Merchandise Buyer - Girls

Role: Merchandise Buyer

Reports to: Division Merchandise Manager

Based in: New York, United States

Employment type: Full-time

CITI TRENDS OVERVIEW:

Citi Trends is a high-growth, publicly held retail brand with a fleet of 600+ Stores across 33 States. Our track record of delivering eight straight years of profitability coupled with no debt allows us to invest in people, systems, and infrastructure to scale our business. We carry a world-class assortment of branded and private branded merchandise across apparel, accessories, footwear, and home for the entire family that is showcased in an inviting store environment staffed by friendly associates. The Citi Trends experience works in rural, suburban, and urban communities with the potential to grow to 1,000 stores to serve our loyal and expanding customer base. We are actively building our team of diverse leaders in a culture filled with passion, collaboration, agility, and customer obsession and will continue to uphold our longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. Our purpose, “Live Bold. Live Proud. Respect All.” ignites the passion in our teams to set the bar high and amaze our customers each and every day.

SUMMARY: Responsible for attaining or exceeding sales and gross margin goals within assigned departments through effective planning, negotiation, and purchasing of merchandise by performing the following duties:

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

· Purchase highly fashionable, quality goods that represent an incredible value to our customers.

· Analyze the history and current business to strategically forecast future opportunities.

· Strategically plan out business for current and future months.

· Maintain knowledge of market conditions regarding price, resources, and fashion as they relate to trends and key items, and react accordingly to impact sales.

· Manage OTB, both current and future, to create a compelling merchandise mix.

· Maintain strong working relationships with vendors.

· Negotiates prices and deliveries with vendors.

· Work with greater merchandising and planning team to plan merchandising strategies and buys.

· Monitor sales to identify top-selling merchandise and determine markdowns.

· Communicate with stores on new deliveries, product information, and selling trends.

· Responsible for meeting objectives and goals for the department in inventory and turnover.

· Analyzes and forecasts sales by item, trends, and inventory using historical data and analytic programs.

· Provides management with a recap of selling and action plan for driving business.

· Tracks slow-moving and surplus merchandise and plans ways to disperse it.

· Responsible for all purchase order functions and tracking.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising or related field, minimum 5-7 years of experience, preferably in off-price; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and understand documents such as general correspondence, department reports, OTB reports, and office procedures/memos. Ability to communicate effectively with vendors and fellow associates.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

· Ability to talk and hear

· Manual dexterity is required to operate computer and telephone

· Ability to travel extensively by car and airplane