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Buying plan
Course: Retail Buying
Acted as a buyer for Nordstrom and created a six-month merchandise plan for Women's active pants for Fall 2025 at Nordstrom locations within the Chicagoland area. Below, you will find department information, customer profiles, trend forecasting reports, product development samples, and more.
Mission Statement
At Nordstrom, our mission is to empower movement through premium quality and expert curation. Our Women's active pants are designed for performance, made for everyday wear, and combine style and comfort. Paired with our trusted service, we’re committed to helping you look your best, so you can perform your best​​.​
Customer Analysis​
Analyzed the target customers at the Nordstrom in Oak Brook, Michigan Ave, and Old Orchard.
Oak Brook
On Average...
Age: 54 years
Family Income: $144,412
Purchase in Dollars: $90-$100
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Financially stable, senior-level career
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Views shopping as a leisure activity
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Values family, traditions, and community
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Enjoys outdoor fitness like golf and tennis
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Prioritizes health and wellness
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Research thoroughly before purchasing
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Gym to errands
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Owns select luxury items
Michigan Ave
On Average...
Age: 34 years
Family Income: $148,374
Purchase in Dollars: $100-$150
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Works in corporate beauty
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Prioritizes a work-life balance
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Married, no kids
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Young at heart and loves to socialize
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Attentive to lifestyle, athleisure, and wellness trends
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Invested in self-improvement
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Influenced by friends and social media
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Pays for a luxury gym membership
Old Orchard
On Average...
Age: 43 years
Family Income: $104,859
Purchase in Dollars: $60
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Works in an office
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Suburban mother balancing career and family life
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Involved in school groups and kids' activities
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Wears activewear as everyday clothing
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Only has time for at-home workouts
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Prioritizes family, practicality and convenience
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Influenced by reviews, mom groups, and promotions
Trends analysis
The Bigger the Better
The bigger the better embraces oversized and relaxed silhouettes, prioritizing comfort, movement, and incorporating all body types. The baggy aesthetic allows you to transform from the gym to a streetwear look.
Key Materials
Stretchy and soft with a flexible waistband.
Design Elements
Wide legs, drawstrings, cargo pockets, adjustable toggles, and a utility aesthetic.
Aerie
Free People
Lululemon
Retro Revival
Retro revival embraces the iconic sporty styles from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Some notably popular styles include track suits, flared bottoms, and high waists paired with bold retro colors.
Key Materials
Reflective nylon and velour.
Design Elements
High waists, flared silhouettes, sporty stripes, color-blocking, and geometric patterns.
Athleta
Puma
Adidas
six month plan
The Women's Activewear department is projected to make $408,132 in Fall sales, reflecting an 8% increase from last year and a strong initial markup of 61.1%. Inventory is managed with a stock-sales ratio of 2.0, while reductions are minimized in the early months and concentrated towards the holiday season. Purchasing is planned at retail at $434,773, ensuring enough inventory to meet peak demand while maintaining profits.
stock assortment plan
Nordstrom’s active pants assortment is led by Free People, Beyond Yoga, Zella, and Sweaty Betty, making up 70% of the category. Customer insights reveal a demand for high-quality, versatile styles that seamlessly transition from workouts to everyday wear. The buy will prioritize Free People (25%) for its relaxed aesthetic, Vuori (20%) for premium quality, Beyond Yoga for a similar feel at a lower price point, and Sweaty Betty (10%) to test its fashion-forward appeal.
Purchase order
This purchase order outlines a fall order from Sweaty Betty for Nordstrom. The buy totals 232 units, with a retail value of $29,716 and a cost of $11,559. The assortment is size-inclusive and balanced across core leggings and lifestyle performance pants, supporting both functionality and trend.
advertising calendar
This advertising calendar was created to plan and schedule promotions, aligning events with seasonal trends, key shopping periods and brand messaging to drive sales.
Click to enlarge.
product development
The Contour Flair Legging by Sweaty Betty
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Style: #SBXN10077
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Color: Chocolate Brown
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Silhouette: Retro-Inspired, slim high waist, flair fit​
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Fabrication: 75% Recycled Polyamide, 25% Elastane
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Cost: $65
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Retail: $105​
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Markup: $40
Sustainable Cause
We will donate 10% of all profits to the GLAM4GOOD Foundation. This fund helps repurpose unused merchandise to address clothing and self-care insecurities in the world.
Justification
This collaboration will be successful because it is on trend for the fall 2025 color palette and taps into the retro revival trend by featuring a white stripe along the side. This style will attract Oak Brook and Michigan Ave Nordstrom customer who are attentive to trends and prioritize versatility and style within their activewear wardrobe.
Skills Gained
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Retail buying
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Market research
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Customer and trends analysis​
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Range planning
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Product development
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Reflection
This project taught me the importance of being a strategic thinker, planning ahead, and communicating effectively. As a stylist, I strengthened my trend-forecasting skills and ability to anticipate what's next by planning stock, buying, and developing a product. I also improved my analytical skills by utilizing formulas to calculate sales, reductions, retail, cost, and other key metrics. Understanding the numbers behind the work is essential as a stylist when forming relationships with partners, managing pulls, returns, and markdowns, and styling clients with purposeful pieces.