Buyer (Checklane)

At Home Stores LLC; Coppell (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

At Home Stores LLC seeks a Buyer (Checklane) to shape category strategy with strong product development, pricing, and customer insights. You will lead cross-functional teams to build a compelling assortment that differentiates the brand and drives engagement and financial results.

The ideal candidate translates insights into strategy, partners with Planning, Sourcing, and GTM teams, and ensures each category has a clear vision and differentiation in the market.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent experience.
• 5-7 years of experience in buying, merchandising, or category management in a retail or consumer-focused organization.
• Strong product sensibility and understanding of pricing, quality, and customer value
• Demonstrated ability to build product assortment and deliver financial results
• Strong analytical, negotiation, and communication skills
• Passionate about the customer, brand storytelling, and product innovation

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional teams including Planning, Sourcing, and Go-to-Market partners.
• Develop and execute customer-focused merchandise strategies and seasonal assortment plans.
• Partner with Planning & Sourcing to build season assortment plans and manage item input & cost confirmations.
• Act as category product expert with deep knowledge of quality, pricing, and brand-appropriate selection.
• Manage merchandise financial plans and open-to-buy to meet sales and margin goals.
• Communicate category strategy to sourcing and build strong vendor relationships.
• Analyze weekly/monthly sales data to identify risks and opportunities and adjust strategies.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Category strategy

Merchandising

Pricing strategy

Negotiation

Analytics

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Equivalent experience

Tools

Open-to-Buy

ERP system

Job description

JOB SUMMARY

The Buyer (Checklane) plays a critical role in shaping and executing the category strategy for a designated department. With a strong understanding of product development, pricing architecture, and customer behavior, the Buyer is responsible for building a compelling, brand-right assortment that drives both financial results and customer engagement. This role requires a blend of creativity, analytical skills, and market insight to deliver innovative product stories that differentiate the brand and meet evolving customer expectations.

The ideal candidate is a well-rounded merchant with a passion for products and a strong ability to translate insights into strategy. They will lead cross-functional teams, including Planning, Sourcing, and Go-to-Market partners, ensuring each category reflects a clear vision, a strong value proposition, and meaningful differentiation in the market.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
  Demonstrates the ability to lead and inspire cross-functional teams, including individuals who do not report directly. Success in this role requires strong influence, collaboration, and communication skills to foster alignment and drive high performance across diverse teams. The ability to build consensus and lead through influence is a crucial competency for an At-Home Buyer.

• Category Strategy & Assortment Planning
  Develop and execute customer-focused merchandise strategies and seasonal assortment plans that support financial objectives and reflect brand values.
• Partner with Planning & Sourcing to build season assortment plans; Planning to own input & management of the tool, with support from Buyer on item intent & retail and sourcing for cost confirmation.
• Product Expertise & Development
  Act as the category product expert, with deep knowledge of quality tiers, construction, pricing, and brand-appropriate product selection. Lead curation of newness and product stories that create customer excitement and drive productivity.
• Business & Financial Management
  Partner with Planning to build merchandise financial plans and by-door assortments. Manage Open to Buy and take decisive action in-season to achieve sales, margin, and inventory goals.
• Vendor & Sourcing Collaboration
  Communicate category/item strategy and target expectations to sourcing, ensuring sourcing's ability to negotiate costs, improve margins, and optimize the vendor matrix based on strategic needs of the business. Build and maintain strong relationships with key product partners.
• In-Season Performance Optimization
  Analyze weekly, monthly, and seasonal sales data to identify risks and opportunities. React quickly to trends and adjust strategies to maximize profitability.
• Inventory & Markdown Management
  Collaborate with Planning on assortment intent and season priorities. While planning will manage inventory levels and markdown strategies that balance margin and sell-through, it will be imperative to provide the inputs to ensure strategic goals are met.
• Market & Competitive Analysis
  Conduct structured competitive shops and gather marketplace intelligence to inform strategy, uncover whitespace, and ensure assortment differentiation.
• Cross-Functional Execution
  Work closely with Marketing, eCommerce/Digital and Visual Merchandising to ensure cohesive go-to-market execution and alignment on brand and business goals.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent experience.
• 5-7 years of experience in buying, merchandising, or category management in a retail or consumer-focused organization.
• Strong product sensibility and understanding of pricing, quality, and customer value
• Demonstrated ability to build product assortment and deliver financial results
• Strong analytical, negotiation, and communication skills
• Passionate about the customer, brand storytelling, and product innovation