Allocator

Build-A-Bear Workshop; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Build-A-Bear Workshop is seeking an Allocator to effectively allocate merchandise and balance inventory levels across categories. The role partners with planning and merchandise teams to use projected sales and store trends to assign volume grades by item.

You will identify inventory needs to support three weeks of store sales, review shipments, and ensure timely delivery to stores with a focus on accuracy and proactive communication. This position is based at the St.

Qualifications

• 1–3 years of experience in retail sales, allocation, replenishment, planning, or inventory management.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills to interpret sales data and make allocation decisions.
• Clear and professional communication with cross-functional teams (e.g., buying, planning, stores).
• High level of accuracy in managing inventory and data inputs.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office Suite
• Familiarity with retail math

Responsibilities

• Allocate initial inventories for new products to stores that support defined launch goals.
• Partner with planning and merchandise teams.
• Leverage projected company sales volume and knowledge of store selling trends to assign volume grades by item.
• Identify inventory needs to support three weeks of individual store sales.
• Review store merchandise system to ensure stores have received all products shipped.
• Replenish store inventory levels based on system recommendations and use reports to identify outliers.
• Allocate and balance inventory levels by category.
• Track shipments for on-time and accurate deliveries and manage communication regarding inventory and replenishment.

Skills

Analytical skills

Excel proficiency

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, Merchandising

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

The Build-A-Bear Allocator will effectively allocate merchandise and balance inventory levels for all merchandise categories as assigned.

Responsibilities:

• Allocate initial inventories for new products to stores that support defined launch goals
• Partner with planning and merchandise teams
• Leverage projected company sales volume and knowledge of store selling trends to assign volume grades by item
• Identify inventory needs to support three weeks of individual store sales
• Review store merchandise system to ensure stores have received all products shipped
• Store Inventory Replenishment
  • Replenish individual store inventory levels based on system recommendation
  • Use reports to identify and consider outliers
  • Make adjustments as needed
• Allocate and balance inventory levels
  • Ensure proper inventory levels are assigned by category
• Track shipments for on-time and accurate deliveries
  • Manage communication regarding inventory and replenishment

Required Qualifications:

• 1–3 years of experience in retail sales, allocation, replenishment, planning, or inventory management.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills to interpret sales data and make allocation decisions.
• Clear and professional communication with cross-functional teams (e.g., buying, planning, stores).
• High level of accuracy in managing inventory and data inputs.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office Suite
• Familiarity with retail math

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, Merchandising, or a related field.
• 2+ years of experience in retail allocation, replenishment, planning, or inventory management.
• Retail math and key performance indicators (KPIs) like sell-through, weeks of supply, and turn.
• Proficiency with an allocation and replenishment system
• Advanced Microsoft Excel or data analytics tools

Behavioral Traits for Success:

• Conscientious, thorough, and precise
• Naturally cooperative and supportive
• Comfortable following established procedures and processes
• Enjoys accomplishing work as an individual
• Can work harmoniously with others
• Communication is factual, polite, and professional
• Typical office environment with climate control and sufficient lighting, ergonomic desk/chairs
• Corporate Office located St. Louis, MO

Your Performance Will Be Measured On:

Your performance will be measured by your ability to achieve annual department objectives and corporate goals which include but are not limited to the following:

• Consistently maintaining specific weeks of inventory for all stores as determined by supervisor
• Accurately allocating and balancing inventory levels by store, style, and merchandise category
• Using projected sales volumes and trends by store to assign volume grades by item
• Making data-based decisions
• Leveraging partnerships with planners, merchants, and field leaders to understand store needs
• Effectively communicating with the warehouse and store teams, and other BAB partners
• Exercising good judgment on when to escalated issues
• Leveraging technology to meet inventory needs
• Stakeholder Feedback

This description is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent an expressed or implied contract of employment, nor does it alter your at-will employment, and Build-A-Bear, Inc. reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as may deem appropriate.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.