Assistant Buyer - Cacique

****Brand Overview:****

ascena is a leading national specialty retailer offering apparel, shoes, and accessories for women through our brands Ann Taylor, LOFT, and Lou & Grey, Lane Bryant and Cacique. We operate ecommerce websites and over 1200 stores throughout the United States. Office-LaneBryant-New Albany, OH 43054.****Position Overview:****

Individual contributor position responsible for assisting with the development and execution of the merchandise strategy. Responsible for data integrity throughout the product life cycle including buy preparation, order generation / management, and market selling. Assists the Buyer with historical analysis, competitive intelligence, and assortment planning and general organization of the product.

**Assortment Development:**

* Supports the buyer in developing a line that represents the brand by completing competitive intelligence, customer intimacy, and business analysis.

* Manages & maintenances assortment tool including all product attributes, marketing trims, retail & cost accuracy both pre and in-season.

* Support Merchant, Planning and Allocation on promotional cadence, flow order, color/size buys, minimum/maximum quantities, etc.

**Business Operations:**

* Owns complex purchase order process including, size tool requests, item creation through Flex PLM, sending commitments to vendors, checking & approving all purchase order details for accuracy.

* Manage data integrity including reconciling On Order report, tracking receipts and maintaining product attributes.

* Supports Monday business review process by running reports, reviewing fashion selling & presenting findings.

**Cross Functional Support of Product Execution:**

* Ensures accuracy of product copy, direct mail & site navigation.

* Partners with Visual on floor set placement of product to ensure that all styles are represented and volume and fashion projection objectives are met.

**Sample Management:**

* Requests, tracks & maintains all samples for the season.

* Prepares samples for marketing including turn-ins & creating supporting documents to illustrate key outfitting & color/fit notes

* Provide samples to business partners as needed.

**Competitive Intelligence**

* Patterns competitors and fashion leaders and understands how they are projecting their brand. Focuses on overall assortment, fashion offering, pricing/promotional cadence and presentations. Reports on and uses findings/information in season and future line planning.

**Customer Insights**

* Understands the customer.

* Works with Buyer in researching and anticipating what the customer wants next

* Uses information from store visits & online reviews in decision making and planning process

**Work Experience and education requirements:**

* 1-2 years of experience in a merchandising related position for a fashion retailer.

* Bachelors degree in fashion merchandising, retail management or business related field preferred along with industry related internship.

* Proficient in Word, Excel and Power Point, and Outlook. MicroStrategy & FlexPLM preferred.

* Ability to build and sustain relationships quickly.

* Acute attention to detail.

* Must have a sense of urgency.

* Strong interpersonal skills, prioritizing, communication skills, and time management.

* Ability to multitask and pivot based on priorities.

#LI-CM1

****Location:****

LB OH Corp Office-LaneBryant-New Albany, OH 43054****Position Type:****

Regular/Full time****Equal Employment Opportunity****

The Company is committed to hiring and developing the most qualified people at all levels. It is our policy in all personnel actions to ensure that all associates and potential associates are evaluated on the basis of qualifications and ability without regard to sex (including pregnancy), race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability that can reasonably be accommodated without undue hardship, genetic information, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected classification under federal, state, or local law. We do not discriminate in any of our employment policies and practices. All associates are expected to follow these principles in all relationships with other associates, applicants, or others with whom we do business.

locationLB OH Corp Office-LaneBryant-New Albany, OH 43054