Associate Buyer

Spencer's; Egg Harbor Township (NJ); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work environment

Career advancement

Competitive base salary

Bonus opportunity

Vacation, Personal, Sick and Holiday pay

Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Life and AD&D insurance

401k with a company match

30% merchandise discount

Job summary

A leading retailer specializing in fun and costumes seeks an Associate Buyer in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. This role involves managing purchasing and inventory, driving sales through collaboration with teams, and analyzing sales performance. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree and over 5 years of relevant experience. The ideal candidate will develop strategic initiatives, communicate effectively, and partner with cross-functional teams. Compensation includes a competitive salary from $70,000 to $80,000, along with a comprehensive benefits package including a flexible work environment and health insurance.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proven ability to develop and implement strategies that drive business growth.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication abilities.
• Ability to work independently while also thriving in collaborative environments.
• Strong aptitude for partnering with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage purchasing and inventory for specific departments.
• Curate assortments and analyze sales performance.
• Guide and train Assistant Buyers.

Skills

Business growth strategies

Communication skills

Collaborative teamwork

Project initiation

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Overview

We are authentic, professional providers of fun, focused on building a Great Place To Work For All by staying true to our mission: “Life’s a Party, We’re Makin’ It Fun!” and “So Much Fun It’s Scary!” At Spencer’s and Spirit, we do the right thing always—integrity, fairness, respect, and transparency are our foundation. You will find our culture to be inclusive, passionate, resilient, and one that values differences and embraces all.

One Team / One Goal We are leaders and owners of our business success. Whether it’s developing new and exclusive costumes, quality testing products, or implementing technology solutions, our teams understand the value of working collaboratively to embrace change through innovation, curiosity, and thoughtfulness.

We Offer a Comprehensive Benefits Package That Includes

• Flexible work environment
• Career advancement
• Competitive base salary
• Bonus opportunity
• Vacation, Personal, Sick and Holiday pay
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Life and AD&D insurance
• 401k with a company match
• 30% merchandise discount

Responsibilities

The Associate Buyer manages purchasing and inventory for specific departments, driving sales and profitability through collaboration with internal teams and external partners. They assist in curating assortments, ensuring timely deliveries, and analyzing sales performance. The role also involves identifying new products and trends through research and competitive shopping. Additionally, the Associate Buyer helps guide and train Assistant Buyers and Senior Assistant Buyers.

• Responsible for building, creating & managing merchandise assortments that align with market and consumer trends, to be presented to the Buyer. Assortment creation includes selecting and developing merchandise by considering quality, sourcing, timing, delivery, mix, and price
• Analyze weekly sales and item performance to find opportunities and strategies to drive sales and margin
• Prepare merchandise and reports for weekly team meetings
• Manage entire product lifecycle from creation, tracking of the purchase orders, samples, merchandising in store, to markdowns and discards
• Responsible for making purchasing decisions independently that satisfy the customer demand and achieve sales, turn and margin plan
• Travel to store locations to review product mix, gather feedback, and share information with the merchant team
• Attend trade shows and travel to vendor locations to grow and maintain professional relationships with external partners, as well as gain insight on new trends and opportunities
• Maintain and grow professional relationships with external suppliers and internal partners via telephone, email, and face-to-face meetings
• Partner with leadership and planning counterparts to manage the OTB and to identify opportunities in style count, sales goals, and inventory flow
• Manage markdowns and promotion strategies

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (B. A.) from four-year college or university; and 5+ years experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Proven ability to develop and implement strategies that drive business growth
• Exceptional written and verbal communication abilities, facilitating clear and effective dialogue with stakeholders
• Ability to work independently while also thriving in collaborative environments, taking initiative to drive projects forward
• Strong aptitude for partnering with cross-functional teams to achieve shared goals and enhance organizational effectiveness
• Skilled in developing, planning, presenting, and executing strategic initiatives that align with business objectives

The pay range reflects the potential base salary range for this role. Individual base pay is determined by various factors such as relevant experience and skills, and the scope and responsibilities of the position.

Pay Range

$70,000 - $80,000