Assistant Buyer
About the role
This is a developmental role responsible for product selection, assortment planning, and securing the best overall program cost including terms, freight, and defective allowance to ensure corporate sales and profitability goals are met. Other duties include forecasting, inventory management, sales analysis and planning, vendor negotiations and relations, merchandising, marketing/advertising, communications, and special projects. This position is expected to work independently and form their own business decisions and may report to a Buyer or Senior Buyer or directly to the DMM depending on the business.
Responsibilities
- Lead categories and be the primary decision-maker in terms of product assortment, pricing, forecasting, and merchandising strategies reflecting goals based on historic data, current trends, and future forecasts
- Establish and maintain vendor partnerships; schedule and participate in vendor meetings both on and off-site
- Take a primary role in negotiating product costs, terms, and shipping/returns issues
- Maintain communications with DMM regarding vendor performance
- Directly collaborate with other organizational processes, such as merchandising, distribution center and stores to track shipments and floor purchase orders
- Collaborate with internal business partners as appropriate to support goals, solve challenges and manage business
- Review inventory regularly including merchandise orders
- Maintain current data on sales and product trends to plan future purchases
- Take an active role in seasonal presentation to upper management
- Work with analysts to optimize inventory mix and levels
- Organize and execute virtual or in-person product knowledge seminars with store personnel and vendors
- Conduct regular store visits, shop the competition, and attend relevant trades shows/industry seminars as needed to remain abreast of business trends and opportunities
- Search for close outs/special buys and identify and maximize key items via test strategies
- Execute short-term buying plans based on open-to-buy dollars and long-term strategies
- Design marketing/advertising placement and proof copy to ensure desired outcome
- Plan special promotional events
- Ensure ad merchandise arrives in store before ad dates and follow up with vendors and distribution centers to track ad prep and sales results
- Make determinations on setting and approving product-pricing strategies to achieve specific margin objectives and executes exit-strategies on slow selling items and recommends appropriate markdowns
- Measure and report on category performance, KPI's, planning, forecasting, and objectives
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree preferred
- 3-5 years' experience as a Merchandiser or Assistant Store Manager or above
- Possess a valid driver's license
- Ability to build long-term relationships with internal and external customers
Benefits
- Medical, Prescription, Dental, Vision, Short & Long Term Disability, Life Insurance, Ancillary Benefits, Identity Theft Protection, Pet Insurance
- All major Holidays & Birthday off
- Advanced Leadership Training Programs: build the skills to grow your career
- Associate discount on name brands like Carhartt, Under Armour, STIHL, Milwaukee Tool, DeWalt & much more
- Internal recognition programs that support an engaged workplace
- 401(K) with company match
Pay
Base pay starting at $66,300 per year. The pay listed for this position may vary based on experience. Compensation decisions are contingent on the facts and conditions for each job opening, taking into consideration minimum requirements, training and experience, work location, required travel, and external market conditions. Please note salary estimates published via alternate online job boards may not be a true representation of the actual pay range offered for this position.
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