Assistant Buyer, Accessories & Apparel

Overview

As the Assistant Buyer of Accessories & Apparel, you will play a key role in driving deliverables for the seasonal plan, while collaborating closely with the Senior Buyer and other cross-functional teams. Your responsibilities will include overseeing launch and replenishment timelines, analyzing performance data, and ensuring timely receipt of products to stores. You will also support the review of model stock strategy, monitor inventory levels, and help handle markdowns and transfers for slow-selling items. Through regular analysis of sales trends, lifecycle management, and vendor coordination, you will contribute to the overall success of the buying strategy, making recommendations to optimize assortments, improve inventory turnover, and drive profitability across both brick-and-mortar and e-commerce channels. Lead candidate identified for this position.

This position is hybrid, with the expectation of being in the office two days per week.

We believe Running Changes Everything. If you believe that, too, we want to talk. With more than 270 stores and a robust e-commerce site, Fleet Feet is the largest running retailer in the country. Catering to more than runners, we pride ourselves on having an inclusive environment! We believe it’s a privilege to serve and to deliver unmatched service and support when outfitting every customer. We like to keep things high-spirited, fast-paced and fun, wearing more than a few hats and stepping in to help out wherever it’s needed. We run together to solve problems, reach goals, encourage others and champion our brand. We are always in pursuit of hardworking people to join our quest and bring our core values to life.

Responsibilities

Implement tactical deliverables for seasonal product launches:

• Collaborate with Sr Buyer to receive an overview of seasonal assortment, discussing strategy and financials
• Review launch and replenishment PO dates with the Operations Manager and buying coordinator to ensure timely receipt
• Bookmark specific marketing promos and campaigns to analyze and hindsight success
• Review launch product store groupings with the Retail Inventory Team to ensure proper setup
• Monthly analysis to recap season-to-date performance, upcoming promos, campaigns, etc.
  
  
  

Conduct Weekly Product Lifecycle Analysis

• Opportunity to support styles-colors with strong performance
• Style-Colors with slow rate of sale to monitor excess inventory risk, proposing markdown or store transfers as needed
• Recap all findings for Retail inventory management in weekly meetings
  
  
  

Carry out seasonal MAP updates which includes maintaining seasonal calendar and communication of updates, brand-wide

Deliver vendor/styles RAs with support from Retail inventory management and Operations Manager

Analyze DC availability and Bulk open orders with the Vendor to ensure the product is moving at the planned rate.

Assist with allocating accessories and apparel products from DC to stores

Create Vendor to DC reorders, with analytical support from Retail inventory management based on store needs

Participate in weekly meetings with the team to highlight risks/opportunities based on current trends, upcoming forecasts, Bulk OO, Vendor to Store opportunities, lifecycle management, etc.

Review seasonal opportunities in size ratios

Lead day-to-day vendor coordination

Facilitate seasonal and ad hoc PO submissions to vendors and change requests

Communicate new seasonal SKU, PO uploads, and new vendor setups with the data management team

Lead Analysis In Support Of End-of-season / End-of-life Deliverables

• Manage end-of-life styles and coordinate markdowns
  
  
  

Analyze brick & mortar, e-commerce, drop ship sales results, along with franchise DC fulfillment, as applicable, to determine purchasing opportunities

Accountable KPIs/Metrics

• Sales $ vp (variance to plan)
• Inv % vp
• WOS
• Sell-Thru
  
  
  

Qualifications

Experience & Expertise:

• Industry Experience: 1-2 years in specialty retail buying or merchandise planning
• Analytical Skills: Ability to analyze sales data, forecast trends, and manage inventory effectively.
  
  
  

Technical Skills

• Data Management: skills in data analysis and management tools. Proficiency in Excel.
• Operational Proficiency: Understanding of product lifecycle management, seasonal planning, and operational logistics.
  
  
  

Performance & Inventory Management

• Performance Analysis: Ability to conduct performance reviews, analyzing promotional success, and monitoring product life cycles.
  
  
  

Communication & Adaptability

• Effective Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Problem-Solving: Demonstrated ability to address issues proactively and implement solutions effectively
  
  
  

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Retail Management, or a related field.
  
  
  

Perks

• High energy and fun atmosphere
• Training and advancement opportunities within the Fleet Feet brand
• Exciting professional development opportunities, including a mentorship program, talent development initiatives, employee resource groups, a monthly learning opportunities on diverse topics.
• Robust benefits package (medical, dental, vision, FSA, HSA, Employee Assistance Program, and more)
• 401(k) Retirement Plan for all part and full-time employees (Age 21 ) with 4% employer matching and immediate vesting (company-owned stores)
• Community involvement and community service activities
• Training Program and Product Discounts
• Passionate team members
• Check out our Fleet Feet Benefits Summary for full-time employees averaging 30 hours/week at company-owned stores
  
  
  

We are an equal opportunity employer and believe having diverse teams in which everyone brings their whole self to Fleet Feet is key to our success. We welcome people of different backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives. That is why we value diversity and inclusion in our hiring practices, our culture, and our engagement with the community. Learn more about our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives.

Additional Requirements: Position requires occasional moving around with light (1-10lbs.) carrying, lifting, pushing or pulling. The position needs to occasionally move about inside the office to access files, office equipment, etc. The position is mostly sedentary and requires the employee to have close visual acuity to perform job requirements. The position requires frequent communication with team members and repetitive motion with the hands, wrists and/or fingers while constantly utilizing a computer. This position is located within an office environment and is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Fleet Feet utilizes E-Verify in all corporate and company-operated stores as part of the hiring process.