AKIRA Buyer

In 2002, AKIRA opened the doors to its first women's clothing boutique in Chicago. Since then, the company has extended its reach to 40+ stores across the United States, as well as a thriving eCommerce business (shopAKIRA.com). AKIRA is extremely well-poised for sustained growth as we continue to build a nationally recognized brand.

AKIRA's culture has one very large, distinct difference from other fast-fashion competitors: Other-Worldly Customer Service and Fanatical, Obsessive Attention to the consumer's needs and desires. The core principle for all employees at AKIRA is to Act and Think Like an Owner, and this belief can be reflected across all areas of the company.

Position: Buyer

Location: Chicago, IL (On-site)

Job Overview:

The Buyer is responsible for driving sales growth and profitability within a designated category by building compelling, market-leading assortments across both brick-and-mortar and e-commerce channels. This role requires a strong foundation in specialty retail merchandising, sharp analytical skills, and exceptional operational execution.

The ideal candidate has a proven track record of developing winning merchandising strategies through strong vendor partnerships, exclusive product development, and a deep understanding of customer behavior. A consistent eye for quality, trend relevance, and urgency is essential in building assortments that resonate with the customer and deliver financial results.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute detailed annual business plans, including sales, margin, inventory turns, and inventory composition, aligned with company strategy

• Own seasonal open-to-buy (OTB) planning; manage and reconcile receipts against plan

• Build and execute assortment and allocation strategies that optimize performance across channels

• Coach and mentor Assistant Buyers to drive improvements in sales, margins, and inventory productivity

• Identify and capitalize on emerging fashion trends early in their lifecycle to maximize selling opportunities

• Analyze business performance to identify opportunities to increase sales, improve margins, optimize inventory, and reduce markdowns

• Prepare and present financial analyses, including sell-through, margins, and key item performance; recap results versus plan

• Develop a deep understanding of the customer and leverage insights to inform product development, assortment, and allocation decisions

• Ensure financial objectives and timelines are met; proactively communicate actions to maximize profit and minimize risk

• Build and maintain strong vendor relationships; collaborate on exclusive product development and strategic opportunities

• Represent the brand professionally and enthusiastically in all vendor and industry interactions

Qualifications:

• 4+ years of buying experience, including product development

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Fashion Merchandising, or a related field

• Proven success managing large, multi-category assortments with high SKU counts

• Strong ability to translate sales data, customer insights, and market trends into actionable merchandising strategies

• Established relationships with market brands and/or private label resources

• Demonstrated ability to identify high-impact opportunities and respond quickly

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and the ability to quickly learn new systems and tools

• Proven ability to drive revenue growth and improve profitability

The Ideal Candidate:

• Has a strong passion for fashion, trends, and continuous learning around materials, construction, and product design

• Thrives in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment with a strong sense of ownership and urgency

• Is highly organized, detail-oriented, and effective at managing multiple priorities

• Is a confident, outgoing communicator comfortable presenting and building relationships in person, over the phone, and digitally

• Is collaborative, responsive, and motivated by team success

• Ability and willingness to travel if needed

Benefits and Perks:
AKIRA offers competitive benefits for full-time employees, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Pet Insurance, Life, LTD, FSA/HSA/Dependent Care FSA, Flex Transit (CTA), 401(k), and a
generous employee discount. We’re committed to internal growth, providing meaningful development and career advancement opportunities.

Compensation:
At AKIRA, we are committed to fair and transparent compensation practices. Compensation for this position will be determined based on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors. Additional compensation and benefits may also apply and will be discussed during the hiring process.

Job Type: Full-Time