Buyer, Men's and Women's Lifestyle Apparel and Swimwear

Sporting Life is a proudly Canadian sports lifestyle brand, inspiring people to live, enjoy, and enable the sporting life since 1979.

From skiing and running to biking and tennis, we offer the best gear for those who live an active lifestyle.

As part of Sporting Life Group, alongside Golf Town and Team Town, we blend sport and style to help Canadians get outside and keep moving.

Why Work Here?

• Access to our benefits package, with the choice of different levels of health, dental, and vision coverage to suit you.
• Employee discounts at Golf Town, Sporting Life, and Team Town Sports that are shareable with friends and family.
• Team-first culture that celebrates an active, sports lifestyle.
• Fun, fast-paced hybrid environment where your passion for sport and style belong.
• Competitive pay and opportunities to grow your career in the sports lifestyle.

What You'll Do;

As a Buyer for for Men's and Women's Lifestyle Apparel and Swimwear at Sporting Life, you will be responsible for the development and execution of assigned product class business strategy to maximize sales and profit in our store and web business. You will contribute to the business by utilizing strong leadership, buying, and planning skills.

Category Management

• Develop and execute merchandising and marketing strategies for assigned product category in all distribution channels (Retail Stores & Web).
• Maximize profitability for category – sales, margin, inventory turn, GMROI etc.
• Develop category merchandising strategy with Director of Purchasing that differentiates Sporting Life from competition and meets/exceeds our annual metric goals.
• Create and optimize product assortments in all distribution channels.
• Collaborate with marketing to bring executable ideas forward to align with key items, campaigns, and strategies to communicate to our customer base.
• Define and implement category pricing and promotional strategy.
• Create and oversee special sales-based activities (i.e., vendor contests, programs, events, etc.).
• Communicate category initiatives/issues internally and externally.
• Lead and direct cross-functional teams to execute special projects and category initiatives.
• Collaborate with stores, either by conference call or store visit, to ensure all product needs are addressed.
• Ensure the standard ETI process for POD is updated weekly.
• Ensure Web ETI has been reviewed and is updated.
• Ensure all web content is loaded at time of product being released.

Vendor Management

• Manage assortments, inventory, and finances for each vendor.
• Secure favourable product costs, sufficient supply and vendor funding to support strategic business goals.
• Foster positive relationships with vendor community to achieve strategic company goals.
• Constantly evaluate vendor performance and programs - negotiate vendor terms to meet profitability targets.

Inventory Management

• Partner with Planners to ensure category meets/exceeds inventory, turn and GMROI goals.
• Collaborate with Inventory Planner to implement and manage supply chain initiatives to optimize performance metrics.
• Develop & execute the merchandise financial plan to achieve the current years targets with the help of the planning department; identifies & actions inventory issues as required.
• Plan and execute effective product life cycles – including negotiating vendor markdown monies, RTV's, etc.; markdown cadence; in season & aged inventory management.
• Work with Inventory Planning Team to achieve key in-stock levels and turn goals.

Leadership and Staff Development

• Lead, coach, develop, and empower Merchandising Analyst and Associate Buyer. Lead and direct cross-functional support team without direct authority.
• Ensure the daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly checklists are being reviewed and managed by POD.

What You'll Bring;

• Post-secondary education (University preferred) with a focus on merchandising, business or economics.
• 5–7 years progressive experience and well versed in brand/category management, procurement, contract negotiation and vendor management within the retail industry.
• 3 - 5 years' managerial experience.
• Ability to multi-task and easily adapt category strategy to current business climate.
• Strong organizational, project leadership, and time management skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Must be able to work well in a team environment and independently.
• Proven analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Strong PC skills.
• Excellent follow through.
• Commitment to customer service.
• Must be assertive and eager to grow in an extremely fast paced organization.
• Passion and strong understanding of fashion and sports

Sporting Life is an equal opportunity employer and committed to providing accommodations for persons with disabilities. In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, please advise the Sporting Life Human Resources team of any accommodations required to ensure fair and equitable access through the recruitment and selection process.