Buying & Product Development Assistant (Opelika)

Our fast-growing online curvy womens boutique is seeking an Assistant Buyer to join our dynamic Buying Team! As part of our Buying Team, the Assistant Buyer is responsible for working closely with our vendors, maintaining positive relationships while negotiating specs, pricing, and deadlines for clothing and accessory categories. This role reports to one of our Buyers.

What Youll Do:

• Drive research, development, and launch of new products.
• Build products from existing ideas and help develop new ideas based on industry research and vendor discussions.
• Work closely with vendors to determine appropriate materials and to meet design needs.
• Stay abreast of trends, competitor offerings, and what is selling currently in the womens clothing market.
• Research potential vendors and negotiate product orders and deliveries.
• Develop and maintain spreadsheets with vendor tracking current offerings, pricing, styles, categories, doorbuster items, and responsiveness.
• Coordinate communication with the Warehouse Receiving Team to ensure that product is accurately and timely received and processed.
• Oversee the Vendor Relations Process, including maintaining proactive and professional communication with vendors to collect credits, refunds, or replacements for damaged products.
• Conduct quality assurance to establish rigorous quality standards.
• Attend clothing fairs and vendors shows to develop and strengthen vendor relationships and place product orders.
• Assist with additional tasks as needed.

What Will Make You Successful:

• A Bachelors degree in Apparel, Buying, Merchandising, Business, or a related field.
• Experience in product development is preferred.
• An analytical and data-driven background balanced with an understanding of consumer behavior.
• Knowledge of womens apparel, trends, and fashion.
• Ability to work within a team and work on your own with minimal supervision.
• Ability to communicate professionally and effectively with Vendors via multiple channels (i.e. phone, email, etc.).
• Strong attention to detail, a proactive approach to getting things done, and an overall curiosity and desire to learn.

If this sounds like the perfect role for you, please submit a resume and cover letter to [email protected] to apply for this position.

About Chic Soul

We know the power that good clothes have to make a woman feel confident. We also know the struggle of finding fashionable clothing that fits and flatters women with curves, so we created Chic Soul: an online boutique that caters to women, sizes 10-22.

We are the fastest growing curvy boutique in the country and would love to bring in a motivated Buying Manager who is ready to make an impact!!