Assistant Buyer, Apparel

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

Work directly with the buyer to execute day-to-day category management activities. Collaborate on assortment selection, promotional/advertising plans, and the overall vision to achieve sales, inventory and margin budgets. Demonstrate the company's core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Collaborate with the buyer in the execution of sales, inventory and margin plans

• Assist the buyer in executing the overall vision for the category (e.g., assortment, pricing, merchandising, advertising/promotion, receipt flow, and margin)

• Complete detailed analysis to determine assortment selection and changes for the enterprise

• Accumulate vendor product information and costs for assortment selection

• Oversee item setup processes and review/confirm details before submitting

• Assist the buyer and corporate pricing analyst with competitive price checks for the enterprise and maintain pricing strategy database

• Determine point of sale (POS) and temporary price reduction (TPR) pricing, clearance and markdown needs and partner with the buyer/planner to get them executed

• Manage the advertising and promotional process for the category using line lists, Ad Space Allocation (ASA), Event Sales Planning (ESP), display plans, etc.

• Coordinate with vendors to obtain merchandise samples for review, e-commerce and advertising

• Evaluate and make vendor return decisions on salvaged merchandise

• Process Form 11 vendor allowances when approved

• Confirm trade point and contracts with the administrative support personnel (ASP) before they are created

• Manage purchase orders and receiving via the on order log, follow up with vendors and communicate any concerns to the entire team (e.g., buyer, planner, replenishment buyer, and assistant planner)

• Research and find solutions for any receiving problems by working with warehouses and/or logistics

• Assist buyer with additional special projects

• Travel for vendor visits and negotiations

• Oversee a sub-set of the buyer's total categories

• Locate and select assortments for the enterprise and manage vendor relationships to maximize sales, margins and minimize costs for the assigned category

• Must be able to perform the essential job functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation

QUALIFICATIONS Minimum

• Bachelors Degree in business or 2 years of retail store managerial experience or a combination of relevant education and experience

• Strong accuracy/attention to detail

• Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize tasks/projects

• Ability to function in a fast paced, retail/office environment

• Familiarity with retail industry technical terms and processes

• Proficient Microsoft Office skills

• Completed development plan for both assistant buyer and assistant planner

Desired

• Proficient with Microsoft Office, Magic

• Retail store managerial experience