Associate Buyer Toys and Plush

Cracker Barrel; Lebanon (Lebanon County); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Annual bonus

Benefits on day 1

Life Insurance and Disability Coverage

Paid Vacation

Tuition Reimbursement

Professional Development

401k with company match

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Cracker Barrel discounts

Job summary

Cracker Barrel is seeking a Merchandising professional to own defined product categories, drive assortment strategy, and partner with vendors to optimize performance across store and digital channels.

You will develop seasonal plans, balance guest value with storytelling, and manage inventory to hit margin and turnover targets while collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Merchandising, Marketing, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in retail buying, merchandising, or related functions.
• Experience owning or significantly influencing a product category or assortment.
• Experience with assortment planning and forecasting tools.
• Experience in multi-channel retail (store + e-commerce).
• Experience working directly with vendors on product development or sourcing.

Responsibilities

• Own a defined product category or subcategory with strategy, vendor matrix, and financials.
• Develop seasonal/annual assortment plans aligned to customer needs and goals.
• Champion guest perspective in assortment decisions delivering value and storytelling.
• Identify opportunities through trend analysis and sales insights.
• Lead ideation and development translating insights into differentiated assortments.
• Co-manage OTB, receipts, and inventory to meet sales and margin targets.
• Monitor performance and adjust strategy based on trends.
• Drive data-informed decisions on reorders, markdowns, and exits.
• Own vendor relationships and cost optimization opportunities.
• Collaborate with Planning, Allocation, Marketing, Visual Merchandising, and Store Ops.

Skills

Analytical skills

Retail math

Decision making

Vendor management

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Merchandising, Marketing, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Forecasting tools

Job description

They say you are the company you keep - and at Cracker Barrel, we take that seriously. At the Store Support Center, we’re in the business of serving those who serve our guests. Whether you’re designing solutions, telling our story, or setting our teams up for success, your work makes a difference every single day. Here, the work means more because we take pride in doing it together. So, join our team and find your place, because here…we’re all in good company.

What You’ll Do - You’ll Make the Moment

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Category Ownership & Strategy

• Own a defined product category or subcategory, including assortment strategy, vendor matrix, and financial performance
• Develop and execute seasonal and annual assortment plans aligned to customer needs, brand positioning, and business goals
• Champion the guest perspective in all assortment decisions, ensuring products deliver on value, storytelling, and in-store experience

Product Development & Assortment Curation

• Identify product opportunities through trend analysis, competitive shopping, and sales insights
• Lead product ideation and development, translating trends and customer insights into compelling, differentiated assortments
• Curate assortments across newness, core replenishment, and SKU rationalization to maximize productivity and growth
• Build assortments optimized for both store and digital channels, incorporating customer behavior and purchase patterns

Financial Ownership & Inventory Management

• Co-own OTB, receipt flow, and inventory investment decisions with Planning to deliver on sales, margin, and turn targets
• Apply retail math and analytical insights to balance growth, profitability, and inventory productivity
• Monitor category performance and proactively adjust strategy based on business trends

In-Season Business Management

• Drive rapid, data-informed decisions on reorders, markdowns, consolidations, and product exits to optimize financial outcomes
• Manage end-of-life strategies, including markdown optimization and SKU rationalization
• Continuously evaluate top vs. bottom performing SKUs and take decisive action to improve productivity

Vendor Strategy & Management

• Own vendor relationships for assigned categories, including sourcing, negotiations, cost management, and performance reviews
• Build and evolve the vendor matrix to ensure the right mix of strategic partners and productivity drivers
• Partner with vendors on innovation, product development, and cost optimization opportunities

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Collaborate closely with Planning, Allocation, Marketing, Visual Merchandising, and Store Operations to bring assortments to market effectively
• Present category strategies, performance insights, and recommendations to leadership
• Influence cross-functional decisions through strong communication and business insight

Preferred Experience and Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Merchandising, Marketing, or related field
• 3+ years of experience in retail buying, merchandising, or related functions
• Experience owning or significantly influencing a product category or assortment
• Experience with assortment planning and forecasting tools
• Experience in multi-channel retail (store + e-commerce)
• Experience working directly with vendors on product development or sourcing

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales, inventory, and financial data
• Solid understanding of retail math, margins, and inventory management principles
• Demonstrated ability to own or influence a category, assortment decisions, or key business outcomes
• Strong product judgment with a balance of trend awareness, customer insight, and commercial instincts
• Ability to make decisions by combining data, intuition, and brand perspective
• Excellent negotiation and vendor management skills
• Strong communication and cross-functional leadership capabilities
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and retail/merchandising systems
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, high-accountability environment
• High attention to detail and strong organizational skills

Focus on You

We’re all about making sure you’re taken care of too. Here’s what’s in it for you:

• Good Work Deserves Good Pay: Competitive Annual Salary | Annual Bonus Opportunities

• Support That Goes Beyond the Clock: Medical, Rx, Dental and Vision Benefits on Day 1| Life Insurance and Disability Coverage | Paid Vacation/Employee Assistance Program

• Grow and Thrive Your Way: Business Resource Groups | Tuition Reimbursement | Professional Development

• Culture of Belonging: Support that starts on day one | Onboarding, training, and development to help you thrive | Recognition programs and employee events that bring us together

• Invest in Your Future: 401k Plan with Company Matching Contributions at 90 days | Employee Stock Purchase Program

• More Perks, Just Because: 35% Discount on Cracker Barrel Food and Retail items | Exclusive Biscuit Perks like discounts on home, travel, cell phones, and more!

A Little About Us

Since 1969, Cracker Barrel has been a place to gather around delicious food, abundant servings, unexpected finds, and a warm welcome. Over time, it’s become even more - somewhere folks can reconnect and feel at home. With more than 70,000 team members nationwide, we take pride in our roots – always serving up more than a meal.

Cracker Barrel is an equal opportunity employer.

Qualified applicants are considered for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, national origin, age, marital status, medical condition, disability or any other class expressly protected by law.