Apparel Buyer

David's Bridal•King of Prussia, PA

1d•$74,800 - $112,200•Onsite

About The Position

The Apparel Dress Buyer is responsible for developing and executing merchandise strategies that drive sales, profitability, and customer satisfaction across Prom, Homecoming and Guest Of Wedding dress categories. This role combines fashion expertise, customer insight, trend forecasting, and financial acumen to create compelling assortments that align with brand objectives and deliver a seamless omnichannel shopping experience. The ideal candidate is a strategic merchant who can translate market trends and customer needs into profitable product assortments while building strong partnerships across planning, product development, sourcing, marketing, and store operations.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Merchandising, Fashion Merchandising, Business, Marketing, or a related field.
5–8 years of buying, merchandising, or category management experience within apparel, fashion, bridal, or specialty retail.
Experience managing product assortments and financial performance in a multi-channel retail environment.
Strong fashion trend forecasting and market awareness
Customer-focused merchandising mindset
Advanced retail math and financial planning skills
Inventory management and open-to-buy expertise
Vendor negotiation and relationship management
Data-driven decision making and analytical problem solving
Excellent presentation, communication, and influencing skills
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic retail environment
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and merchandising systems

Nice To Haves

Experience in dresses and occasion wear

Responsibilities

Develop and execute seasonal merchandise strategies that support company sales, margin, and growth objectives.
Curate balanced assortments that reflect current fashion trends, customer preferences, and brand positioning.
Establish category pricing strategies that optimize value perception, profitability, and market competitiveness.
Identify opportunities for assortment expansion, category growth, and product innovation.
Own category performance, including sales, gross margin, inventory productivity, and turnover.
Partner with Planning teams to develop financial plans, forecasts, and inventory strategies.
Manage open-to-buy budgets and inventory investments to maximize return while minimizing risk.
Analyze sales performance, customer behavior, and market trends to inform merchandising decisions.
Collaborate with Design, Product Development, and Sourcing teams to create exclusive and differentiated product offerings.
Build and maintain strong vendor relationships to ensure product quality, delivery performance, and competitive costing.
Lead negotiations related to pricing, costs, lead times, and business terms to achieve margin objectives.
Monitor competitive trends and marketplace developments to identify new opportunities.
Partner with Marketing, E-commerce, Visual Merchandising, and Store Operations teams to ensure consistent product storytelling and execution.
Support product launches, promotional campaigns, and seasonal initiatives across all customer touchpoints.
Present category performance, assortment strategies, and business recommendations to senior leadership.
Mentor and develop Assistant Buyers, Associate Buyers, and Merchandising Coordinators.
Foster a collaborative, performance-driven culture focused on accountability and continuous improvement.
Share industry insights, best practices, and merchandising expertise across the organization.