Assistant Buyer – Home

Jobtailor; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in Philadelphia is seeking a product and assortment planner to support the UO Home Buying team. You will study fashion trends, determine market and private-label assortments, and use data-backed insights to drive growth and profitability.

The role requires understanding of customer targets, strong attention to detail, and ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams. Island Pacific software expertise is a key asset, with priority on timely, accurate ordering and analysis.

Qualifications

• Fashion or merchandising degree or equivalent experience.
• 1 year clerical or retail experience preferred.
• Understanding of target customer and ability to select products/trends.
• Familiar with statistical metrics such as IMU%, MD%, GM%, selloff, WOS, and OTB.
• Strong communication and time-management skills.
• Ability to use Island Pacific software for order accuracy and analyses.

Responsibilities

• Support the UO Home Buying team by planning product purchases and studying fashion trends.
• Help determine market and private-label product assortments using data-backed insights.
• Use customer feedback and market trends to support growth and profitability.
• Tailor product assortments to regional and demographic differences.
• Monitor fashion shows, industry publications, and social media for emerging trends.
• Manage department samples, including obtaining, organizing, documenting, and returning vendor samples.
• Maintain the sample area and photo logs.
• Oversee weekly handover of new products to merchandising and photography teams.
• Update and maintain assortment sheets for buying and planning teams.
• Build relationships with peers, team members, vendors, and cross-functional teams.
• Attend cross-functional meetings.
• Partner with the Buying Operations Coordinator to ensure orders arrive on time and within budget.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Retail planning

Data analysis

Communication skills

Time management

Attention to detail

Education

Fashion or Merchandising Degree

Tools

Island Pacific Software

Job description

• Support the UO Home Buying team by planning product purchases and studying fashion trends
• Help determine market and private-label product assortments using data-backed insights
• Use customer feedback and market trends to support growth and profitability
• Tailor product assortments to regional and demographic differences
• Monitor fashion shows, industry publications, and social media for emerging trends
• Manage department samples, including obtaining, organizing, documenting, and returning vendor samples
• Maintain the sample area and photo logs
• Oversee weekly handover of new products to merchandising and photography teams
• Update and maintain assortment sheets for buying and planning teams
• Use Island Pacific software to maintain order accuracy and perform style, item-performance, and key-item-flow analyses
• Build relationships with peers, team members, vendors, and cross-functional teams
• Attend cross-functional meetings
• Partner with the Buying Operations Coordinator to ensure orders arrive on time and within budget
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Fashion or merchandising degree or equivalent experience desired
• 1 year of experience in a clerical or retail role preferred
• Understanding of the target customer and ability to select appropriate products and trends
• Comfort with statistical business metrics, including IMU%, MD%, GM%, selloff, WOS, and OTB
• Positive, professional, and timely communication with teams, supporting departments, vendors, and suppliers
• Ability to plan and control time efficiently to deliver priorities and meet deadlines
• Strong attention to detail
• Accountability for work outcomes and decisions
• Commitment to workplace diversity and inclusion
• Ability to use Island Pacific software for order accuracy and basic analyses

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in product assortment planning and market analysis, utilizing data-backed insights to drive growth and profitability. Proficient in using Island Pacific software for order accuracy and performance analysis while maintaining strong relationships with cross-functional teams.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Product Assortment Planning
• Data Analysis
• Island Pacific Software
• Fashion Trend Monitoring
• Communication Skills

Hard Skills

• Statistical Business Metrics
• Order Accuracy
• Style Analysis
• Item-Performance Analysis
• Key-Item-Flow Analysis

Soft Skills

• Attention to Detail
• Time Management
• Professional Communication
• Accountability
• Commitment to Diversity

Certifications & Qualifications

• Fashion or Merchandising Degree

Industry Keywords

• Market Trends
• Private-Label Products
• Customer Feedback
• Fashion Shows
• Cross-Functional Collaboration

Tools & Technologies

• Island Pacific Software