Merchant​/Buyer, Apparel

Merchant / Buyer, Apparel — Karl Lagerfeld Paris Location (On-Site):

New York City, Midtown Manhattan – Fashion District

G-III Apparel Group is a global leader in fashion design, manufacturing, and distribution, representing a diverse portfolio of powerful brands. We deliver innovative product assortments with a commitment to operational excellence, trend‑right execution, and strategic growth. Our collaborative teams bring product to market with speed, accuracy, and a consumer‑first mindset.

The Merchant / Buyer, Apparel — Karl Lagerfeld Paris is responsible for leading the end‑to‑end merchandising and buying strategy for the Apparel division within the Retail channel, owning P&L performance and driving financial results across brick‑and‑mortar and e‑commerce. This role oversees seasonal assortments, manages Open‑to‑Buy (OTB), and ensures profitable execution from concept through consumer delivery.

As a key cross‑functional partner, this individual collaborates closely with Planning, Allocation, Marketing, E‑commerce, and Store Teams to deliver strong financial outcomes, protect brand integrity, and ensure compelling in‑store and digital product presentation. The ideal candidate brings strong product instincts, analytical rigor, and the ability to translate insights into profitable merchandising decisions.

Product Development & Buying

• Build and curate seasonal apparel assortments aligned with brand strategy, financial objectives, and consumer demand.
• Partner with wholesale teams to develop key categories, review samples, and ensure product aligns with brand positioning and target customer.
• Manage Open‑to‑Buy (OTB) and inventory investments to achieve sales, margin, and turn goals.
• Approve final product lines and negotiate costing to achieve IMU and margin targets.
• Develop and manage financial plans within inventory and profitability parameters.
• Analyze sales performance and customer insights to inform reorders, cancellations, and future assortment strategies.

Pricing, Promotions & Inventory Strategy

• Maintain margin targets across apparel categories.
• Oversee markdown cadence, promotional strategies, and exit plans to optimize sell‑through and minimize aged inventory.
• Lead SKU rationalization and assortment planning with a focus on productivity and operational efficiency.
• Manage product lifecycle timelines and proactively adjust inventory strategies to maximize performance.
• Partner with Marketing, Visual Merchandising, and Store Teams to ensure cohesive brand storytelling and seasonal execution.

Cross‑Functional Leadership

• Serve as the primary liaison across Planning, Allocation, E‑commerce, and Store Teams on product development, pricing, delivery, and promotional execution.
• Support in‑store initiatives and merchandising strategies to ensure visual presentation aligns with brand and financial objectives.
• Drive clear, consistent communication across teams to ensure timely product flow and compelling presentation both in‑store and online.
• Contribute to strategic seasonal hindsight and forward planning processes to continuously refine business performance.

Performance Outcomes

• Achievement of sales, margin, and inventory productivity goals.
• Strong in‑store and e‑commerce performance driven by effective assortment planning and product flow.
• Meeting or exceeding inventory turnover, sell‑through rates, IMU, and gross margin targets.
• Consistent delivery of brand integrity through merchandising execution.
• Seamless cross‑functional alignment supporting end‑to‑end retail merchandising success.

Bachelor’s degree required (Retail Merchandising, Business, Fashion Merchandising, or related field preferred).

• 5–7 years of progressive merchandising or retail buying experience, preferably in apparel.
• Experience owning or supporting a divisional P&L strongly preferred.
• Prior supervisory or leadership experience required.
• Experience in vertical retail environments preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong negotiation, financial planning, data analysis, and trend forecasting abilities.
• Highly organized, proactive, and…