Retail Buyer, North America

Role: NAM Retail Buyer

Team: North America Retail Merchandising

Scope: Individual Contributor, P3

Year of Experience: 3+ Years

Location: Ventura, CA

General Summary:

As a Retail Buyer for North America, you will be responsible for developing, communicating and implementing the seasonal merchandise assortment and buying strategy for select categories within our retail channel. You will own assortment planning and buying for North America retail stores. This will include cross-functional work with our retail operations, visual and allocation teams. You will be a key contributor during the Line Review process and will drive sales and execute the product line’s vision for our North America retail stores. You have a keen sensibility when it comes to balancing new, brand-forward styles with important volume-driving styles and are responsible for translating our marketing initiatives into compelling localized assortments that reflect the brand while creating an exceptional regional customer experience. You will communicate your strategy to cross functional partners, build seasonal hindsights from sales analysis to inform future strategies, and participate actively in global line plan development. Analytical skills, reporting skills, sales productivity, space allocation, design aesthetic, and organizational skills are all important for you to be successful.

What You’ll Do:

• Develop product assortments and buys that focus on our customers’ needs in diverse markets that deliver the retail revenue and margin budget.
• Partner with Global Product, Marketing, and Retail Teams to create seasonal assortment and buying strategies that support financials and brand directives.
• Collaborate with Global Planning Team to execute a seasonal buy that drives the overall retail merchandising strategy. Responsible for item level planning, ensuring these plans reflect a balance of trend, newness, and basics, and help inform the channel’s topline financial targets.
• Partner with the Product Team on in-season and pre-season initiatives. Identify and communicate business opportunities to cross-functional partners during key gates.
• Actively participant in the Line Review Process. Receive and implement product downloads and be fully versed in all seasonal products and related strategies.
• Partner with Retail Marketing to ensure relevant Patagonia brand messages are told within appropriate store clusters.
• Ensure that localized assortments meet or exceed customer expectations and drive results through the financial and inventory plans.
• Create a compelling product experience, including inspirational merchandise presentations and product education.
• Ensure the intention of product is pulled all the way through the planning and execution activities.
• Work closely with Allocation team to maintain flow of products and seasonal flips while analyzing the yearly offering holistically based on what makes sense seasonally for the customer.
• Understand local market data and competitor activities; analyze historical sales performance as well as utilize detailed product filters to edit the global product line to meet customer needs and maximize sales.
• Act as a product liaison between the Global Product Team and the Global Planning Team, facilitating communication, collaboration and teamwork by sharing the seasonal merchandising strategy.
• Bring curiosity and independently seeking out the information needed to make decisions and meet goals on time.
• Manage multiple deadlines at once, collaborating with and supporting a variety of stakeholders throughout the organization.
• Maintain communication with partners on merchandising opportunities and drive in-season business through detailed sales analysis.
  
  
  

Who you are:

• Proactive: demonstrates initiative, effective time management, and provides complete follow-through on all areas of responsibility
• Independent: Able to develop independent thoughts and strategies
• Analytical: uses data to organize thoughts and inform decision making with a strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Adaptable: able to remain flexible to change within the work environment and scope of responsibility, quickly learns new systems
• Problem Solver: proactive, strong attention to detail and capable of streamlining and improving processes and troubleshooting
• Inclusive: builds trust and collaborates with a wide range of cross-functional partners
• Adventurous: excited about the buying process and willing to take risks
  
  
  

Experience You Bring:

• Three to five years of experience in retail buying and/or assortment planning, merchandising, or similar merchandise planning field; specific experience developing seasonal buy quantities or bottoms up item sales forecasts for retail stores a plus.
• Experience with Technical outdoor clothing, M & W Sportswear and/or Kids apparel a plus.
• Proven ability to understand the market, recognize product potential and lead assortment planning from a merchant’s perspective.
• Experience managing multiple categories and building assortments that meet regional needs.
• History of navigating ambiguity, streamlining process and troubleshooting.
• Ability to remain flexible to change within the work environment and scope of responsibility
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong computer skills and proficiency with data analysis; advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
• Experience with retail planning systems and/or building reporting in Tableau is a plus.
• BA or BS in a related field (or equivalent additional work experience).
  
  
  

Hiring Range: $90,000 to $110,000

Pay Range: $88,160 to $132,240

At Patagonia, pay ranges are assigned to a job based on the location specific market median of similar jobs according to 3rd party salary benchmark surveys. Individual pay within that range can vary for several reasons including skills/capabilities, experience, and available budget.

Benefits

Patagonia offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, retirement and leave of absence plans. Benefit plans may vary slightly depending on the nature of your employment. 

Employee Conduct

It is the responsibility of every employee to contribute to a positive, inclusive work environment through cooperative and professional interactions with co-workers, customers and vendors.

Equal Employment Opportunity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors prohibited by law.

Equal Employment Opportunity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors prohibited by law.