Assistant, Buyer

 

Centric Brands is a leading lifestyle brand collective that designs, sources, markets and sells high quality products in multiple segments, including women’s, men’s and kid’s apparel, accessories, entertainment and beauty.  Centric Brands is focused on our customers and our brands that will drive the company’s future growth. We are defined by innovation as we seize new opportunities and thrive in an environment informed by creativity and thinking that is both analytical and outside the box.  Centric Brands reflects a team built on respect, for others and for the hard work it takes to achieve our goals and build our bright future together.

 

Buying

From developing the product strategies to growing our brands, merchandising careers at Centric Brands offer exciting possibilities to grow a career with one of world’s foremost lifestyle brands collectives. From helping develop the merchandise mix to ensuring stores and online site have the right products in the right quantities to creating the long-term brand strategy, a career in merchandising and planning offers you a chance to make a positive impact on our success – and yours. 

 

The Buying Assistant will work closely with the VP of Sales to build the Seasonal & Core assortment buys and optimize the sell-in and sell-thrus to achieve/exceed the overall financial & margin budgets of the division.  This position will also interact with Sales, Design & Production.

 

BRANDS include:

Tommy Hilfiger, Nautica, Calvin Klein, Timberland, Lucky Brands & Bass Outdoor

 

Responsiblities:

• Create Seasonal Development Calendars with milestone events that incorporate the seasonal (Spring, Summer, Fall, Holiday & Trans) deadlines for all tasks in the product cycle starting with SKU plans and ending with delivery in the DC. Once calendar is created, distribute the calendar to Sales, Design & Production and send Outlook invites to team members for key deadline dates and buy dates.
•  In partnership with Sales, develop SKU Plans at the classification level that are aligned with the division’s financial sales & margin budgets. Ensure that assortments are based on business strategies, historical analytical data, seasonal concepts and trends.  Recap at the end of the design process that the Design team is keeping in alignment with SKU plan to manage any potential over-development.
•  Participate in all CAD reviews and feasibility meetings. Provide sell price and MSRP metrics to Sourcing team for costing purposes and maintain a reference file with all prices for Sales.
•  Work closely with the VP of Sales and Design leads to align assortment strategies by customer (pricing, & channel (full price, off price, specialty, etc.) to ensure budget needs are being met.
• Create Buy Plan files for each season that include all material & style information; labeling and prepack information; sell price and MSRP details; shipping requirements; quantity needs; etc. Also create seasonal brand templates for the Sales team for market buys with their accounts.
• Get upfront orders from Sales team and input into files prior to buy meetings. During buy meetings, work with VP of Sales and Sales leads to input ATS & speculative buys.  Keep files updated and recap final buy sell $, units, gross margins and net margins once complete.   Once buys are complete in Buy Files, transfer data into QuickBase to be approved and sent to Production by deadlines.
• Ensure that classifications are being flowed in alignment with monthly inventory flow plans, with both set quantities and flow quantities throughout the season. Be able to identify risks and opportunities to maximize sales opportunities and to manage inventory levels.
• Manage Core All Non-Replenishment inventory for Tommy Hilfiger, Nautica, Calvin Klein & Lucky Brands, ensuring that we are maintaining year-round inventory needs.
• After buys are submitted, ensure all materials & units are properly uploaded into SAP and that all categories and silhouettes are properly set-up. Alert Sales team to put in bulks for upfront buys and monitor order pool to ensure complete.
• Work with freelance Copywriter to provide CADs & modified Buy templates once buys are complete.
• Create and own Sample & Licensing Tracker, which details what samples need to be ordered and which of those samples need to be imaged by account (using Sample & Licensing Tracker Chart). Share this file with Production and update as samples are passed off and shot.

 

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Minimum of 1 year professional work experience
• Buying and/or Planning background
• High level of proficiency in retail math and excel
• Knowledge of Nuorder, SAP
• Ability to communicate and effectively follow through on assignments
• Ability to think and react in a high-energy, fast-paced environment

In return, we provide an industry-competitive salary, along with a comprehensive benefits plan (medical, dental, vision) that includes a matching 401 (k), Summer Fridays, generous PTO, merchandise discounts, excellent career development opportunities, and a work environment that reflects our industry leadership. Our social impact program, Centric Cares, focuses on volunteerism to make a difference in communities we live and work in and our D&I committee is shaping the future of diversity, equity and inclusion at Centric Brands though workshops, resources and inspiring conversation. 

 

Salary Range: $47,500-$57,000

 

At Centric Brands, we believe our people are our greatest asset, and we seek to structure competitive compensation offers to ensure that we are able to attract and retain the best talent.  Our job postings include an annual base salary range at the time of employment.  The stated base salary range represents our good faith estimate as to what candidates are likely to expect, and we tailor our offers within the range based on several factors, including the selected candidate’s educational and professional experience, industry knowledge, location, technical and communication skills, and other factors that may prove relevant during the selection process.  Base salary is a part of a total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, annual bonus and other Centric Brands sponsored benefit programs. 

 

Be part of our growing community by getting involved with groups, teams and initiatives like Be Green, Be Giving, and Be Celebrated.

 

Centric Brands is an Equal Opportunity Employer

 

 

 

Centric Brands