Apparel Assistant Buyer - Merchandising & Vendor Relations

Kroger Family of Companies; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Kroger Family of Companies in Portland, OR seeks a category management professional to support the buyer with day-to-day category decisions, assortment selections, promotional planning, and margin management.

The role involves cross-team collaboration on pricing, merchandising, receiving processes, and vendor negotiations, while upholding Kroger's values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business or 2 years of retail store managerial experience or a combination of education and experience.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the buyer in executing sales, inventory and margin plans.
• Assist the buyer in executing the overall vision for the category (assortment, pricing, merchandising, advertising/promotion, receipt flow, margin).
• Complete detailed analysis to determine assortment changes for the enterprise.
• Accumulate vendor product information and costs for assortment selection.
• Oversee item setup processes and review details before submitting.
• Assist with competitive price checks and maintain pricing strategy database.
• Determine POS/TPR pricing, clearance and markdown needs with the buyer/planner.
• Manage advertising and promotional processes for the category.
• Coordinate with vendors to obtain merchandise samples for review, ecommerce and advertising.
• Evaluate and decide vendor returns on salvaged merchandise.
• Process Form 11 vendor allowances when approved.
• Confirm trade contracts with ASP before creation.
• Manage purchase orders and receiving via the on order log.
• Research and resolve receiving problems with warehouses/logistics.
• Assist buyer with special projects.
• Travel for vendor visits and negotiations.
• Oversee a sub-set of the buyer's categories.
• Locate and select assortments and manage vendor relationships to maximize sales and margins.
• Must be able to perform essential job functions with/without accommodation.

Skills

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Retail environment experience

Microsoft Office

Retail terms knowledge

Assistant buyer/assistant planner

Magic

Store managerial experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business

Tools

Magic

Job description

Kroger Family of Companies in Portland, OR seeks a category management professional to support the buyer with day-to-day category decisions, assortment selections, promotional planning, and margin management.

The role involves cross-team collaboration on pricing, merchandising, receiving processes, and vendor negotiations, while upholding Kroger's values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety.