SAINT LAURENT Buyer, Womens RTW

Summary

ABOUT SAINT LAURENT

Founded in 1961, Yves Saint Laurent was the first couture house to introduce the concept of luxury prêt-à-porter in a 1966 collection called ‘Rive Gauche’, synonymous with youth and freedom. This shift represented a first critical step in the modernization of fashion and revolutionized the socio- cultural landscape. In 1999, the luxury goods division of the Kering Group acquired Yves Saint Laurent and, under the creative direction of Anthony Vaccarello since April 2016, continues to position the house at the summit of the luxury universe. Today, Saint Laurent collections include women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, shoes, handbags, small leather goods, jewelry, scarves, ties and eyewear.

Job Description

We are currently seeking a Women’s RTW Buyer to join our dynamic team in New York. 

ROLE

You will be an ambassador and business owner of the Women’s RTW world inspiring our teams and clients.  You will develop and execute strategic business-driving initiatives.  This includes curating, market-specific assortments, evaluating sales results, and identifying risks and opportunities.  You will also maintain in-depth knowledge of the competitive landscape and target customer profiles through strong partnerships with store leaders and competitive analyses.  You will also cultivate strong partnerships with our partners in Paris. 

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Inspire passion for RTW internally and externally
• Liaison between our region and global partners in Paris
• Develop and execute seasonal buys
• Present seasonal buys/ strategies to HQ Paris and Senior Leaders
• Oversee the product life cycle
• Analyze sales and define action plans in order to further grow the category
• Closely monitor business by store/ SKU and implement initiatives to maximize local business opportunities
• Compose weekly, seasonal and ad hoc business recaps   
• Partner with global team on product feedback, strategic pricing and general market needs  
• Partner regularly with retail teams on client needs and special events
• Host in-store trainings
• Demonstrate keen understanding of product, design, and industry trends to drive business decisions
• Develop strong partnerships with store leaders
• Work closely with other internal departments including Marketing, E-comm, Operations, Visual Merchandising, Public Relations, Supply Chain and Client Services

PROFILE

• Passion for our brand
• Strong taste level and appreciation of luxury product
• Entrepreneurial and results-driven
• Ability to be flexible and agile in a fast-paced environment
• Strong business acumen, understanding of buying psychology
• Proficient in retail math (stock to sales, sell-through, inventory turn, etc.)
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel
• Proficient building strategy decks
• International travel to Paris as well as local travel to US stores
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Minimum 6 years in buying within luxury retail, experience in Leather Goods is preferred

A reasonable estimate of the base compensation range for this position is $125,000 – 140,000 with bonus eligibility.

Saint Laurent is committed to building a diverse workforce. We believe diversity in all its forms – gender, age, nationality, culture, religious beliefs and sexual orientation – enriches the workplace. It opens up opportunities for people to express their talent, both individually and collectively and it helps foster our ability to adapt to a changing world. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their background.