Summary Lead category growth by overseeing all facets of the apparel department across Fit2Run locations—from strategic buying and Open-to-Buy inventory management to vendor negotiations and private label development. Collaborate closely with the E-commerce team to drive omnichannel performance and expand online sales. Ensure timely delivery of trend-forward, performance-driven apparel that meets customer demand at the right price and at the right moment. Responsibilities Buying ·       Place and review/adjust orders based on sales, trend, and history by location ·       Negotiate terms and discounts, assist corporate ensuring the appropriate terms and discounts are applied ·       Classify 'core' and 'never out' items and make sure they are in stock ·       Determine items to source for private label product and work closely with the manufacturer to maintain quality, fit and style. Preline each delivery with management. ·       Determine model stock for all doors on key items ·       Identify 'hot' items and trends and re-order when needed ·       Cancel slow sellers 30 days out from delivery ·       Develop a capacity plan by location and manage the inventory to that capacity ·       Manage open to buy and turn ·       Source new vendors ·       Maintain inventory of staff shirts and order when necessary Store ·       Work with vendors to participate in contests or spiffs ·       Quarterly store visits ·       Communicate with stores on newness, markdowns and any special events or promotions working with the operations team to be sure events are executed properly Ecom ·       Analyze pricing on Fit2Run.com and other marketplaces ·       Work with the Ecom team to develop “boutique” pages on our website ·       Communicate newness to the Ecom team in time to get items Ecom ready prior to launch ·       Work with marketing and Ecom to schedule photo shoots for our private label merchandise 30 days prior to arrival Financials ·       Hit all metrics monthly this includes sales, margin, turn etc. ·       Increase the penetration of apparel to the total business ·       Communicate with vendors on their performance and expectations Expo Events ·       Brand visuals ·       Work with vendors on expo orders, booth payment and vendor participation ·       Execute transfers after the Expo in a timely manner ·       Plan Expo sales and execute to the plan General Other duties may be assigned Qualifications ·       Bachelor's degree preferred in business, supply chain management, or related field preferred. ·       Prior experience in the retail industry with varying levels of responsibility preferred. ·       Strong analytical skills, retail math and organizational skills. ·       Excellent written and communication skills. ·       Team player with strong collaboration skills. ·       Solid networking and negotiation skills to build relationships with suppliers and secure favorable pricing. ·       Strong decision-making skills utilizing good judgement to purchase the right items and quantities. ·       Knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Excel and Word is required.