Assistant Buyer, Custom Apparel - San Diego SSC

Event Network, LLC; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 41,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and Wellness Benefits

401(k) Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Nine Paid Holidays

Profit Sharing Bonus Plan

Employee Discounts

Job summary

Event Network, LLC is seeking an Assistant Buyer in San Diego to help bring merchandising strategies to life across our locations. You will support product assortment planning, vendor coordination, and daily execution of compelling ranges that drive guest engagement and sales.

The role emphasizes business analysis, recommendations, and timely delivery of assortments while maintaining strong product knowledge and cross-functional collaboration with Buyers and store teams.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in retail merchandising.
• Passion for product and strong understanding of guest demographics, retail environments, and assortment planning.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret business performance data and recommend actions.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, including prioritizing work and meeting deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Strong communication, relationship building, and interpersonal skills.
• Resourceful, proactive, adaptable and able to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Reliable, detail-oriented and collaborative team player who follows through.

Responsibilities

• Support the Buyer with assortment planning, product selection, buying activities, and financial performance management for assigned categories.
• Help execute assortment plans aligned with guest needs, partner identity, category direction, sales goals, SKU targets, inventory objectives, and cogs targets.
• Maintain strong product knowledge and guest demographics understanding to support relevant assortments.
• Assist with order placement, item setup, vendor follow-up, product information, and other activities needed to execute assortments accurately and on time.
• Regularly analyze sales, per cap, SKU count, inventory, margin, cost of goods, and other business performance metrics.
• Identify business opportunities and provide actionable recommendations to the Buyer.
• Help monitor inventory health and product performance by store, department, and category, escalating concerns as needed.
• Coordinate vendor communication and follow-up to ensure product, order, pricing, delivery and assortment needs are addressed.

Skills

Retail merchandising

Analytical skills

Organization & project management

Communication & interpersonal skills

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Outlook

Job description

YOUR FUTURE BEGINS AT THIS PREMIER DESTINATION

At Event Network, we believe the experience matters. As the leading operator of retail experiences at some of the most iconic and inspiring destinations across the United States, we infuse passion, creativity, and purpose into everything we do. Our team is dedicated to providing engaging and memorable retail environments that enhance the guest experience, while reflecting the unique mission and values of each location we serve.

The Opportunity

Event Network creates retail experiences inside some of the country's most memorable cultural, educational, and entertainment destinations. As an Assistant Buyer, you will help bring merchandising strategies to life by supporting product assortment planning, vendor communication, inventory allocation, and the day-to-day execution of compelling assortments across our locations.

This role is ideal for a curious, organized, and commercially minded individual who is passionate about product and understands the importance of delivering the right assortment to the right guest at the right time. You will support the Buyer with business analysis, product execution, vendor follow-up, and actionable recommendations that help drive sales, per cap, margin, SKU productivity, and inventory health

The Custom Apparel Assistant Buyer supports the assortment planning, product selection, vendor coordination, and financial KPI management to deliver compelling, commercially successful assortments. This role analyzes business performance, identifies opportunities, and partners cross-functionally to ensure accurate, timely execution in a dynamic retail environment.

CURIOSITY

Learn the guest, product, and business. Ask questions, build category knowledge, and stay open to new ideas that strengthen your merchant perspective.

GENEROSITY

Be a dependable partner to Buyers, vendors, and cross-functional teams. Communicate clearly, share information freely, and help keep work moving forward.

CREATIVITY

Bring energy and fresh thinking to product, problem-solving, and assortment execution. Look for practical ways to improve details and support the team’s goals.

Merchant Mandate

Support the Buyer in executing product vision, assortment plans, and inventory strategies across assigned categories. Use business analysis, strong organization, and proactive follow-up to ensure accurate orders and timely delivery to stores.

Core Responsibilities

Support Assortment Planning and Buying

• Support the Buyer with assortment planning, product selection, buying activities, and financial performance management for assigned categories.
• Help execute assortment plans aligned with guest needs, partner identity, category direction, sales goals, SKU targets, inventory objectives, and cogs of goods sold targets.
• Maintain strong product knowledge and an understanding of guest demographics to support relevant and compelling assortments.
• Assist with order placement, item setup, vendor follow-up, product information, and other activities needed to execute assortments accurately and on time.

Analyze Performance and Drive Recommendations

• Regularly analyze sales, per cap, SKU count, inventory, margin, cost of goods, and other business performance metrics.
• Identify business successes, risks, and opportunities and provide actionable recommendations to the Buyer.
• Help the business achieve assortment and inventory targets while improving revenue, margin, and productivity.
• Help monitor inventory health and product performance by store, department, and category, escalating concerns and opportunities as they arise.

Coordinate Vendor and Cross-Functional Execution

• Support vendor communication and follow-up to ensure product, order, pricing, delivery and assortment needs are addressed.
• Work closely with DMMs, SMMs, GMMs, the Creative Center of Excellence, Planning, Purchasing Operations, and store teams to coordinate priorities and support timely product delivery.
• Foster productive relationships with internal partners and vendors through clear communication, responsiveness, and dependable follow-through.
• Partner with the Merchandise Coordinator to provide direction and help resolve item setup, purchase order, invoicing, and other operational challenges.

Ensure Accuracy and Timely Follow-Through

• Organize and prioritize multiple projects, deadlines, product details, and follow-up activities in a fluid retail environment.
• Product accurate, efficient, and timely work across assortment planning, reporting, purchase orders, vendor communication, and business analysis.

Skills And Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in retail merchandising.
• Passion for product and a strong understanding of guest demographics, retail environments, and assortment planning.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret business performance data and recommend actions.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, including the ability to prioritize work, manage deadlines, and track multiple details simultaneously.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Strong communication, relationship building, and interpersonal skills.
• Resourceful, proactive, adaptable, and comfortable working in a fast-paced, fluid environment.
• Reliable, detail-oriented, and committed to producing accurate and efficient work.
• Collaborative team player who takes ownership, learns quickly, and follows through.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described below are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of the role. Reasonable accommodations may be made as appropriate

The role involves frequent sitting, standing, walking, and handling of products or samples; occasional reaching, stooping, kneeling, crouching, lifting, and moving of merchandise samples and materials; and travel as needed to stores, markets, trade shows, and vendors, and product development.

Pay range:

$30-31/hour

Employee Benefits

• Health and Wellness Benefits: Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance; Basic Life and AD&D Insurance; Long-Term Disability; plus Voluntary Benefits options 100% paid by employee: Voluntary Life and AD&D Insurance, Short-Term Disability (for employees outside of CA, NY, NJ, HI, RI, Puerto Rico), Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, and Pet insurance.
• Retirement and Savings: 401(k) Retirement Plan; Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Paid Time Off: Vacation Accrual; Sick Leave
• Nine Paid Holidays.
• Profit Sharing Bonus Plan
• Employee Discounts: 25% discount to shop at our stores; and a separate discount program with exclusive savings on a variety of brand-name products, services, travel, entertainment, tickets, and more.

Event Network celebrates diversity and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We’re committed to creating an inclusive environment for all Team Members.