Job: Softgoods Manager

Job Description

Job Type: Full time, Hourly

Wage: $23-$26/hr.

Location: Salida, CO.

Job Description:

Founded in 2006, Salida Mountain Sports is an independent, locally owned outdoor retailer located in the heart of historic downtown Salida, Colorado. For the past 18 years, we’ve been proud to serve as a cornerstone of the local outdoor community — providing premium gear, apparel, and footwear for every adventure, from the mountains to the river.

Our team lives and breathes the outdoor lifestyle that defines Salida. We’re skiers, bikers, runners, and hikers who love helping customers find the right gear and inspiration for their next outing. The shop has a fun, energetic vibe and a supportive, tight-knit team that values hard work, good laughs, and getting outside whenever possible.

At Salida Mountain Sports, we take pride in offering an authentic retail experience built on expertise, friendliness, and a genuine love for the outdoors. If you’re passionate about the mountain-town lifestyle and enjoy working with great people in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment, you’ll feel right at home here.

Position Summary

Department: Softgoods (Clothing & Footwear)
Reports to: Store Owners

The Softgoods Manager serves as the lead Buyer and Department Head for all apparel and accessory categories, and shares responsibility for Footwear buying and inventory management in close collaboration with the Hardgoods Manager. This role oversees the selection, purchasing, merchandising, and performance of all softgoods carried by Salida Mountain Sports — including outerwear, base layers, lifestyle apparel, footwear, and accessories. The Softgoods Manager is responsible for maintaining balanced inventory, driving seasonal strategies, analyzing sales trends, and curating a product assortment that supports the outdoor lifestyle of both locals and visitors.

Key Responsibilities

Buying & Planning

• Act as lead buyer for all clothing, accessories, and lifestyle apparel categories
• Coordinate seasonal footwear buying with the Hardgoods Manager to maintain a consistent and cohesive product mix
• Research and recommend new brands, lines, and styles to keep the assortment fresh, relevant, and profitable
• Build and maintain strong vendor relationships, understanding brand positioning, market fit, and seasonal availability
• Collaborate with ownership to build seasonal buying budgets and strategy
• Write and manage preseason orders while securing favorable terms, discounts, and shipping timelines
• Analyze department sales and vendor performance to inform future buying decisions
• Adjust or cancel orders as needed in response to trends, inventory levels, and overall business needs; communicate changes clearly to reps

Inventory & Data Management

• Maintain accurate item records in the POS: create SKUs, update pricing, and manage discontinuations
• Monitor inventory by size, color, and style to ensure strong in-stock positions without overstock
• Place fill-in orders as needed to respond to customer demand, fast-sellers, or special orders
• Implement inventory management practices to hit sales targets while minimizing carryover, markdowns, and dead stock
• Ensure pricing accuracy and work to prevent shrinkage and loss
• Manage all vendor returns, ensuring proper documentation and coordination with reps
• Gather and submit all employee data for vendor seeding orders, ensuring timely and complete submissions

Merchandising & Presentation

• Oversee the visual presentation of apparel, footwear, and accessories to maximize floor productivity and sales potential
• Build and rotate seasonal focal displays, product highlights, and promotional areas
• Provide merchandising direction to staff and ensure displays align with store standards and brand identity
• Maintain attractive and functional window displays that reflect seasonality and store priorities

Marketing Collaboration

• Partner with the Owners to plan promotions, vendor-supported marketing, and store events
• Provide seasonal insights to align marketing with holidays, events, and local happenings
• Collaborate with the marketing team to highlight key products, brands, and categories

Team Leadership & Store Operations

• Act as department lead and serve as floor manager during shifts
• Deliver outstanding customer service with strong product knowledge and fit expertise
• Train and coach sales staff on features, stories, and selling strategies for softgoods and footwear
• Support receiving, tagging, and backstock organization to ensure smooth inventory flow
• Coordinate with other department leads to align storewide priorities and customer experience

Requirements

• Proven experience in retail buying, preferably in outdoor apparel, footwear, or specialty retail
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales data and trends
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and vendor relationship management skills
• Familiarity with seasonal buying cycles, vendor programs, and pricing structures
• Visual merchandising skills and an understanding of retail flow and product placement
• Passion for outdoor activities and familiarity with relevant apparel and footwear brands
• Ability to lead, train, and motivate a team in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment

Perks & Compensation

• Pay range: $23–$26 per hour, depending on experience
• 30% employee discount on all store products
• Access to pro deals with select brands
• Flexible scheduling to support work-life balance
• Supportive, fun team environment in a vibrant mountain town
• Monthly incentive-based bonuses (Sales Goal Program)
• Monthly percentage of net sales bonus (Manager-exclusive)
• Annual shop stipend
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Opportunities for professional development and industry trade show attendance when appropriate

Expected hours: 30 – 40 per week

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off

**Disclaimer: The duties and responsibilities described above are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned to the employee, time to time; the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands. Click “View Application” below for more detail on this specific job.