AKIRA Insights · 7 hours ago
Buyer
Chicago, IL
Full-time
Onsite
Mid, Senior Level
4+ years expAKIRA is a women's clothing boutique that has expanded to over 35 stores across the United States, focusing on exceptional customer service. The Buyer is responsible for driving sales growth and profitability by developing market-leading assortments for both brick-and-mortar and e-commerce channels, requiring strong analytical skills and vendor partnerships.
AnalyticsBusiness DevelopmentBusiness IntelligenceConsultingManagement Consulting
Responsibilities
Develop and execute detailed annual business plans, including sales, margin, inventory turns, and inventory composition, aligned with company strategy
Own seasonal open-to-buy (OTB) planning; manage and reconcile receipts against plan
Build and execute assortment and allocation strategies that optimize performance across channels
Coach and mentor Assistant Buyers to drive improvements in sales, margins, and inventory productivity
Identify and capitalize on emerging fashion trends early in their lifecycle to maximize selling opportunities
Analyze business performance to identify opportunities to increase sales, improve margins, optimize inventory, and reduce markdowns
Prepare and present financial analyses, including sell-through, margins, and key item performance; recap results versus plan
Develop a deep understanding of the customer and leverage insights to inform product development, assortment, and allocation decisions
Ensure financial objectives and timelines are met; proactively communicate actions to maximize profit and minimize risk
Build and maintain strong vendor relationships; collaborate on exclusive product development and strategic opportunities
Represent the brand professionally and enthusiastically in all vendor and industry interactions
Qualification
Required
4+ years of buying experience, including product development
Bachelor's degree in Business, Fashion Merchandising, or a related field
Proven success managing large, multi-category assortments with high SKU counts
Strong ability to translate sales data, customer insights, and market trends into actionable merchandising strategies
Established relationships with market brands and/or private label resources
Demonstrated ability to identify high-impact opportunities and respond quickly
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and the ability to quickly learn new systems and tools
Proven ability to drive revenue growth and improve profitability
Preferred
Has a strong passion for fashion, trends, and continuous learning around materials, construction, and product design
Thrives in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment with a strong sense of ownership and urgency
Is highly organized, detail-oriented, and effective at managing multiple priorities
Is a confident, outgoing communicator comfortable presenting and building relationships in person, over the phone, and digitally
Is collaborative, responsive, and motivated by team success
Ability and willingness to travel if needed
Benefits
Medical
Dental
Vision
Pet Insurance
Life
LTD
FSA/HSA/Dependent Care FSA
Flex Transit (CTA)
401(k)
Generous employee discount
Company
AKIRA Insights
AKIRA is a niche Data & Analytics Services provider.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
unknown2024-12-05Acquired
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