Job Details

Overview

The Associate Buyer supports the Merchandising and Planning team by driving product selection, pricing, and promotional strategies to achieve sales and margin goals. This role is product-focused and uses data-driven insights to guide buying decisions, optimize inventory performance, and enhance the customer experience. The ideal candidate combines strong analytical skills with a keen eye for product, manages vendor relationships, and responds quickly to sales trends. This position collaborates closely with Planning, Allocation, E-commerce, and Marketing to ensure the right product is in the right place at the right time, aligned with Cavender's brand and customer expectations.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the "Cavender's Culture" and drive our Mission, Vision, and Values

• Serve as a strategic partner and key support resource to the company

• Create strategic plans for buying in specific merchandise areas that meet the needs of the organization

• Lead a small team of junior Merchandising Department Associates to deliver on financial and talent goals and objectives

• Manage a medium-to-high volume, complex or multi-department area which includes a website for Omni-channel business

• Make focused decisions based on brand integrity and company values to ensure an understanding of our core customer for the highest customer satisfaction

• Develop and communicate a conceptual assortment plan for department needs that tie to financial expectations (style assortment, key item needs, retails, IMU's, AUR's) in a timely manner

• Partner with Planning to ensure the appropriate financial strategies and distribution to maximize sales, margin, and turn of the business

• Determine quantities to order by style, size, and color; validate to OTB plan in a timely manner

• Validate space with assortment plan to ensure appropriate depth is achieved by store volume (size)

• Maximize Web sales, margin and messaging

• Partner with the marketing department to identify product to be advertised

• Manage, develop and educate direct reports while providing guidance, mentoring and coaching

• Assess the competition with respect to financial condition, trends, marketing, and product strategy; react accordingly to ensure market leadership

Qualifications and Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Retail merchandising, Business, or related field or equivalent work experience

• 4+ years of progressive experience as a merchant in a specialty retail environment

• Strong analytical and quantitative skills
• Must possess a clear understanding of retail financial measurements and how to impact them
• Excellent negotiation skills
• Strong computer skills in Microsoft Word and Excel
• Ability to work in a team environment and give honest, direct feedback
• Ability to multi-task and work in a dynamic environment
• Demonstrated knowledge and proven ability to identify trends and business opportunities
• Functional expertise in all areas of Buying, Merchandising, Planning, Allocations and Inventory Control
• Excellent written and verbal communicator

• Hands-on and skilled in creating and executing tactical plans to support company goals

• Based in Tyler, TX at our home office; Tyler area residence

• Ability to travel up to 15% of the time

Preferred Skills

• Experience with E-commerce Buying or Omnichannel Merchandising

• Experience managing vendor partnerships across domestic and international markets

• A proven track record developing and building an apparel business

• Experience in developing and curating a private label plan is a plus

Cavender's is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, military status, national origin, sex, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, or any other personal characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law.

Cavender's will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with a disability upon request. If you have a disability and need assistance completing the application, please call Customer Service at (888) 361-2555 or visit your nearest Cavender's store.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.