Buyer Assistant Merchandising - Kay (Hybrid-Akron, OH)

Signet Jewelers Limited; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Signet Jewelers Limited is seeking an Assistant Buyer to assist the Buyer with sourcing, pricing, assortment development, and forecasting for our jewelry category. You will collaborate with planners and inventory analysts to manage inventory levels and drive sales through informed product decisions.

In this role, you will participate in vendor meetings, analyze sales trends, and contribute to open-to-buy planning while supporting cross-functional teams in executing merchandising strategies

Qualifications

• Experience supporting buyers in apparel/jewelry or retail merchandising.
• Strong analytical skills and data interpretation for assortment decisions.
• Collaboration with Buyers, Planners, and Inventory Analysts to optimize inventory and sales.

Responsibilities

• Assist Buyer on all merchandising aspects, including product sourcing and pricing.
• Develop understanding of jewelry category and merchandising concepts.
• Monitor forecasted sales quantities and open-to-buy parameters with the Inventory Analyst.
• Coordinate with Vendors on product qualities, costs, terms, and delivery timelines.
• Participate in competitive shops and assortment reviews to grow sales.

Skills

Merchandise planning

Vendor management

Forecasting

Open-to-buy

Merchandise assortment

Job description

Signet Jewelers is the world's largest retailer of diamond jewelry, operating more than 2,800 stores worldwide under the iconic brands: Kay Jewelers, Zales, Jared, H.Samuel, Ernest Jones, Peoples, Banter by Piercing Pagoda, Rocksbox, JamesAllen.com and Diamonds Direct. We are a people-first company and this core value is at the heart of everything we do, from empowering our valued team members, to collaborating with our customers, to fostering the communities in which we live and serve. People – and the love their actions inspire – are what drive us. We’re not only proud of the love we inspire outside our walls, we’re especially proud of the diversity, inclusion and equity we’re inspiring inside.

There are dynamic career paths awaiting you – rewarding opportunities to impact the lives of others and inspire love. Join us!

The primary responsibility of the Assistant Buyer is to assist their Buyer on all aspects of the job or step in as needed to help with Merchandise Coordinator/Detail Assistant duties. They are responsible for sourcing and developing product, pricing product, determining assortment groups, forecasting order quantities, and participating in competitive shops. Weekly reporting and departmental reports.

Product Development

• Develop understanding/knowledge base of the Jewelry Category
• Work with the Buyer to learn the elements of merchandising as it applies to their position.
• Overall understanding and maintenance of their merchandise category, in conjunction with the Buyer
• Identify sales trends, develop new product designs for testing and assortment opportunities
• Attend vendor meetings and actively participate in selection and review of product. Be the point person for meeting notes and follow-up.
• Instrumental in determining various marketing vehicles, SKU selection, new merchandise programs, sales trends, and assortments which lead to sales growth and overall productivity in their area.
• Be jointly accountable for the success of their specific merchandise category with regards to sales, inventory levels & gross margin goals, which are established by Management.
• Participate in on-going Competitive Shopping from an omni-channel lens. Review our assortments as well as competitor to ascertain opportunities and advantages.
• Ability to adjust quickly to changing market trends, conditions, priorities, and corporate strategies.

Assortment / Inventory Management

• Setup sku’s, descriptions, retails and packaging attributes.
• Assist Buyer with Assortment Development - Work with Planners and Inventory Analysts to set program parameters (i.e. product attributes, assortment size, targeted inventory and turn levels, open-to-buy requirements)
• Monitor and help develop forecasted sales quantities for marketing items and new programs in conjunction with the Inventory Analyst and Buyer
• Communicate and manage with vendors re: product qualities, costs, terms/ownership, delivery dates, return of merchandise requests.
• Establish retail prices in line with margin requirements
• Responsible for updating departmental category assortment sheets, reporting, and analysis

Collaboration

• Proofing of all advertising materials to ensure accuracy including catalogs, emails, web site, customer mailings, and in store signage.
• Merchandise items for all marketing channels, which are innovative and competitive within the marketplace.
• Attend open-to-buy meetings and provide merchandise status updates as needed
• Complete and submit Project Request Forms and develop store communications.
• Work in collaboration with Visual Merchandising team for in-store presentations (planograms).