Associate Buyer - Product Procurement & Purchasing

Acme Tools; Grand Forks (ND); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO

Paid holidays

Medical Insurance

401K matching

Employee discounts

Job summary

Acme Tools is seeking an Associate Buyer to support purchasing and merchandising across retail locations and online. You will negotiate, analyze trends, and manage product lines, ensuring product turnover and inventory accuracy while maintaining strong supplier relationships.

In this role, you will learn Acme Tools' purchasing policies, assist Buyers with merchandising programs, and contribute to pricing research and vendor negotiations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in business, supply chain, or related field.
• Prior purchasing and inventory control experience preferred in a retail setting.
• Strong organization, presentation, and written communication skills.
• Excellent relationship-building abilities and professional demeanor.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Office tools.
• Ability to prepare reports and business correspondence with accuracy.
• Knowledge of margins, discounts, turns, and inventory metrics.
• Self-motivated, autonomous, and collaborative in a team.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate and analyze industry trends; plan and purchase resale goods for stores and online.
• Manage assigned product lines, ensure turnover targets, control inventory, and rebuy where needed.
• Assist Buyers with existing programs and follow purchasing policies.
• Review supplier pricing and terms; maintain supplier relationships and issue resolution.
• Monitor and improve cycle service levels and dead stock movement.
• Coordinate with Buyers on price changes and product changes; ensure online listings accuracy.
• Support planogram development and promotional events with Marketing/eCommerce.
• Build purchasing knowledge and skills for career growth in Purchasing.

Skills

Purchasing

Inventory management

Vendor relationships

Communication

Excel

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business/Supply Chain or related field

Tools

ERP software

Vendor management software

Job description

Are you a detail-oriented professional with strong analytical skills? Do you enjoy negotiating, tracking market trends, and working collaboratively with vendors and team members? If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, have a keen eye for inventory management, and are motivated to learn and grow within a purchasing team, do your best work with Acme Tools as an Associate Buyer!

About Acme Tools:

Founded in 1948 as Acme Electric Motor, Acme Tools remains a family-owned business with locations throughout North Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa. In 1999, Tool Crib of the North, Acme's catalog and internet division, was acquired by Amazon.com. Since rebranding as Acme Tools, we have established ourselves as one of the premier online retailers of tools and equipment in the United States. We are proud to foster a culture that is employee-focused, involved in our community, and committed to growth.

Why Work at Acme Tools?

At Acme Tools, we believe in rewarding our team for their hard work and dedication. In this role, you'll enjoy a competitive salary along with a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Work-Life Balance
• Professional Development Training
• Annual Performance-based Increase Opportunities
• Generous PTO plan that begins accruing on your first day
• 6 Paid Holidays
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance options
• Traditional and Roth 401K plans with company matching
• 100% company-paid Group Life Insurance
• 100% company-paid Short and Long-term Disability Coverage
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Accident, AD&D, Cancer, and Critical Illness supplemental insurance options
• Maternity Leave (partially paid through short-term disability)
• Community Involvement Opportunities
• Employee Discounts
• A Supportive and Collaborative Work Environment where your contributions matter

Your Role as an Associate Buyer

The Associate Buyer plays a key role in supporting Acme Tools' purchasing and merchandising operations. Responsibilities include:

• Negotiating, analyzing industry trends, and planning and purchasing goods for resale at Acme Tools retail locations and online
• Effectively managing assigned product lines, ensuring products turn at acceptable levels, administering inventory control, and re-buying products appropriately
• Assisting Buyers with existing merchandise programs
• Learning and following Acme Tools' purchasing policies, including how to maintain a good relationship with suppliers and vendor representatives
• Reviewing, evaluating, and purchasing special and non-stock orders
• Advising Buyers of any issues with a vendor or customer, working with Buyers to adjust or solve problems with suppliers, and reviewing supplier invoices for proper pricing and terms
• Maintaining and/or improving cycle service levels established by your manager
• Assisting in reviewing and moving dead stock
• Obtaining current price sheets or product catalogs and distributing them to the proper personnel
• Assisting as needed with research and analysis to determine retail pricing
• Utilizing and reviewing all reports developed and printed for inventory control management and purchasing
• Completing vendor information forms and updating vendor information into the ordering system
• Coordinating with Buyers on price or cost changes and suggesting product changes
• Following up on products listed online, including checking vendor websites to ensure accuracy of Acme Tools' listings
• Making decisions about warehouse over/under shipments
• Assisting store sales associates
• Assisting in planogram development
• Obtaining product information from vendors (products, item discontinues, promotions, quantity discounts, etc.)
• Securing promotional events and improving effectiveness and engagement at events by working with Marketing and eCommerce on the promotional opportunities of products
• Building purchasing knowledge, experience, and skill set in order to continue to grow your career in the Purchasing department
• Performing other related duties as assigned

What We're Looking For:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or related field, OR equivalent experience
• Prior experience working with purchasing and inventory control practices (retail purchasing experience preferred)
• Proven organization, presentation, and verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent relationship-building abilities
• Strong technology skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel
• Ability to write reports and business correspondence
• Knowledge of calculating figures and amounts such as profit margins, discounts, interest, inventory turns, and percentages
• Energetic self-starter with the ability to work autonomously, as well as a part of a team environment
• High level of confidentiality and professionalism

Love-to-Haves:

• Strong knowledge of retail sales and eCommerce industries
• Tool and Equipment knowledge
• 2+ years of prior experience working with purchasing and inventory control practices

Small Town Friendliness. Big City Amenities. Find out why living in Grand Forks is way cooler than you think at www.grandforksiscooler.com

Acme Tools is an equal opportunity employer.

*Employment offers are contingent on results from a pre-employment drug screen and background check. Qualified candidates must reside in or plan to relocate to Grand Forks, ND.