Assistant Buyer, Custom Apparel - San Diego SSC

Event Network • San Diego, CA

1d • $30 - $31

About The Position

The Custom Apparel Assistant Buyer supports assortment planning, product selection, vendor coordination, and financial KPI management to deliver compelling, commercially successful assortments. The role analyzes business performance, identifies opportunities, and partners cross-functionally to ensure accurate, timely execution in a dynamic retail environment. The Assistant Buyer supports the Buyer in executing product vision, assortment plans, and inventory strategies across assigned categories, using business analysis, organization, and proactive follow-up to support accurate orders and timely delivery to stores.

The role involves frequent sitting, standing, walking, and handling of products or samples. It may occasionally require reaching, stooping, kneeling, crouching, lifting, and moving merchandise samples and materials. Travel may be needed to stores, markets, trade shows, vendors, and product development.

The position is based in San Diego SSC. The stated pay range is $30–$31 per hour. Event Network offers full-time team members a comprehensive total rewards package, including health and wellness coverage, retirement and savings benefits, paid time off, paid holidays, a profit-sharing bonus plan, and employee discounts.

Requirements

• At least 3 years of experience in retail merchandising.
• Passion for product and a strong understanding of guest demographics, retail environments, and assortment planning.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret business performance data and recommend actions.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, including prioritizing work, managing deadlines, and tracking multiple details simultaneously.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, and interpersonal skills.
• Resourceful, proactive, adaptable, and comfortable working in a fast-paced, fluid environment.
• Reliable, detail-oriented, and committed to producing accurate and efficient work.
• Collaborative team player who takes ownership, learns quickly, and follows through.

Responsibilities

• Support the Buyer with assortment planning, product selection, buying activities, and financial performance management for assigned categories.
• Help execute assortment plans aligned with guest needs, partner identity, category direction, sales goals, SKU targets, inventory objectives, and cost-of-goods-sold targets.
• Maintain product knowledge and understanding of guest demographics to support relevant assortments.
• Assist with order placement, item setup, vendor follow-up, product information, and other activities needed to execute assortments accurately and on time.
• Analyze sales, per cap, SKU count, inventory, margin, cost of goods, and other business performance metrics.
• Identify business successes, risks, and opportunities and provide actionable recommendations to the Buyer.
• Help achieve assortment and inventory targets while improving revenue, margin, and productivity.
• Monitor inventory health and product performance by store, department, and category, escalating concerns and opportunities.
• Support vendor communication and follow-up on product, order, pricing, delivery, and assortment needs.
• Work with DMMs, SMMs, GMMs, the Creative Center of Excellence, Planning, Purchasing Operations, and store teams to coordinate priorities and support timely product delivery.
• Build productive relationships with internal partners and vendors through clear communication, responsiveness, and dependable follow-through.
• Partner with the Merchandise Coordinator to provide direction and help resolve item setup, purchase order, invoicing, and other operational challenges.
• Organize and prioritize projects, deadlines, product details, and follow-up activities in a fluid retail environment.
• Produce accurate, efficient, and timely work across assortment planning, reporting, purchase orders, vendor communication, and business analysis.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Basic life and AD&D insurance
• Long-term disability
• Voluntary life and AD&D insurance
• Voluntary short-term disability for employees outside CA, NY, NJ, HI, RI, and Puerto Rico
• Accident insurance
• Critical illness insurance
• Hospital indemnity insurance
• Pet insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Vacation accrual
• Sick leave
• Nine paid holidays
• Profit-sharing bonus plan
• 25% employee discount at company stores
• Discount program offering savings on brand-name products, services, travel, entertainment, tickets, and more

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed