Ladies -to-Wear Buyer

We are seeking an experienced, fashion-forward Ladies’ Ready-to-Wear Buyer to join our team at an upscale retail establishment in San Antonio, Texas. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of luxury and contemporary women’s fashion, a proven track record in retail buying, and an exceptional eye for product selection, quality, fit, and emerging trends.

This individual will be responsible for developing and executing a compelling women’s apparel assortment that reflects the retailer’s brand identity, appeals to its discerning clientele, and achieves sales and profitability objectives. The successful candidate will combine fashion expertise with strong analytical, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.

• Merchandise Selection: Curate and purchase ladies’ ready-to-wear collections that align with the store’s aesthetic, customer profile, and seasonal merchandising strategy.
• Trend Forecasting: Stay informed on emerging fashion trends, designers, colors, silhouettes, fabrics, and market developments relevant to an upscale clientele.
• Vendor Relationships: Establish and maintain strong relationships with designers, manufacturers, sales representatives, and wholesale vendors.
• Buying Strategy: Develop seasonal buying plans, assortment strategies, pricing structures, and merchandise budgets to maximize sales and profitability.
• Financial Performance: Monitor sales, gross margins, inventory turnover, sell-through rates, and markdowns; adjust buying strategies as needed.
• Market Appointments: Attend market appointments, trade shows, and vendor presentations to identify new brands, products, and business opportunities.
• Inventory Management: Partner with store management and merchandising teams to maintain appropriate inventory levels, product availability, and a balanced assortment.
• Customer Insight: Understand the preferences and shopping habits of the upscale customer, translating those insights into relevant and desirable merchandise selections.
• Competitive Analysis: Monitor competitor assortments, pricing, and merchandising strategies to maintain a distinctive and competitive market position.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with sales associates, store leadership, visual merchandising, and management to support product launches, promotions, and overall business objectives.

• Minimum of 5 years of professional retail buying experience in ladies’ ready-to-wear, women’s apparel, or a closely related fashion category.
• Established knowledge of women’s fashion designers, brands, vendors, and wholesale markets.
• Demonstrated ability to identify commercially successful merchandise while maintaining a distinctive fashion point of view.
• Strong understanding of retail math, open-to-buy planning, gross margin management, inventory control, and sales analysis.
• Proven vendor negotiation, relationship management, and communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and retail merchandising, inventory, or buying systems.
• Willingness to travel for market appointments, buying trips, and store site visits as required.
• A degree in Fashion Merchandising, Retail Management, Business, or a related field is preferred; equivalent professional experience will be considered.

The ideal candidate is passionate about fashion and understands the expectations of an upscale retail customer. They possess a refined eye for style, a strong commercial mindset, and the ability to balance creativity with sound financial decision-making. They are proactive, relationship-oriented, detail-driven, and comfortable taking ownership of a women’s apparel assortment from selection through sell-through.