Associate Buyer

SUMMARY:  Responsible for the support of buyer in assortment, selection and development of safe, developmentally appropriate products within assigned categories that support the brand philosophy for our catalog and our website.  Specific responsibility includes vendor and item set up and maintenance, communication between Graphics and Buyer to meet all deadlines, sample area maintenance and assembly, and extensive spreadsheet preparation, maintenance and analysis on a regular and ad hoc basis. In addition, direct margin and sales growth responsibility for a category of business. 


 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following as well as other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

 

Primary responsibility to support Buyer.Scheduled and ad hoc report preparation and analysisMaintain catalog software program that begins the creative and purchasing process for up to 300 new products a year.Open and assemble all samples and designate storage optionsManage timeline to meet all graphic deadlines for samples, copy, photo direction and layoutsManage timeline to meet all purchasing deadlines for vendor and item set up and maintenance. Maintain competitive pricing spreadsheets. Work with buyer and vendors to answer Customer Service questions and then to update copy and website accordingly.Maintain new item spreadsheet including testing tracking.

 

Indirect responsibility to support Buyer’s specific merchandise areaMake suggestions to increase sales and improve margins.Identify business opportunities through data evaluation and competitive analysis. Support product development process with both foreign and domestic suppliers.Collaborate to present strategies to partners within organization for increasing business, for developing new products, or for minimizing risks through exit strategies.  Organize data to enhance vendor negotiations including pricing, terms, FOB points, rebates, freight allowances, discount structures and minimum order quantities.Prepare accurate sales analysis in order to properly make layout recommendations to Catalog Coordinators and Graphics.Ensure that new products meet testing requirements and that timelines are met within our Purchasing guidelines for on time deliveries of safe products.

 

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  Requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

COMPUTER SKILLS:

Must be highly proficient in spreadsheet creation, data gathering and analysis tools of Excel.  Experience with Illustrator and Powerpoint a definite plus.   

 

EDUCATIONS and EXPERIENCE:

Minimum 2 years college required plus at least 3 years experience in a merchandising field.  Must be creative and possess the ability to analyze data. Experience negotiating and developing products with foreign vendors is a plus.

 

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to provide features and benefits to the copywriter for catalogs and the website.  Ability to write business correspondence and procedures to the prescribed style and format.

 

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to understand sales trends and margin reports.  Must understand retail math.

 

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to solve practical problems based on concrete variable.  Must be able to handle situations where only a limited amount of information exists.  Ability to be flexible and adapt to change.  Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.

 

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIESMust be well organized and a self-starterMust be creative and able to develop concepts independentlyMust have the ability to motivate othersMust possess good written and verbal communications skillsMust be able to handle multiple tasks and multiple deadlines at once.Must be able to meet deadlinesMust be even tempered and team spirited – a good sense of humor is desirable.Must have the ability to quickly learn specific software.Must be able to make sound independent decisions based on available data.Must be able to travel in the US.