Assistant Buyer

Barnes & Noble•Chicago, IL

About The Position

An Assistant Buyer supports the Buyer in selected categories throughout the product lifecycle. The role manages assortment data, reviews and manages in-office samples, executes category strategy, and supports the business needs of Barnes & Noble and Paper Source. It also develops and maintains relationships with vendor and internal partners to help achieve business goals. The Assistant Buyer monitors vendor issues and opportunities, maintains accurate product information, supports vendor onboarding, analyzes weekly business performance, and coordinates with cross-functional teams, including New Store Planning.

Requirements

Proficiency in Excel, Word, and Microsoft Outlook.
Ability to identify assortment opportunities and work with internal partners to execute them.
Adaptable communication skills for working with vendors, internal partners, and management.
Thoughtful and diplomatic approach, with the ability to prioritize.
Creative, solution-oriented problem-solving approach.
Ability to use industry and competitor knowledge to support company goals.
Sound decision-making skills, including assessing situations and applying feedback and experience to achieve results.
Strong organizational and time-management skills.
Ability to work under deadlines; self-starter with an innovative, team-oriented, and customer-focused approach.
Ability to cope with change and shift focus and priorities while handling unexpected situations.
Planning skills, including anticipating issues, using resources effectively, and developing realistic action plans.
Ability to build collaborative relationships through open dialogue and listening.
Strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
Strong Excel and reporting skills and an analytical mindset for interpreting data.
Ability to collaborate with all levels of management and build partnerships across cross-functional teams.
Excellent communication and timely follow-up with vendors and internal teams.
Ability to understand the target customer and apply customer insights to product recommendations.

Nice To Haves

College degree in Business or Retail Management preferred.
Bachelor's degree and at least two years of experience as a Bookseller (for internal candidates) preferred.
Three or more years of buying experience.

Responsibilities

Support management of category and vendor assortments.
Support seasonal and core assortment reviews.
Source and nominate products for seasonal space.
Collaborate with design, visual merchandising, and store operations to create a distinctive assortment and support strong store execution.
Conduct regular market analysis to identify opportunities and stay informed about market trends.
Communicate strategy and intent in presentations to management, the SIM team, and commercial strategy partners.
Collect, organize, and submit samples for photography for the website, catalog, and public relations efforts.
Build partnerships with vendors aligned with the company's direction.
Assist the Buyer with ad hoc tasks.
Monitor and respond to issues and opportunities arising from vendor communications, escalating concerns to the Buyer when needed.
Manage item setup and ongoing maintenance to keep product information accurate and up to date across systems.
Collaborate with the data team to onboard new vendor partners.
Attend relevant cross-functional meetings to stay informed about departmental initiatives and strengthen internal relationships.
Analyze weekly business performance and work with the Buyer to identify opportunities and address challenges.
Serve as the key Merchandising liaison for New Store Planning to support smooth communication and execution of initiatives.