Associate Buyer

The Paper Store, Inc.; Acton (MA); Sur place; USD 60 000 - 85 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

The Paper Store, Inc. in Acton, MA is seeking an Associate Buyer, Fashion & Accessories to help shape our category strategy and product assortment. You will analyze sales, margin, and inventory data, collaborate with the Buyer, and negotiate with vendors to grow profitability.

Ideal candidates have 3–5 years of progressive retail buying experience in Fashion or Handbags, strong Excel skills, and a keen eye for trends. This on-site role supports fast-paced, high-SKU retail operations.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of progressive retail buying experience in Fashion/Accessories/Handbags
• Experience in fast-paced, high-SKU environments
• Strong retail math: sales, margin, inventory, sell-through, markdowns
• Proficient with Excel and detailed reporting
• Strong negotiation and vendor management experience
• Onsite work 4+ days/week in Acton, MA

Responsabilités

• Drive category and assortment strategy for Fashion & Accessories
• Analyze sales, margin, inventory and performance weekly to quarterly
• Negotiate with vendors and manage vendor relationships
• Partner with cross-functional teams (Design, Planning, E-Commerce, Marketing)
• Manage purchase orders, allocations, replenishment, and inventory flow
• Own buying operations and product flow

Connaissances

Retail buying experience

Analytical skills

Microsoft Excel

Communication skills

Vendor negotiations

Organizational skills

Team collaboration

Outils

Microsoft Office Suite

Description du poste

TPS Group Holdings, a family of brands including The Paper Store and Uncharted, is all about transforming daily routines into joyful escapes that inspire and surprise. Our mission is to connect with every customer through carefully chosen products, immersive shopping experiences, and service that goes the extra mile, creating a space that sparks joy with every visit.Position Overview: As an Associate Buyer, Fashion & Accessories, you will manage an assigned portion of the business and play an active role in developing and executing category strategies that drive sales, margin, and profitability. You’ll partner with the Buyer and cross-functional teams to build compelling assortments, analyze performance, identify trends and opportunities, negotiate with vendors, and make recommendations that move the business forward.We’re looking for someone with strong retail buying experience in Fashion, Accessories, Apparel, Handbags, or related categories, ideally within a fast-paced, high-SKU retail environment. You have a strong eye for product, understand the customer and competitive landscape, and know how to use sales, margin, inventory, and trend information to make sound business decisions.What You’ll DoDrive Category & Assortment StrategyManage an assigned subset of the Fashion & Accessories business and support overall category strategyParticipate in assortment planning, pricing, promotional strategies, and product selectionIdentify opportunities to drive sales, margin, and category performanceConduct competitive shopping to understand emerging trends, pricing, promotions, brands, and whitespace opportunitiesPartner with the Buyer to evaluate current performance and influence future assortmentsAnalyze the Business & Drive ResultsAnalyze sales, sell-through, turn, gross margin, markdowns, and inventory on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, and seasonal basisUse performance data to identify opportunities, risks, and recommended actionsMonitor product performance and make recommendations on inventory, pricing, promotions, and future productApply retail math and financial analysis to support category decisionsProvide reporting and insights that help guide business strategyManage Vendors & Product DevelopmentBuild and maintain strong vendor relationshipsNegotiate pricing, terms, and agreements to support sales and profitability goalsPartner with vendors to identify new products and develop opportunities for the assortmentAttend trade shows, market appointments, and vendor meetings to identify trends and newnessPartner with Design and cross-functional teams on product development, patterns, samples, and product executionOwn Buying Operations & Product FlowManage purchase orders, SKU setup, pricing, vendor changes, cancellations, and open-order maintenanceMonitor product availability, shipping, backorders, and delivery statusExecute allocations and replenishment and support the flow of inventory to storesManage transfers, consolidations, recalls, and inventory-related issuesMaintain accurate product, vendor, and purchase-order information in internal systemsEnsure samples, product information, and seasonal materials are accurate and organizedPartner Cross-FunctionallyWork closely with Planning, Allocation, Design, Marketing, E-Commerce, Distribution Center, and store teamsPartner with E-Commerce and Marketing to ensure products are accurately represented onlineSupport merchandise directives, seasonal launches, promotional events, and key initiativesCommunicate product changes, inventory issues, and business opportunities to appropriate partnersDevelop a strong understanding of the customer through store visits, competitive research, and business analysisWho You Are3-5 years of progressive retail buying experience within Fashion, Accessories, Apparel, Handbags, or related retail categories strongly preferredExperience working in a fast-paced, high-SKU retail environmentDemonstrated ability to manage an assigned portion of a category or product assortmentStrong understanding of retail math, including sales, margin, inventory, sell-through, turn, markdowns, and profitabilityExperience working directly with vendors and participating in negotiationsStrong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into business recommendationsStrong product sense with an understanding of fashion trends, customers, and competitive positioningProficient in Microsoft Excel and comfortable working with detailed sales and inventory reportingHighly organized with strong attention to detail and follow-throughStrong written and verbal communication skillsComfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environmentCollaborative and able to build strong relationships across multiple functionsAbility to work onsite 4+ days per week in Acton, MAThe Paper Store is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, veteran status, or any other classification protected by state, local or federal law.Please be aware that any pay ranges displayed on The Paper Store's job postings are to accommodate the wide range of candidate experience, store sales volume and geographyJOB REQUIREMENTS:Must be proficient with Microsoft Office Suite: Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook.Good organizational skills including prioritizing, time management, and meeting deadlines.Strong numerical and analytical aptitude.2-5 years of experience as an assistant buyer in a retail organization.Communication and negotiation skills/experienceAbility to work 4+ days/week at the Corporate Office in Acton, MAProfessional presentation in attire, demeanor, and appearance