Nordstrom Retail Buyer
Objective:
This is a retail buying assimilation for the Nordstrom's Women's Intimates Department. The report below is composed of general information about the department, consumer profiles, trend forecasting reports, a product development sample, a six month plan, and an assortment plan. This project provided me insight and industry knowledge about the role and responsibilities of a retail buyer. What I learned from this project and taking a retail buying course helped diversify my skills in retail math, trend forecasting, and product knowledge.
Skills Achieved:
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Sourcing and negotiating with suppliers and vendors
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Generating analytical reports, purchase orders, and cost analyses
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Analyzing consumer trends
Buyer Simulation
Mission Statement
The Women’s Intimates Department at Nordstrom’s is committed to providing all women with trendy intimate and sleepwear options that showcase each women’s unique style. Our hands-on service and attentive staff strive to provide customers with a memorable retail experience and connect them to an array of functional yet fashionable products.
Consumer Profiles
Store 722
Hurst, TX
Average Age of Purchaser: 37
Family Income: $63,245
Average Purchase in Dollars: $100
Fashion Attitude: This is a dense suburban location made up of mostly families and young professionals. Consumers are motivated by their values and tend to lean conservative and traditional.
Lifestyle: Family friendly city. More than half of total population has children under the age of 18. Middle to upper class status for majority of residents. The area is most known for its upscale shopping center/mall
Store 730
Houston, TX
Average Age of Purchaser: 44
Family Income: $104,456
Average Purchase in Dollars: $128
Fashion Attitude: Multicultural and urban area. Residents more comfortable with familiar styles however, not considered conservative. Deemed "Southern Cool".
Lifestyle: Very diverse area. Lots of attractions and city life to enjoy. Locals like the affordability and lower cost of living in area. Outgoing and friendly community.
Store 746
Woodlands, TX
Average Age of Purchaser: 40
Family Income: $75,544
Average Purchase in Dollars: $110
Fashion Attitude: Dense suburban area. Mainly chain stores in area traditional style. Residents tend to lean conservative. Shopping center more targeted for younger generation.
Lifestyle: Middle to upper income for residents. Not ethnical or economically diverse location. Family friendly atmosphere with lots of greenspace. Residents tend to gravitate to outdoor activities.
Department Trends A/W 21-22
Product Development
To encourage customers to buy this product, 10% of all proceeds
will be donated to Feeding America
Style #: 356782
Cost: $23.00
Retail: $46.00
TANK
Color: Sky Blue
Fabric: Cotton
Silhouette: Spaghetti Strap, V-Neck, flowy tank top, 3 buttons on the front to add feminine detail
SHORTS
Color: Sky Blue
Fabric: Cotton
Silhouette: Ribbon Drawstring, Cinched High waist, Boy-Short, Pockets
This sleepwear set was designed in a collaboration with Honeydew Intimates exclusively for the Nordstrom Women’s Intimates Department. Honeydew Intimates tend to incorporate quality and modern sleepwear and intimate sets with muted colors and a mix of trendy prints. This classic and comfy sleepwear set is a perfect addition for their new collection and sky blue is a trending color in the intimates’ sector of the fashion industry. As an exclusive item the pieces will be sold together at one price. The silhouette is a classic shape but is also looser to provide comfort and mobility. The lighter cotton fabric will keep body temperatures cooler and is not constricting. The boy-short style is on trend with the current lounge wear aesthetic.
Six Month Plan
Assortment Plan
Justification:
Nordstrom's lingerie/pajamas key brands are Skims, Jonquil, Honeydew Intimates, and Calvin Klein making up 70% of the lingerie/pajama assortment. 20% of the assortment is made up of other brands and 10% of the inventory will come from fashion-forward lingerie labels. Nordstrom's target market of young adult to middle aged women are looking for trendy pieces that are still practical and provide comfort. The featured brands are middle-high affordability and curation of international and national big name designers. 10% of the assortment will be of other vendors that provided trendy lingerie pieces in bright colors and prints. The younger Gen Z and early millennial population have been prone to gravitate towards fashion forward looks. 20% of the assortment will be for new vendors with a lesser known following in order to offer more classic and conservative styles in neutrals for lingerie and sleepwear sets.