Assistant Buyer

World Market•Alameda, CA

2d•$72,000 - $78,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Assistant Buyer is responsible for managing the daily operations of their department, including planning, forecasting, developing, and coordinating all information related to advertising. In partnership with the Buyer, they develop and drive business strategies to meet or exceed financial goals. The Assistant Buyer provides information and ideas to develop assortments, key items, promotional strategies, growth opportunities, and store assortments that are viable and provide an exciting in-store customer experience. They communicate with vendors and agents and serve as the key department contact for all stores. This role involves identifying business opportunities and risks through analyzing sales performance and the competitive landscape, demonstrating an understanding of product trends and historical data to manage assortments, and understanding the competitive environment by proactively seeking market knowledge. The Assistant Buyer will also provide analysis of weekly sales data, recommend actions to the Buyer, strategically partner on merchandise promotions and markdowns, and prepare advertising materials. They will function as back-up to the Buyer during their absence, may have direct responsibility for merchandise categories, and assist with strategic promotion planning. Additionally, they will be an integral partner with visual merchandising, responsible for schematic planning, shelf talkers, and signs, and will attend strategic planning and best seller meetings, presenting information in the Buyer's absence. The role also includes working with vendors to resolve outstanding issues, providing strategic support throughout the product development lifecycle, and managing SKU maintenance and sample management. The position requires spending up to 3 days per week on average at the Alameda, CA Home Office.

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

Managing the daily operation of the department including planning, forecasting, developing and coordinating all information related to advertising.
Developing and driving business strategies that meet or exceed the department’s financial goals in partnership with the Buyer.
Providing information and ideas to develop assortments, key items, promotional strategies, growth opportunities and store assortments.
Communicating with vendors and agents and serving as the key department contact for all stores.
Identifying business opportunities and risks through analyzing sales performance and competitive landscape.
Demonstrating an understanding of product trends, historical data and departments input at the category level to manage assortments opportunities and risks.
Understanding the competitive environment; proactively seeking market knowledge through exposure to the competition.
Providing analysis to summarize and analyze weekly sales data, recommend appropriate action to Buyer.
Strategically partnering with Buyer to plan merchandise promotions and financial-markdowns.
Preparing all advertising-samples, ROI’s, meetings and signs; proof advertising.
Functioning 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.
Assisting Buyer with strategic promotion planning following the master retail calendar.
Being an integral partner with visual merchandising; responsible for all schematic planning, shelf talker and signs.
Evaluating effectiveness and addressing concerns as needed.
Attending strategic planning and best seller meetings and in Buyers absence presenting information to the group.
Actively working with vendors and organizing claims preparation.
Following through monthly to resolve outstanding issues.
Providing 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.