Assistant Buyer

Riddle's Jewelry; Rapid City (SD); On-site; USD 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Savings Account (HSA)

401(k) with Company Match

Paid Time Off

Employee Jewelry Discount

Company-Paid & Voluntary Insurance

Job summary

Riddle’s Jewelry in Rapid City, South Dakota is seeking an Assistant Buyer to join our Merchandising team at the corporate headquarters. This full-time role supports the Buyer and helps shape the product assortment for 60+ stores across multiple states.

You will gain hands-on experience in retail buying, inventory analysis, vendor relationships, and luxury jewelry trends while working Monday–Friday in a fast-paced, detail-oriented environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred in merchandising, fashion merchandising, business or related field.
• 2+ years in retail, merchandising, buying, jewelry, fashion or related industry preferred.
• Experience with retail merchandising, inventory analysis, purchasing, product assortment, or vendor relationships is a plus.
• Experience with Excel and working with sales or inventory data preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support the Buyer with sales analysis, trend reporting, assortment planning, product research, and merchandising analysis.
• Assist with the purchase order process, including SKU setup, order placement, receiving, vendor communication, and follow-up.
• Communicate with retail stores to respond to special orders, unique product requests, and merchandising needs.
• Assist with visual merchandising and planogram development, including mock case setups, product photography, product lists, and merchandising instructions.
• Partner with Marketing and Ecommerce to feature jewelry across website, social media, digital marketing, and advertising.
• Assist with product turn-in meetings and new product launches.
• Attend jewelry vendor meetings and market appointments with the Buyer and assist with new product development.
• Organize vendor samples, product specifications, pricing information, and materials for new product introductions.
• Conduct competitive research and market analysis, both in-store and online, to identify jewelry trends and ensure assortment stays relevant.
• Assist with designated jewelry product categories, including assortment planning, inventory analysis, forecasting, replenishment, allocation, and sales performance.
• Research jewelry fashion trends, customer preferences, competitors, and emerging products.
• Provide additional merchandising and buying support as needed.

Skills

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Vendor relationships

Microsoft Excel

Retail merchandising

Education

Bachelor's degree in Merchandising

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Office

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Riddle’s Jewelry | Rapid City, South Dakota | Full-Time | Monday–Friday

Love fashion, jewelry, and retail? Turn your passion into a career.

Riddle’s Jewelry is looking for a highly organized, detail-oriented Assistant Buyer to join our Merchandising team at our corporate headquarters in beautiful Rapid City, South Dakota.

This is an exciting opportunity to build a career in luxury jewelry merchandising and retail buying while working alongside an experienced Buyer and helping shape the product assortment for 60+ jewelry stores across multiple states.

If you have an eye for fashion, jewelry trends, product selection, and what customers want, and you enjoy combining creativity with data and analysis, this could be the perfect fit.

And if you're looking for more than just a job, the Black Hills offers an incredible quality of life. Enjoy hiking, camping, boating, fishing, skiing, hunting, and exploring some of the most beautiful scenery in the country—all while working a Monday–Friday schedule that provides a true work/life balance.

As an Assistant Buyer, you'll support the Buyer and Merchandising team in developing and executing product strategies across our jewelry stores. You'll gain hands-on experience with retail buying, merchandising, product assortment, inventory analysis, vendor relationships, and luxury jewelry trends.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Support the Buyer with sales analysis, trend reporting, assortment planning, product research, and merchandising analysis
• Assist with the purchase order process, including SKU setup, order placement, receiving, vendor communication, and follow-up
• Communicate with our retail stores to respond to special orders, unique product requests, and merchandising needs
• Assist with visual merchandising and planogram development, including mock case setups, product photography, product lists, and merchandising instructions
• Partner with Marketing and Ecommerce to ensure jewelry products are appropriately featured across our website, social media, digital marketing, and advertising
• Assist with product turn-in meetings and new product launches
• Attend jewelry vendor meetings and market appointments with the Buyer and assist with new product development
• Organize vendor samples, product specifications, pricing information, and materials for new product introductions
• Conduct competitive research and market analysis, both in-store and online, to identify jewelry trends and ensure our assortment remains relevant
• Assist with designated jewelry product categories, including assortment planning, inventory analysis, forecasting, replenishment, allocation, and sales performance
• Research jewelry fashion trends, customer preferences, competitors, and emerging products
• Provide additional merchandising and buying support as needed

We're looking for someone who is curious, organized, analytical, and genuinely interested in jewelry and fashion.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Exceptional organizational skills and strong attention to detail
• The ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and stay organized in a fast-paced retail environment
• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build positive relationships with vendors, stores, and internal teams
• An interest in luxury jewelry, fashion, retail trends, and consumer behavior
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office
• The ability to learn new systems, processes, and product categories quickly
• A proactive, self-motivated approach and willingness to take ownership of assigned projects

Education & Experience

Bachelor's degree in Merchandising, Fashion Merchandising, Business, Marketing, Retail Management, Economics, or a related field preferred

2+ years of experience in retail, merchandising, buying, jewelry, fashion, or a related industry preferred

Experience with retail merchandising, inventory analysis, purchasing, product assortment, or vendor relationships is a plus

Experience with Excel and working with sales or inventory data preferred

Jewelry industry experience is a plus, but not required

Why Riddle's?

At Riddle's, you're not just joining a corporate office—you're joining a family-owned company with a long history and a passion for jewelry.

Our corporate headquarters are located in Rapid City, South Dakota, right in the heart of the beautiful Black Hills.

Imagine finishing your workday and being minutes away from:

Hiking and exploring the Black Hills

Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park

Boating, fishing, camping, and kayaking

World-class motorcycle riding

Skiing and winter recreation

Incredible outdoor trails and scenic drives

A vibrant community with a relaxed, friendly lifestyle

Best of all, this is a Monday–Friday corporate position, giving you the opportunity to build a rewarding career while still having time to enjoy everything the Black Hills has to offer.

• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Paid Time Off
• Employee Jewelry Discount
• Company-Paid & Voluntary Insurance Options
• Monday–Friday Schedule
• Work/Life Balance
• Career growth and development opportunities

Location: Rapid City, South Dakota
Schedule: Monday–Friday, Full-Time
Industry: Luxury Jewelry | Retail | Merchandising

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