Buyer

Employer: YM Inc.

Position: Buyer

Terms of Employment: Full Time/Permanent

Location: Toronto, Ontario

Employment Address:

• 50 Dufflaw Road, North York, Ontario M6A 2W1

Hours of Work: 40 hours/week

Benefits: Eligible for discretionary bonuses/increases in salary. Eligible for company health benefits, dental benefits and employee discount.

Salary: $70,000 – $80,000 CAD per annum

Contact: Please send resumes to  jobpostings@yminc.ca and include “Buyer” in the subject line.

 

YM Inc. was founded on the strength of a single retail store in the heart of downtown Toronto in 1975, under the name Stitches. Today we are one of North America’s leading apparel retailers operating over 600 stores across Canada and the United States under the following banners: Stitches, Urban Planet, Urban Behavior, Sirens, West 49, Urban Kids, Suzy Shier, and Bluenotes.

 

The Buyer is responsible for using their sense of style, knowledge of fashion trends and understanding of their target customers’ needs to create a focused fashion assortment. This role is responsible for selecting and purchasing apparel and accessories from manufacturers, designers, or wholesalers to match seasonal investment requirements and fashion trends. Buyers must positively impact the bottom-line profit of their responsibilities/categories by achieving budgeted sales, GM/ROI, unit turns and inventory levels.

Duties:

• Negotiating with vendors to develop merchandise with the best possible price/value relationship in the marketplace
• Developing and corresponding with vendors regarding product development, order placement, delivery follow up, initiation of new orders, PO revisions and cancellations, shipping, packing, and pre-ticketing
• Leading the creation of specification and detail packages for private label programs to be developed
• Implementing product assortment focusing on cost, price points, key items, vendor, promotions, for areas of responsibility in concert with supervisor
• Supervising approval of product prior to production
• Accessing all buying functions in AS400 and The Eye
• Creating and analyzing buying reports
• Opening Order Report – completing all received orders, ensuring accuracy of information on report and listing vessel information for import orders.
• Finalizing and submitting the Open Order Report to Senior Management on a weekly basis (end of day Friday)
• Analyzing performance and plans to look for sales and margin opportunities that can exceed plans
• Analyzing business reports, OTB, Buying Plans, Assortment Plans, Open Order, Velocity and Class Sales Ranking Reports
• Coordinating photo shoot samples
• Coordinating needs with Planner, Allocation Analysts, Assistant Buyers, and General Merchandise Manager
• Visiting stores to audit product assortment, allocation, visual set up and presentation
• Communicating and liaising with all departments of the Company as it applies to the purchase, delivery, receipt, ticketing, processing, pricing, and quality of merchandise
• Partnering with Visual team to develop effective presentation plans and promotions
• Participating in sales, product, and merchandise meetings
• Staying abreast of fashion trends, market climate, competition, promotional and test strategies
• Communicating new ideas, proposals, concepts etc.
• Training and evaluating direct reports to enhance their performance and development.
• Addressing performance issues when needed
• Adhering to corporate health and safety policy requirements that contribute to a safe workplace
• Any other related duties as assigned

 

Requirements:

 

• College diploma in Fashion
• 2+ years of experience working in Fashion Merchandising
• Previous work experience with suppliers and buyers is required
• Experience buying ladies clothing
• Knowledge of the retail industry is required
• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Strong creative and business analytical skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Proven ability to work well under pressure and meet all deadlines
• Strong ability to develop teams and partnerships
• Strong negotiation skills
• Ability to take initiative
• Effective time management and multitasking skills
• Excellent mathematical and inventory management skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Understanding of business goals and ability to work closely with key leadership to strategize