Associate Buyer

Grocery Outlet Corp.•Emeryville, CA

48d

About The Position

As the Associate Buyer you will assist the General Merchandise purchasing team and field merchandisers. A huge part of the role is day-to-day maintenance functions, data analysis and accurate data entry. You will ensure accuracy in the ordering process while facilitating communications between vendors, corresponding buyers, merchandisers and our stores. The Associate Buyer reports to the Buyer, General Merchandise.

Requirements

A Degree or 3 to 5 years retail/sales or related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Excellent interpersonal skills, outgoing, willing to help others and positive attitude.
Proficient in the use of Excel, Microsoft Word and Outlook.
You are keen to detail, highly organized and can reprioritize projects frequently.
Resourceful and researches problems with recommended solutions.
You are highly analytical and numerical savvy.
Strong written & oral communication skills.
Industry awareness or interest with the ability to understand and research current trends, within competition and market.
Thrive in a fast-paced evolving environment.
Team player, self-motivated, independent-thinker.
Able to effectively and respectfully communicate with all levels of staff and management.

Responsibilities

Support Buyers on day-to-day functions of the department.
Develop new relationships as well as foster existing relationships to drive the success of assigned commodities.
Responsible for category management for multiple classes and sub-classes within the produce and floral department.
Monitors on-order and manages weekly receipt flow into DC to insure timely arrival of orders.
Responsible for direct store shipments - Flex order Guide.
Responsible for understanding and implementing data related to assigned commodities.
Identify, create and maintain everyday items within assigned classes and sub-classes.
Understand and execute appropriate distribution of products and maintain proper turn goal.
Find, create and present weekly Hot Buys to the stores via phone and in-person meetings.
Update WOW alert photos and verify product descriptions on a weekly basis.
Ensure that communication (written/verbal) is complete and thorough with vendor and internal partners.
Manage marketing event planning and assist with creation of packaging and branding for the department.
Analyze opportunistic opportunities and communicate to the department and store recommendations.
Maintains positive working relationships and communication with vendors, internal departments, stores and warehouse.
Identify and shop competition (including price checks); understand the target customer.
Identify trends within the department to help reach and exceed sales and margin plan.
Review sales by store by SKU; identifying hot and slow sellers.
Maintain vendor relationships; work with vendors and Buyers to help negotiate better terms and/or costs for merchandise being purchased.
Establishes and maintains a reputation of credibility and responsiveness; promptly returns vendor and store phone calls, ensures timely follow-up on issues within 24 hours.
Write articles addressed to store managers and operators communicating organic trends, merchandising recommendations and general knowledge of the organic category.