Hi all,
Sorry it has been seemingly forever since I have posted a blog. I was having "ghost issues" accessing the blog that we had been trying to figure out. I am not sure that we ever did, but I am back up and running somehow!!!
There were lots of great comments to my last post. I love hearing what you think of the stores and ideas and thoughts you have. It all starts with you guys!
I have been traveling a lot in the last few months. Right now we are buying for the current season as well as Spring 2009 and Fall 2009. It can be a challenge to look and decide on Fall 2009 when you haven't even wrapped up Fall 2008! Have you all been out shopping lately? Anyone starting to get a jump on Christmas shopping? How do you feel about how the stores look right now? Glad to be back and blogging with everyone again!

One of the toughest parts of our jobs is deciding what to buy! You really have to put your personal preferences aside and put yourself in your customers shoes. What would be exciting to them? We have a lot of different customers and different tastes, so all together it can be pretty tough to make sure we get it right all the time while keeping everyone happy!
We spend several days in the market at a time looking at product. Often times, based on what we see in market, what we are hearing from our vendors, and what our sales are telling us drives us to what we buy. But it is not cut and dry. In the area I buy, there are a total of eight of us buying so we also have to keep each other in the loop on what we are seeing and make sure we are creating a good diverse mix for our customers, that most importantly delivers the right fashion at the right price and the right brand. Sometimes we make very quick decisions as that item is just right in every way. Other times we might be looking at an item that seems to be out there in every vendor showroom, and that is when we have to work with our buying team to decided which is the best quality, fashion and price to deliver our stores and ultimately you!
We also buy for the entire country, so we have to remember all of the pocket opportunities that exist out there. While we may look at a garment that is not a bread and butter item, there may be a region of the country where there couldn't be a better product for stores.
Always lots to think about and never a dull moment!

A lot of times we get asked how we buy for the stores. Working in off price retail we buy differently than most traditional retailers. We scour the market constantly looking for exciting deals on current inventory that vendors may have excess on, past season inventory left over from the previous selling season as well as irregular inventory. To put everyone at ease on irregulars, we will not buy anything that has holes, rips, tears, stains, etc...generally it is a color variation that is off from what the vendor intended. We also will work with vendors occasionally to build product with them just like any department store would. While this is not our chosen way to buy goods, we do find that sometimes to keep ourselves stocked in basic items or to hit a trend correctly we have to go down this path. One of the final ways we buy goods is store stocks. So if a store is over inventoried or closing we can work with them to buy their existing stock. All of this is what makes being an off price buyer so much fun. You never know what you are going to find or what each day will bring. I have to run right now to finish up a few deals, but I'll spend the next few posts talking all about How I Buy!

Hi All,

We have some really great exciting yoga sets coming in in the next few months....just wanted to give you a sneak peek!!! The great thing about these bottoms, is that even if you don't do yoga, they are super comfortable, super flattering, and a great casual weekend bottom!!! The tops are great not only for yoga, but also for the gym, walking or even layering! Happy Shopping!

Hi Everyone. Sorry I have not had a post in some time. May has been a busy month of travel. The month started off with hitting several fashion shows in New York. When we go to the shows, we look for new trends and new vendors. The shows were great....lots of color popping up on tops...bright vivid colors! Also a lot of prints - anything from bohemian to geometric. After a few weeks of various shows, we hit stores in the Midwest to see what they look like. A big part of our job is making sure we are not only in our stores all the time, but also in competition stores. Store trips are always great and very eye opening. It is so beneficial for us to get to other regions of the country. We buy for the entire country, so while we are based in New England and it is frigid in the winter we have to remember and buy appropriately for our stores in Florida, Texas, So. Cal, etc... While most department stores buy far in advance of their selling window, we buy much closer so we can really turn around and affect our stores pretty quickly if something feels off in a region of the country. I am off to check out swimwear in stores!

