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Viviana, Assistant Buyer at REVOLVE: Advize Career Interview
An exciting career in buying at REVOLVE awaits those who are organized, adaptable, and ready to work at a swift pace!
This professional's journey began with a spark of interest at Emory, nurtured through finance studies at ASU and solidified by strategic networking, including informational interviews, leading to a current role as Assistant Buyer at REVOLVE. Daily life is a dynamic mix of vendor management, supply chain oversight, and crucial buying appointments.
Success in this role demands excellent prioritization skills, the ability to enforce boundaries, and creative communication with vendors.
This industry is fueled by creativity and collaboration, allowing one to directly impact what customers receive.
A strong foundation in supply chain, honed time management skills from college, and a supportive educational environment have been key to thriving in this fast-paced, trend-driven world, so dive in and discover a fulfilling path from buying admin to buyer!
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Viviana Montalvo
Assistant Buyer
REVOLVE
Emory, Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey
Finance
Fashion
Operations and Project Management
Scholarship Recipient, Greek Life Member, Transfer Student
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Career Path of an Assistant Buyer at REVOLVE
Viviana's interest in buying was first "piqued" at Emory University, leading them to study finance at ASU to gain a deeper understanding of the field, and started as a buying assistant at CBRE to break into the industry. Viviana leveraged informational interviews on LinkedIn with Revolve's VP of buying and merchandising to "get more details about how to break into the industry," ultimately leading to their current role as an Assistant Buyer at Revolve.
Main Responsibilities of an Assistant Buyer at REVOLVE
As a buying assistant at REVOLVE, Viviana's main responsibilities center around "managing the supply chain and... vendors," which includes assisting the buyer with vendor management and overseeing the process of receiving inventory from a portfolio of about 80 brands. This role is crucial to the flow of goods and vendor relationships.
A Day In The Life Of An Assistant Buyer At REVOLVE
An assistant buyer's daily life at REVOLVE is dynamic, primarily revolving around email management to address urgent matters, "getting on top of reorders," and resolving discrepancies; the role also includes participating in four annual market weeks involving in-person buying appointments. Viviana emphasizes the unpredictable nature of the role, mentioning that "every day is gonna look different."
Most Important Skills For An Assistant Buyer At REVOLVE
Viviana, an Assistant Buyer at REVOLVE, emphasizes that success in the role hinges on being "organized" while also being "flexible and adaptable," due to the high volume of work. Furthermore, the ability to "work quickly and at a very swift pace" is crucial given the fast-paced nature of the buying assistant position.
Favorite Parts of Being an Assistant Buyer at REVOLVE
Viviana enjoys the buying appointments and working directly with brands as an Assistant Buyer at REVOLVE, finding it rewarding to give input and "really feel like you're making a difference on what the customers receiving." Ultimately, being able to address the customer is what Viviana enjoys most in the role.
Biggest Challenges Faced by an Assistant Buyer at REVOLVE
As an Assistant Buyer at REVOLVE, Viviana finds that "prioritizing different tasks" is the biggest challenge due to the high volume of responsibilities and the need to address everything "in a really timely fashion" while working directly with the supply chain for numerous brands. Successfully navigating this requires adaptability to ensure the most important tasks are handled effectively.
Favorite Parts of Working in the Fashion Industry as an Assistant Buyer
Viviana, an Assistant Buyer at REVOLVE, most enjoys the "creative aspect" of the fashion industry, finding it experimental, dynamic, and trend-driven, especially considering REVOLVE's customer base. The collaborative nature of bringing a vision to life and the "creative artistic side" are also elements that Viviana appreciates.
What Type of Person Thrives in the Fashion Retail Industry, According to an Assistant Buyer at REVOLVE
Viviana believes people who thrive as buyers, particularly at a company like REVOLVE, are "very flexible" and possess strong multitasking skills, as the role requires addressing numerous unexpected situations, particularly ones related to global events which impact the company. Viviana highlights the need to find "different creative ways to communicate with...vendors" given the circumstances of the role such as those which occurred during COVID.
What An Assistant Buyer At REVOLVE Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Fashion Industry
Viviana, an Assistant Buyer at REVOLVE, wishes someone had emphasized the heavy supply chain aspect of the role before entering the industry; specifically, stating that being a "buying assistant is heavily supply chain based" and that more attention should've been paid to those classes. This suggests that a strong understanding of supply chain management is crucial for success in this position.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Assistant Buyers At REVOLVE
Viviana, an Assistant Buyer at REVOLVE, shares that the entry-level position at REVOLVE is a "buying admin" role involving data entry, followed by a buying assistant position which can be a direct entry point at other companies. The career trajectory generally progresses from buying assistant to buyer.
Significant Career Lesson From an Assistant Buyer at REVOLVE
As an Assistant Buyer at REVOLVE, Viviana has learned the importance of "enforcing boundaries and say[ing] no" to maintain a manageable workload. This means being firm about time constraints and "not taking on too much... if [one] can't handle it," which is crucial in a demanding role.
College Experiences That Helped An Assistant Buyer At REVOLVE Succeed
Viviana, an Assistant Buyer at REVOLVE, believes the key to success cultivated in college was effective time management, balancing extracurriculars and academics, as "you just need to be able to manage a full schedule and balance a lot." This skill translates directly to the workplace where flexibility and the ability to juggle "a lot of different roles and tasks" are essential for career advancement in the buying industry.
Assistant Buyer Career at REVOLVE
Viviana, now an Assistant Buyer at REVOLVE, found the most impactful experience at W.P. Carey to be the "camaraderie" amongst classmates, highlighting how the welcoming and comfortable environment, in contrast to a previous university, "really impacted [their] experience and like got [them] to where [they are] today". This supportive atmosphere fostered a great place to learn and be, ultimately contributing to their current success.
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