Buyer Assistant Merchandising - Zales

Signet Jewelers•Irving, TX

About The Position

The Buyer Assistant supports the Buyer across merchandising responsibilities and may also step in to perform Merchandise Coordinator or Detail Assistant duties. The role contributes to sourcing and developing products, pricing, assortment planning, forecasting order quantities, competitive shopping, and weekly and departmental reporting. The Assistant Buyer works with the Buyer and cross-functional partners to support the performance of a jewelry merchandise category, including sales, inventory levels, and gross margin goals established by Management.

Responsibilities

Develop knowledge of the jewelry category and learn merchandising practices relevant to the role.
Maintain an understanding of the merchandise category in conjunction with the Buyer.
Identify sales trends and develop new product designs for testing and assortment opportunities.
Attend vendor meetings, participate in product selection and review, and coordinate meeting notes and follow-up.
Contribute to marketing vehicle decisions, SKU selection, new merchandise programs, sales trends, and assortments to support sales growth and productivity.
Share accountability for category sales, inventory levels, and gross margin goals established by Management.
Participate in ongoing omnichannel competitive shopping and review company and competitor assortments for opportunities and advantages.
Adapt to changing market trends, conditions, priorities, and corporate strategies.
Set up SKUs, descriptions, retail prices, and packaging attributes.
Assist the Buyer with assortment development and work with Planners and Inventory Analysts to set program parameters, including product attributes, assortment size, targeted inventory and turn levels, and open-to-buy requirements.
Monitor and help develop forecasted sales quantities for marketing items and new programs with the Inventory Analyst and Buyer.
Communicate and coordinate with vendors regarding product quality, costs, terms and ownership, delivery dates, and merchandise return requests.
Establish retail prices in line with margin requirements.
Update departmental category assortment sheets, reports, and analyses.
Proof advertising materials, including catalogs, emails, website content, customer mailings, and in-store signage, for accuracy.
Merchandise items for marketing channels in ways that are innovative and competitive within the marketplace.
Attend open-to-buy meetings and provide merchandise status updates as needed.
Complete and submit Project Request Forms and develop store communications.
Collaborate with the Visual Merchandising team on in-store presentations and planograms.