Manhattan Beach, CA. THIS ROLE IS NOT REMOTE - the client is open to relocation assistance for the right candidate!
Full-Time
Onsite in Manhattan Beach, CA - open to relocating the right candidate
The Retail Buyer will play a crucial role in selecting and managing a range of high-performance athletic shoes for retail stores and e-commerce platforms.
Key Responsibilities:
- Act as the primary retail buyer for performance athletic footwear category
- Curate a compelling assortment of performance athletic shoes, focusing on running, training, and sport-specific footwear
- Analyze retail sales data, market trends, and customer preferences to inform buying decisions
- Collaborate with vendors to select the right mix of performance shoes that align with our retail strategy and customer needs
- Work closely with retail planning, merchandising, and marketing teams to optimize our footwear offerings
- Stay informed about the latest innovations and technologies in athletic shoe design to enhance retail product mix
- Manage product lifecycles and seasonal transitions for footwear lines across retail channels
- Balance inventory levels and product mix to maximize sales and profitability in retail stores and online
- Develop retail pricing strategies that maintain competitiveness in the footwear market
Requirements:
- 5 years of experience as a retail buyer in the footwear industry
- Strong analytical skills with proficiency in using retail data to drive buying decisions
- Excellent understanding of retail math and financial planning for footwear categories
- Ability to recognize and react to trends in the retail footwear market
- Bachelor’s degree in business, Retail Management, Fashion Merchandising, or related field
- Willingness to travel 20-30% of the time for vendor meetings and retail market research
- Passion for Sports and Performance Footwear: While direct experience as a retail buyer for performance athletic footwear is valuable, we also encourage candidates with a strong passion for sports and athletic shoes to apply. If you have a keen interest in how footwear enhances athletic performance, follow sports trends, or are an enthusiastic participant in sports activities, we want to hear from you.
