Junior Fashion Buyer

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 800 stores across Canada and the United States under the following banners: Stitches, Urban Planet, Urban Behavior, Sirens, Forever 21, Urban Kids, Suzy Shier, Bluenotes, West 49, Amnesia, Charlotte Russe, Rue 21 and Mandee.

Our goal is to sustain performance that exceeds expectations. We are committed to creating a culture where people feel valued and inspired to achieve results. We give our people the appropriate tools, freedom and authority to make decisions. They are accountable for their actions and we recognize their efforts and reward their results. We attract and nurture the best people by providing leadership opportunities, career development and continuous learning. We are committed to leading by example and with integrity. We treat people with respect and dignity, promote the benefits of diversity and address challenges in a direct and compassionate manner. We engage people in our goals and objectives; we listen and act on new ideas where possible. That is our Philosophy.

How you will make a difference:

The Junior Buyer is responsible for maintaining a strong knowledge base for their category and will balance analytical and creative abilities to positively affect the bottom-line profit of their area. This role will put into practice their vendor interviewing skills and assortment planning, sourcing, approvals and selling strategies. Under close supervision, the Junior Buyer will help plan business opportunities and effectively negotiate with suppliers to be able to achieve their sales targets. The Junior Buyer will assist and work as a partner with the Buyer in all areas of merchandising including providing support in purchase order processing.

What You’ll Do:

· Assist in the development of relationships with vendors and suppliers; practice interviewing suppliers, communicate regularly to ensure product development, initiation of new orders, PO revisions, cancellations, shipping, packing, arrival dates, etc.

· Follow up with suppliers on any questions related to purchase orders, price tickets, extension requests, and shipping instructions

· Create computer file system for all vendor communication

· Process all purchase orders in a timely fashion

· Practice assortment planning, sourcing, approvals and selling strategies

· Handle purchase order revisions as changes arise in the procurement process. Follows up on a weekly basis to ensure there are no outstanding purchase orders

· Assist in planning product assortment, focusing on price points, cost, product assortment and trends

· Analyze financial reports, plans, open-to-buys

· Open Order Report – complete all received orders, ensure accuracy of information on report and list vessel information for import orders. Finalize and submit the Open Order Report to Senior Management on a weekly basis (end of day Friday)

· Partner with Buyers to manage sample area

· Pull merchandise for line reviews

· Participate during sales, product, and merchandise meetings

· Create Excel reports as required

· Develop ongoing knowledge of buying; understanding of assigned categories through product knowledge, store visits, industry visits, etc.

· Monitor trends in business and be able to assess and respond to fluctuations

· Stay current to fashion trends, market climate and competition

What You’ll Need:

· Post-secondary education in Fashion and/or related experience required

· Minimum of 2 years of working Fashion Merchandising experience

· Previous work experience with suppliers and buyers an asset

· Knowledge of the retail industry an asset

· Illustrator and AS400 skills are an asset

· Proficient in Microsoft Office

What we offer:

· Competitive Compensation Package

· Health and Dental Benefits Plan

· Paid Sick Days

· Employee Discount

· Tuition Reimbursement

· Ongoing Training and Development

· Career Advancement Opportunities

· Being part of an amazing, supportive and collaborative team

YM Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. If chosen to participate in the selection process, accommodations are available upon request. We will consult with the applicant to provide or arrange suitable accommodation in a manner that takes into account the applicant’s accessibility needs.

This posting is for an open vacancy.

We do not use AI in our hiring process.