Associate Buyer

Hibbett

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Buyer, with leadership from a Senior Buyer and/or a DMM, is responsible for purchasing, distributing, and managing merchandise for their assigned category, meeting a premium and profitable 'toe to head' merchandising strategy for all the organization's stores to drive revenue and profitability. Seeks out the most relevant assortment for the organization's stores based on sales and customer data. Brings in the best products to meet key performance indicators and monitors key performance indicators daily. Promotes the organization and vendor lead initiatives in stores as it relates to the vision of the buy. Responsible for the financial performance of a specific merchandise area including sales, margin, inventory turn, and GMROI. Plans assortments, negotiates with suppliers, and works collaboratively with planners, allocators, other buyers, and other business partners within the organization to get merchandising goals met.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in merchandising or a related field or equivalent experience
Two - four years of related experience.
Experience working for a retail company, specifically in apparel.

Nice To Haves

Athletic specialty experience a plus.

Responsibilities

Researches market trends, consumer buying behaviors (internal and external), and competitors' strategies and actions, to forecast product demand, projected inventory requirements, and sales levels.
Develops sales and merchandising plans to achieve key performance indicators and financial objectives that are aligned to the organization's business plan and financial targets.
Negotiates terms of buys, profitability, shipping, marketing proposals, and product selection with vendors to ensure optimal product selection is achieved.
Builds and manages vendor relationships to ensure the organization receives product assortments that match customer demographics and buying patterns.
Communicates with vendors to respond to current conditions and in anticipation of future requirements.
Works with Assortment Planning team to build relevant assortments for stores each season.
Prepares, creates, writes, and issues purchase orders and change notices.
Executes markdowns on slow product to manage aged inventory and keeps turn and profitability at appropriate level.
Reviews market and delivery conditions to determine present and future merchandise availability and prepares market analysis reports.
Identifies risks and opportunities by category and manages processes to meet inventory and fulfillment goals.
Provides marketing department with samples, product flow, big stories, and direction regarding how to merchandise product in stores. This includes, but is not limited to, the tiered calendar, photo shoots, store directives, social media, email blasts, and vendor information and direction.
Communicates with field representatives, including district managers and regional managers as needed.
Listens actively to geographic/demographic requests and addresses as appropriate.
Manages financial sheets with monthly sales, inventory and profitability projections for the category of responsibility.
Participates in monthly EOM financial meeting to inform planning and management teams of the state of the business to keep data organized, accurate, and accessible.
Problem solves shipping and packing issues.
Tracks orders to ensure they are being allocated correctly and on time.
Manages inventory flow to ensure appropriate levels.
Works with financial planners and divisional merchandise managers on creating and maintaining yearly sales plans.
Communicates and coordinates with allocation and planning to allocate and manage inventory levels and products in stores.
Instructs allocation team on how to execute the needs of the buy of products and merchandising vision.
Attends major shows and vendor meetings throughout the year as appropriate ensuring product lines are current to capitalize on new trends and/or products.
Meets/Exceeds store visit requirements as determined on a quarterly/yearly basis.
Shops competitor locations consistently to stay on top of product trends in their locations.
Protects company's assets and financial information by ensuring the accuracy and effectiveness of internal control procedures and informing management and/or appropriate officials of potential fraud risk.