Well Spring has sprung and hopefully everyone is out shopping getting rid of the winter wear and gearing up for Spring and Summer! I have been out shopping for the stores in Ladies Active. We have been buying swimwear, coverups, yoga wear, tees, tanks, shorts and capris to name a few!!! Active Separates: tops and bottoms are a mainstay for everyone. We are seeing shorts in longer lengths...more like a bermuda. For the junior customer short shorts are doing great, but we are really hearing a lot about bermuda lengths. Capris are hot right now as well as the customer is looking to get out of the full length pant and shift into the cooler capri. On bottoms we are seeing a majority of black for color, but some neutral colors are also coming into play such as grays and browns. We are hearing from the customers that they want the basic bottoms and the color in the tops. Would you guys agree with that....any feedback for me on colors or items you feel are missing? We are always on the go and while the market is a good gauge for us on trends,, no one tells it to us as well as our customer. I'd love any feedback!!!

I just posted a new blog on swim coverups, but I think it went in as a comment!! Every post I learn something new about the digital age!!! Coverups are a hot item for this Spring! They really are all about looks that can take you straight from the beach to dinner. Gone are the days of traditional wraps and pareos!!! Terry Coverups still remain a staple and a must have, but fashion has hit the coverup market as well. There are a lot of looks in great burnout prints, bohemian patterns and lots of color. You will still always see the traditional black and whites, but this year there is also a lot of influence in the coverup world from sportswear, so we are seeing lots of fashion colors in the mix as well in great fabrications ranging from gauze to more slinky modal fabrics. If you haven't updated your coverups in a while this year is a great time to check out all the fun fashion that the market is putting out there!

I have been traveling quite a bit lately in the swim market. With school vacations and spring break upon us, we are in swim mode! So far the swim year seems to be a good one with the market talking lots about Tankini's. The Skirtini (this is a longer swim top with a skirted bottom - 2 separate pieces) is proving to be a winner for everyone this year. It is a great suit that allows you to be active on the beach, while looking great at the same time. We are seeing lots of "mixed media" tops....this is two different designs on the same top, so you might have something like stripes and dots mixed together! For colors there are lots of rich bright colors such as turq's and deep pinks, but a lot of the color is really pop contrast against black or brown grounds. One piece suits are also a mainstay....anything from the monokini to a skirted swimdress....the customer still loves them and they are always an important silhouette.

Good Morning. I am just back from traveling to a few shows in the last two weeks. I was out in Utah at the Outdoor Retail Show and then off to Las Vegas for the Ski Show. We have been tracking the latest trends for the upcoming season. Even though we are barely through this winter we are already looking ahead to Winter 2008. Although Ladies Activewear is not necessarily at the forefront of fashion, there is a huge movement across america towards "active lifestyle"....that which you could wear to the gym or to the grocery store and wish you could wear to work because it is so comfortable!!! We are seeing a huge push toward Yoga inspired looks in amazing fabrics that everyone would want to wear. It is all about comfort while at the same time looking great! We saw a lot of this at the Outdoor Show. There is a lot going on with "green or sustainable" fibers in clothing (bamboo, cocona, etc....) Virtually all manufacturers at both the Outdoor show and the ski show offered something in their line that was "green or eco-conscious." This was a clear mission that resonated across both shows. More to come later...

Hi my name is Melissa and I am a buyer for Ladies Activewear in Marshalls. This is my first time "blogging", but I look forward to being a part of this community and sharing what I do with everyone. I think I have the best job in the world although it is not an easy job....the customers wants always keep us guessing. A crystal ball would be handy! I will try and check in as often as possible, but we do travel quite a bit. If I have been a few days without a post it is only because I am out checking out the latest trends and making exciting deals for our customers. In fact I am off right now to look at some gorgeous high end ski jackets and apparel. I'm excited to be a part of this and tell you all about what I do, how I do it, and what is the latest in fashion that I am seeing. Until next time, happy shopping.

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Edited by MelSki17 at 02/07/2008 6:34 AM PST