Assistant Buyer

World Market•Alameda, CA

13d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Assistant Buyer is responsible for managing the daily operations of their assigned department, including planning, forecasting, and coordinating all information related to advertising. In partnership with the Buyer, they develop and drive business strategies to meet or exceed financial goals. This role involves providing insights for assortment development, key items, promotional strategies, growth opportunities, and store assortments to create an exciting in-store customer experience. The Assistant Buyer acts as a key department contact for all stores and communicates with vendors and agents.

Requirements

BA/BS degree or commensurate work experience required
Minimum 3 years' experience as an Assistant Buyer with a multi-unit retailer
Excellent analytical and problem solving skills
Ability to identify business opportunities and risks by analyzing sales performance and the competitive landscape, provide findings to buyer and cross functional partners
Demonstrate an understanding of product trends and historical data at the category level to provide recommendations on assortments in partnership with the buyer
Excellent listening, written and oral communication skills, ability to clearly communicate with an appropriate sense of urgency
Strong knowledge of retail math calculations
Ability to handle multiple priorities, shifting tasks and timelines
Ability to work autonomously, strong decision making skills with good judgement
Ability to be the key contact person on the business when the buyer is out of the office
Experience with Merchandising software systems; AS400, Brio

Responsibilities

Manage the daily operation of the department including planning, forecasting, developing and coordinating all information related to advertising.
Develop and drive business strategies that meet or exceed the department’s financial goals in partnership with the Buyer.
Provide information and ideas to develop assortments, key items, promotional strategies, growth opportunities and store assortments.
Communicate with vendors and agents and serve as the key department contact for all stores.
Identify business opportunities and risks through analyzing sales performance and competitive landscape.
Demonstrate an understanding of product trends, historical data and departments input at the category level to manage assortments opportunities and risks.
Understand the competitive environment; proactively seek market knowledge through exposure to the competition.
Provide analysis to summarize and analyze weekly sales data, recommend appropriate action to Buyer.
Strategically partner with Buyer to plan merchandise promotions and financial-markdowns.
Prepare all advertising-samples, ROI’s, meetings and signs; proof advertising.
Function as back-up to the Buyer when she or he is out of the office on domestic and overseas buying trips.
May have direct responsibility for one or more merchandise categories.
Assist Buyer with strategic promotion planning following the master retail calendar.
Be an integral partner with visual merchandising; responsible for all schematic planning, shelf talker and signs.
Evaluate effectiveness and address concerns as needed.
Attend strategic planning and best seller meetings and in Buyers absence present information to the group.
Actively work with vendors and organize claims preparation. Follow through monthly to resolve outstanding issues.
Provide strategic support and recommendations to Buyer through the product development life cycle.
Responsible for all SKU maintenance-set-up & updates for the department.
Sample management including unpacking and sample house placement.