Furniture Buyer

Homemakers Furniture Inc.; Urbandale (IA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Paid time off (PTO) 120 hours/year

Employee pricing for you and family

Company-paid life insurance + short‑/d

8 hours volunteer time off

Job summary

Homemakers Furniture Inc. seeks a Buyer to drive sales and profitability through strategic assortment planning and vendor partnerships. You will manage inventory, negotiate terms, and oversee merchandising execution for both store locations and online platforms.

The role emphasizes data-driven decision making, collaboration with merchandising and marketing teams, and adapting assortments to evolving customer needs and market trends.

Qualifications

• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Outlook, Power Point, Word).
• Makes data driven decisions.
• Oral and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage showroom floor presentation, including product placement, rotation, and replacement of shop-worn items.
• Use sales reports, inventory data, and demand planning tools to inform buying decisions and strategy.
• Adjust buying, assortment, and inventory to support customer needs and market trends.
• Maintain stocking programs and inventory levels; monitor fulfillment and aged inventory; place POs as needed.
• Negotiate vendor pricing/terms, review freight, ensure margins and promotions.
• Ensure sales and margins align with category goals and business plan.
• Execute assortment plan for designated categories and test new products.
• Manage vendor agreements, sale periods, and invoices for accuracy.
• Build and grow vendor partnerships; onboard new vendors and product lines.
• Maintain knowledge of product lines, features, warranties, and benefits.
• Support website/content teams with product attributes, photos, and content.
• Collaborate with marketing and merchandising teams on promotions.

Skills

Data-driven decisions

Communication (oral & written)

Multi-tasking

Planning & organization

Collaboration

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Description

Are you passionate about product selection, analyzing trends, and making data-driven decisions that impact the business? We're looking for a Buyer to help drive sales, profitability, and customer satisfaction through strategic assortment planning, vendor partnerships, inventory management, and merchandising execution. This role offers the opportunity to influence what our customers see and buy both in-store and online.

Job Summary

Increase sales and profitability of assigned specific product categories through correct product selection, display, price, and promotion for assigned location(s) and online. Be responsible for meeting Homemakers objectives and requirements pertaining to the buying and flow of goods, including inventory levels.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage showroom floor presentation, including product placement, rotation, and replacement of shop-worn items through various tools and reports as well as close collaboration with the visual design team.
• Use sales reports, inventory data, and demand planning tools help inform buying decisions and overall strategy.
• Adjust buying, assortment, and inventory quickly to support evolving customer needs and shifting market trends.
• Maintain stocking programs and inventory levels for floored and sold products; monitor item fulfillment and aged inventory, and place purchase orders as needed.
• Negotiate vendor pricing and terms, review freight rates, and ensure margins, profitability, and competitive retail pricing are maintained; execute promotions and markdowns as directed.
• Ensure merchandise unit sales and margins align with category goals and the company's overall business plan.
• Execute the assortment plan for designated categories, including testing new product introductions and identifying items to drop.
• Complete, manage, and ensure compliance with vendor agreements, sale period utilization, and invoice accuracy.
• Build, maintain, and grow strong vendor partnerships; research and onboard new vendors and product lines.
• Maintain expert knowledge of assigned product lines, including construction, warranties, features, and benefits.
• Support Merchandising Coordinators in their focus to maintain accurate product attributes, photos, videos, and content for the website and internal systems; collaborate with IT, content, ecommerce, and site merchandising teams.
• Collaborate with marketing, advertising, social media, and merchandising teams to support promotions and customer needs.
• Select, and proof product for promotions based on advertising schedule in compliance with promotion focus and deadlines.
• Coordinate with floor stock, designers, receiving, and merchandising departments on display execution, lead times, POs, EDI, labeling, and shipment discrepancies.
• Support retail teams by providing valuable product and vendor information.
• Engage with customers and sales specialists to identify trends, customer needs, and product opportunities.
• Conduct competitive analysis through store visits and website reviews to evaluate pricing, assortment, and product direction.
• Participate in monthly walkthroughs and cross-functional collaboration to improve efficiency, safety, productivity, and performance.
• Follow all operational and safety procedures and provide feedback to management as needed.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Ability to travel to market as needed
• Work Monday – Friday and/or as business needs
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Outlook, Power Point, Word)
• Makes data driven decisions
• Pivots to support evolving customer needs
• Good interpersonal Skills
• Oral and written communication skills
• Ability to plan, organize, and multi-task

Physical Expectations

• Regular sitting, standing and/or walking
• Frequent talking and listening
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus

Environmental Conditions

• Will work indoors
• Conditions may include hot/cold temperatures, dusty surroundings and noisy work environment.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, FSA, and voluntary benefits
• Company-paid life insurance for you and your dependents, plus short-term disability
• 120 hours of PTO and 8 hours of volunteer time off per year
• Employee pricing for you and your immediate family after 6 months

Requirements

• Ability to travel to market as needed
• Work Monday – Friday and/or as business needs
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Outlook, Power Point, Word)
• Makes data driven decisions
• Pivots to support evolving customer needs
• Good interpersonal Skills
• Oral and written communication skills
• Ability to plan, organize, and multi-task