Assistant Buyer

Riddle's Group•Rapid City, SD

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Riddle’s Jewelry is seeking a highly organized, detail-oriented Assistant Buyer for its Merchandising team at the corporate headquarters in Rapid City, South Dakota. The Assistant Buyer will support an experienced Buyer and help develop and execute product strategies and assortments for more than 60 jewelry stores across multiple states. The role offers hands-on experience with retail buying, merchandising, product assortment, inventory analysis, vendor relationships, and luxury jewelry trends. The position is full-time, Monday through Friday.

Requirements

Exceptional organizational skills and strong attention to detail.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and stay organized in a fast-paced retail environment.
Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build positive relationships with vendors, stores, and internal teams.
Interest in luxury jewelry, fashion, retail trends, and consumer behavior.
Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office.
Ability to learn new systems, processes, and product categories quickly.
Proactive, self-motivated approach and willingness to take ownership of assigned projects.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising, Fashion Merchandising, Business, Marketing, Retail Management, Economics, or a related field preferred.
Two or more years of experience in retail, merchandising, buying, jewelry, fashion, or a related industry preferred.
Experience with retail merchandising, inventory analysis, purchasing, product assortment, or vendor relationships is a plus.
Experience with Excel and sales or inventory data preferred.
Jewelry industry experience is a plus, but not required.

Responsibilities

Support the Buyer with sales analysis, trend reporting, assortment planning, product research, and merchandising analysis.
Assist with purchase orders, including SKU setup, order placement, receiving, vendor communication, and follow-up.
Communicate with retail stores about special orders, unique product requests, and merchandising needs.
Assist with visual merchandising and planogram development, including mock case setups, product photography, product lists, and merchandising instructions.
Partner with Marketing and Ecommerce to ensure jewelry products are featured appropriately on the website, social media, digital marketing, and advertising.
Assist with product turn-in meetings and new product launches.
Attend jewelry vendor meetings and market appointments with the Buyer and assist with new product development.
Organize vendor samples, product specifications, pricing information, and materials for new product introductions.
Conduct in-store and online competitive research and market analysis to identify jewelry trends and help keep the assortment relevant.
Assist with designated jewelry product categories, including assortment planning, inventory analysis, forecasting, replenishment, allocation, and sales performance.
Research jewelry fashion trends, customer preferences, competitors, and emerging products.
Provide additional merchandising and buying support as needed.