Assistant Buyer - Entry Level
This is an entry level position - An ideal candidate may have worked in retail and is familiar with buying trends and category management. Do you have excellent excel and analytical skills, and ability to work independently? Keep reading
SUMMARY
Responsible for managing and developing a segment of the arts & crafts business for a major school supply catalog under the guidance of the Director of Merchandising. Responsibilities include product development/sourcing, trend optimization, business analysis, catalog merchandising, and competitive analysis. The assistant buyer also provides support to the merchandising team in sales analysis, product sourcing/resourcing, product research, and catalog and web merchandising. This position offers opportunity for growth and additional responsibility within the merchandising department.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following as well as other duties and responsibilities that may be assigned.
Source, develop, and select new products for a segment of the arts & crafts business through communication with existing vendors and establishing relationships with new vendors.
Analyze sales to identify trends & business opportunities, determine exit strategies, and make catalog and web layout recommendations.
Analyze the competitive environment to identify trends and pricing strategies.
Utilize Excel to prepare sales reports.
Assist buyers with sourcing and resourcing projects, including evaluating samples, communicating and negotiating with vendors, and ensuring data is complete and on file.
Assist merchandising team with sales analysis, competitive analysis, layout preparation, promotional planning, vendor communications, and special projects as requested.
Work with the purchasing department to set up new products and vendors, maintain costs and MOQs, and resolve vendor-related issues.
Work with the graphics and copy departments on new item set-up, product photography, catalog layout, copy direction, and product development.
Work with the web marketing department on online product specifications, product updates, and category presentation.
Communicate effectively with customer service, quality assurance, and sales teams to answer customer questions and concerns.
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 proficient in spreadsheet creation, gathering data, and the analysis tools of Excel. Experience with Powerpoint a plus.
EDUCATION and
Experience:
Minimum 2 years of college or 2 years merchandising experience. Associate's or Bachelor's degree preferred. Retail, merchandising, customer service, and/or analysis experience a plus.
LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Ability to write business correspondence with foreign and domestic vendors in conformance with the prescribed style and format. Ability to communicate product features & benefits to copywriters and web teams.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
Ability to understand and analyze sales trends and margin reports and make sales projections. Ability to create and update excel spreadsheets. Must understand retail math.
REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to define and solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables, occasionally in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret and make decisions based on a variety of information furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Must be well organized and a self-starter
Must be willing to ask questions and be comfortable taking direction
Must be creative and able to develop concepts independently
Must possess good written and verbal communications skills
Must be able to handle multiple tasks and multiple deadlines at once
Must be even tempered and team spirited - a good sense of humor is desirable.
Must be computer literate, experienced with Excel and have experience with IBM-compatible computers.
Must have the ability to quickly learn specific software
Must be able to make sound independent decisions based on available data
Personal or professional experience with arts & crafts products a plus but not required.
Interest in acquiring skills and growing in the field of merchandising/retail preferred.
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
SUMMARY
Responsible for managing and developing a segment of the arts & crafts business for a major school supply catalog under the guidance of the Director of Merchandising. Responsibilities include product development/sourcing, trend optimization, business analysis, catalog merchandising, and competitive analysis. The assistant buyer also provides support to the merchandising team in sales analysis, product sourcing/resourcing, product research, and catalog and web merchandising. This position offers opportunity for growth and additional responsibility within the merchandising department.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following as well as other duties and responsibilities that may be assigned.
Source, develop, and select new products for a segment of the arts & crafts business through communication with existing vendors and establishing relationships with new vendors.
Analyze sales to identify trends & business opportunities, determine exit strategies, and make catalog and web layout recommendations.
Analyze the competitive environment to identify trends and pricing strategies.
Utilize Excel to prepare sales reports.
Assist buyers with sourcing and resourcing projects, including evaluating samples, communicating and negotiating with vendors, and ensuring data is complete and on file.
Assist merchandising team with sales analysis, competitive analysis, layout preparation, promotional planning, vendor communications, and special projects as requested.
Work with the purchasing department to set up new products and vendors, maintain costs and MOQs, and resolve vendor-related issues.
Work with the graphics and copy departments on new item set-up, product photography, catalog layout, copy direction, and product development.
Work with the web marketing department on online product specifications, product updates, and category presentation.
Communicate effectively with customer service, quality assurance, and sales teams to answer customer questions and concerns.
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 proficient in spreadsheet creation, gathering data, and the analysis tools of Excel. Experience with Powerpoint a plus.
EDUCATION and
Experience:
Minimum 2 years of college or 2 years merchandising experience. Associate's or Bachelor's degree preferred. Retail, merchandising, customer service, and/or analysis experience a plus.
LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Ability to write business correspondence with foreign and domestic vendors in conformance with the prescribed style and format. Ability to communicate product features & benefits to copywriters and web teams.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
Ability to understand and analyze sales trends and margin reports and make sales projections. Ability to create and update excel spreadsheets. Must understand retail math.
REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to define and solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables, occasionally in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret and make decisions based on a variety of information furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Must be well organized and a self-starter
Must be willing to ask questions and be comfortable taking direction
Must be creative and able to develop concepts independently
Must possess good written and verbal communications skills
Must be able to handle multiple tasks and multiple deadlines at once
Must be even tempered and team spirited - a good sense of humor is desirable.
Must be computer literate, experienced with Excel and have experience with IBM-compatible computers.
Must have the ability to quickly learn specific software
Must be able to make sound independent decisions based on available data
Personal or professional experience with arts & crafts products a plus but not required.
Interest in acquiring skills and growing in the field of merchandising/retail preferred.
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
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