Associate Buyer 5

Books A Million; Birmingham (AL); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Health insurance

PTO & Holidays

Employee discounts

401(k) plan

Job summary

Books-A-Million, headquartered in Birmingham, AL, seeks an Associate Buyer to own Gift categories, manage assortments, vendor relations, and SKU life cycles. The role is based at the Birmingham corporate office with a hybrid work setup.

You will lead negotiations, open-to-buy decisions, and markdown strategies to optimize sales, margin, and inventory across brands and channels.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent plus 2–5 years buying/planning/merchandising experience.
• Strong financial, strategic, planning, merchandising, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Retail math proficiency and ability to apply financial concepts to drive sales.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage assigned Gift categories from assortment planning to SKU lifecycle and markdown management.
• Develop assortments, negotiate with vendors, and manage open-to-buy and promotions.
• Prepare planograms and in-store presentations to drive sales and fixture productivity.

Skills

Merchandising

Vendor negotiation

Open-to-buy

Excel

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Excel

Job description

US:AL:Birmingham | Corporate | ACTIVE FULL TIME

Description

Job Description

About the Job

Books-A-Million, America's hometown bookstore since 1917, is headquartered in Birmingham, AL, and is home to a family of brands including Books-A-Million, 2nd & Charles, Joe Muggs, and Yogurt Mountain. We're seeking an experienced and motivated Associate Buyer to join our Merchandising team supporting our Gift business. This hybrid role is based at our Birmingham, AL corporate office and is ideal for a professional with 2-5 years of buying, planning, or merchandising experience who is ready to own categories. You'll take ownership of assigned categories, vendor relationships, and results, while working alongside an experienced buying team.

Role Summary

The Associate Buyer owns the buying for assigned Gift categories, from assortment planning and vendor negotiation to SKU lifecycle, open-to-buy, and markdown management. Working closely with their assigned Buyer or Senior Buyer, as well as outside vendors, the distribution center, stores, and internal marketing teams, the Associate Buyer drives sales, margin, and inventory results for their categories. Assigned categories may change as the Gift business evolves. This role thrives in a fast-paced, detail-oriented, and collaborative environment and is ideal for a self-starting, flexible, organized, and results-oriented team member who is eager to take on more.

Role Responsibilities

Management of Assigned Categories

• Execute and achieve assigned category sales, gross margin, and inventory goals.
• Develop merchandise assortments and strategies that support company and departmental goals while ensuring customer needs and satisfaction are met.
• Manage all aspects of the merchandise offering, including selection, mix, brand, pricing, promotion, negotiation, and disposition.
• Create, manage, and track purchase orders, including order entry.
• Complete item creation and SKU management, maintaining data accuracy and integrity.
• Manage the full life cycle of SKUs, from item creation through markdown and exit.
• Deliver accurate sales forecasts and projections by evaluating financial information and tracking current trends. Anticipate market changes and build a buying plan to reach sales and margin goals.
• Manage open-to-buy to stay on plan and support buying decisions.
• Plan and execute markdowns to protect margin and keep inventory fresh.
• Create planograms and in-store presentations that drive sales and fixture productivity.
• Conduct competitive and product category analyses to identify new licenses, brands, and proprietary opportunities that expand selection across categories.
• Prepare for and present product and merchandise analysis at assortment and business review meetings.
• Plan promotional events and execution, ensuring accuracy on details such as pricing and marketing signage.
• Learn the vendor base and take ownership of vendor relationships for assigned categories.
• Develop and maintain collaborative vendor relationships to ensure merchandise availability, including exclusives, and timely delivery.
• Lead vendor and marketing negotiations, including costs, terms, and promotional support, and resolve problems quickly.
• Manage vendor performance to maximize profitability and achieve financial objectives, including cooperative marketing, incentive, and partnership plans.

Division & Cross-Functional Projects

• Collaborate with the Merchandising group, Marketing and Graphic Design team, and vendors on proprietary product sourcing, development, and presentation.
• Provide guidance and support to the Merchandise Planning group on merchandise flow, key items, and store groupings.
• Work with the Merchandising Operations group to deliver merchandising strategy and directives in stores.
• Guide Omnichannel on key themes and initiatives in assigned categories to maximize online sales.
• Visit stores to evaluate merchandise mix, observe competition, and weigh individual store needs, and translate findings into executable product plans.
• Attend relevant trade shows, vendor meetings, and markets to observe trends, gather product information, select merchandise, and build business relationships with vendors.
• Drive compliance with company processes, policies, and tools within your area.
• Other duties as assigned by the Buyer, Senior Buyer, Divisional Merchandise Manager, or Vice President.

Role Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 2-5 years of related buying experience with progression in buying volume and financial responsibility, or 2-5 years with a mix of buying and planning responsibilities
• Strong financial, strategic, planning, merchandising, negotiation, and relationship-building skills
• High degree of retail math proficiency and the ability to apply financial concepts to daily operations to drive sales
• Forward thinking, with the ability to analyze data, set goals, and make decisions in a timely manner
• Self-driven and achievement oriented, consistently delivering results with productivity, effectiveness, and determination
• Strong working knowledge of merchant processes and systems
• Adaptable and analytical, staying positive in the face of challenges and calm under pressure; a settling influence with co-workers and stores
• Comfortable taking calculated risks and working through change
• Proficient in desktop applications and Windows-based programs, including Microsoft Excel

Preferred Qualifications:

• Passion for the gift industry; knowledge of and interest in popular culture and online trends, with a strong sense of style and a keen eye for developing trends
• Experience in gifts, toys, collectibles, or pop culture categories
• Experience creating planograms or in-store presentations
• Experience managing open-to-buy and markdowns

Work Environment & Expectations

• This hybrid position is based at our Birmingham, AL corporate office: 4 days in office and 1 day remote, with Monday in office preferred.
• Occasional travel to trade shows, vendor meetings, new stores, and store visits, depending on area assigned.
• PTO blackout days may apply during the peak holiday season.
• Company laptop provided; reliable home internet required for remote work days.

The Perks

At Books-A-Million, we believe in taking care of our employees. As part of the team, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Competitive Compensation: We offer competitive pay and performance-based incentives.
• Health & Wellness: Medical, dental, and vision insurance to keep you healthy.
• Paid Time Off (PTO): Enjoy generous PTO and paid holidays.
• Employee Discounts: Get discounts on books and other products across our stores.
• Retirement Savings: Build your future with our 401(k) plan and company contributions.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

Books-A-Million is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming workplace. We celebrate and embrace differences, and we strive to create an environment where every individual feels valued and empowered. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their background or personal characteristics. We are dedicated to creating a culture of respect, equity, and opportunity for all employees, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply.