Buyer

WHSmith North America; Las Vegas (NV); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

WHSmith North America is seeking a Buyer to develop and manage merchandise assortments that meet sales and margin targets. The role includes negotiating with vendors, developing product strategies, and collaborating with planners and store managers.

A successful applicant will have 3+ years of merchandise buying experience, a Bachelor's degree, and strong skills in retail math, along with advanced computer proficiency. Candidates must adapt well in a fast-paced retail environment.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of merchandise buying experience within a multi-unit retail organization.
• Product development and assortment planning experience required.
• Strong command of merchandising and retail math, including Open-to-Buy (OTB) management.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute merchandise assortment strategies to meet financial goals.
• Partner with Planner to manage Open-to-Buy budget.
• Negotiate with vendors for maximum margin results.

Skills

Merchandise buying

Product development

Retail math

Microsoft Office

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Merchandising software

Job description

As the Buyer you will be responsible for procuring, developing, and managing effective merchandise assortments to achieve the sales, margin, and turnover targets for his/her respective buying areas. In partnership with their DVP and respective Planner, the Buyer will create the appropriate merchandise mix and develop category and supplier strategies based on emerging market trends, seasonality, and customer demographics.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop and execute merchandise assortment strategies to meet or exceed the financial goals
• Product development as needed in accordance with the respective brands, departments, and concepts.
• Partner with Planner to manage and adhere to Open-to-Buy (OTB) budget.
• Work with vendors to resolve purchase order discrepancies and compliance issues.
• Analyze business at division, department, class, subclass, attribute, and store level.
• Create and maintain open lines of communication with Planner, Store Managers, Regional Managers and other co-workers.
• Negotiate with vendors to secure the best terms for maximum margin results, including supplier income, and best pricing as well as markdown and/or RTV agreements.
• Prepare for and participate in regular Merchandising meetings such as Weekly Performance Meetings, Month End Review / OTB meetings, Collaboration meetings, New Store Review meetings, etc.
• Develop seasonal trend presentations and participate in seasonal workshops to educate the field organization (applicable by merchandise category).
• Visit our stores (including visits on location as requested) to evaluate assortments, presentations, stock levels, marketing, customers, and obtain feedback from store personnel. Visit competitors to evaluate pricing, assortments, and market trends for possible opportunities.
• Carry out tasks related to new stores, including research into new markets (including visits on location as requested), participating in Planogram meetings, developing new assortments for new concepts or stores, etc.
• Work closely with Planner to manage allocation, reorder flow, and product lifecycle including promos, markdowns, transfers and RTVs.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of merchandise buying experience within a multi-unit retail organization.
• Product development and assortment planning experience required.
• Bachelor's degree required.
• Strong command of merchandising and retail math, including Open-to-Buy (OTB) management.
• Ability to adapt, multi-task and problem solve in a fast-paced and changing environment.
• Advanced computer skills, including Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and experience with a merchandising software platform.