Assistant Buyer, Plush - San Diego SSC

Event Network • San Diego, CA

2d • $30 - $31

About The Position

Event Network is seeking an Assistant Buyer to support the Buyer in bringing merchandising strategies to life across assigned categories. The role supports product assortment planning, vendor communication, inventory allocation, and execution of assortments across the company’s retail locations. The Assistant Buyer uses business analysis, organization, and proactive follow-up to support accurate orders and timely delivery, while helping drive sales, sales per visitor, margin, SKU productivity, and inventory health.

The role involves supporting assortment planning, product selection, buying activities, and financial performance management; analyzing business performance and providing recommendations; coordinating with vendors and internal teams; and ensuring accurate and timely follow-through on product, order, reporting, and operational details. Travel may be needed to stores, markets, trade shows, and vendors, including for product development.

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 the 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 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 related assortment execution activities.
• Analyze sales, sales per visitor, SKU count, inventory, margin, cost of goods sold, 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.
• Contribute product performance feedback, market insights, and trend analysis to inform new product development.
• Support vendor communication and follow-up regarding product, orders, pricing, delivery, and assortment needs.
• Coordinate with DMMs, SMMs, GMMs, the Creative Center of Excellence, Planning, Purchasing Operations, and store teams to support priorities and timely product delivery.
• Build productive relationships with internal partners and vendors through clear communication, responsiveness, and 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.
• Produce accurate and timely work across assortment planning, reporting, purchase orders, vendor communication, and business analysis.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Basic life and AD&D insurance
• Long-term disability insurance
• Voluntary life and AD&D insurance
• Short-term disability insurance (for employees outside of 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 with savings on brand-name products, services, travel, entertainment, and tickets

What This Job Offers

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