Buyer, Kids Textiles - West Elm

Williams-Sonoma • Brooklyn, NY

10h • Onsite

About The Position

The Buyer, Kids Textiles role at West Elm is responsible for creating and developing business strategies and seasonal assortment plans to deliver sales and profits for the assigned department. This role involves identifying category opportunities, recommending new products, and coordinating information across various functions including Design, Inventory Management, Ecommerce, Sourcing, Allocation, Production, Creative Services, Stores, Packaging, and Visual Merchandising. The Buyer will also manage visual signage, in-store collateral, online copy, image assets, photo samples, and assortment tools.

Requirements

• BA/BS Degree Required
• 5-7 years Buying/Merchandising experience.
• Management experience
• Proficient to advanced in Excel.
• Operate a computer and communicate via telephone.
• Operate in PLM system.

Nice To Haves

• Attend overseas product development calls as needed seasonally after hours.

Responsibilities

• Analyze, present, and recap sales trends and results to leadership and cross-functional partners for assigned department(s) on a daily, weekly, monthly, seasonal, quarterly, and yearly basis.
• Execute 3YP growth strategies for assigned department(s).
• Execute entire category reviews and growth strategy forecasts as needed.
• Communicate weekly selling updates, assortment opportunities, and influence markdown recommendations and trending collections to “chase” orders.
• Develop and communicate annual and seasonal business merchandising strategies for assigned department(s) focused on core businesses and newness.
• Select seasonal and core product assortment for assigned department(s) to drive the business forward in collaboration with the in-house design team.
• Collaborate with Inventory Management to develop annual and seasonal financial plans.
• Collaborate with Inventory Management and Sourcing on seasonal assortment rank, purchase quantity recommendations, flow and exit strategies for initial cost and production negotiations for new programs.
• Identify and recommend new business opportunities to drive future growth.
• Create and maintain merchandising assortment plans for assigned departments.
• Present to leadership and manager in seasonal milestone meetings.
• Establish seasonal pricing strategies and set profitable pricing based on sales trends and cost negotiations with the Sourcing team.
• Analyze competitive markets and provide observations and analysis of findings.
• Execute SWOT analysis as needed.
• Correspond with functional areas to resolve difficult issues on product quality issues, re-ticketing issues, or customer service needs.
• Lead weekly product development meetings and establish a POV and provide critical and important feedback on the design.
• Lead product presentation set up and break down for critical product in-person meetings.
• Participate in regular return and replacement meetings and work to resolution for your area(s).
• Propose and recommend promotional opportunities to drive sales and customer engagement.
• Communicate key product items, seasonal “big bets” and strategies to develop pagination to Creative Services to finalize marketing plan.
• Communicate digital marketing plans for assigned department(s).
• Influence email and social marketing based on sales demand and inventory levels in the department(s).
• Lead team on photo sample requests.
• Create seasonal retail floor model and backroom stocking strategies.
• Partner with visual team on execution both virtually and in the mock store.
• Create & own retail mapping documents.
• Analyze channel results.
• Provide information to the field on in-store promotion strategies and placement of markdown goods.
• Correspond with functional areas.
• Investigate and respond to store field issues.
• Coordinate communication strategies with Store Operations.
• Provide appropriate merchandising information for Store Web.
• Visit stores as needed to review visual merchandising, standards and new floorsets.
• Execute SKU creation and SKU updates for all departments.
• Operate in PLM system.
• Operate a computer and communicate via telephone.
• Proficient to advanced in Excel.
• Transport materials and equipment and lift, move, and carry objects up to 50 pounds on a limited basis.
• Attend overseas product development calls as needed seasonally after hours.

Benefits

• A generous discount on all WSI brands
• A 401(k) plan and other investment opportunities
• Paid vacations, holidays, and time off to volunteer
• Health benefits, dental and vision insurance, including same-sex domestic partner benefits
• Tax-free commuter benefits
• A wellness program that supports your physical, financial and emotional health
• In-person and online learning opportunities through WSI University
• Cross-brand and cross-function career opportunities
• Resources for self-development
• Advisor (Mentor) program
• Career development workshops, learning programs, and speaker series

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level