Toy Buyer Assistant: Trend-Driven Merchandising Pro (Onsite)

The Paper Store, Inc.; Acton (MA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

The Paper Store, a TPS Group Holdings brand, is seeking an Assistant Buyer, Toys, to help build compelling toy assortments and drive category growth. You will support trend discovery, vendor collaborations, and detailed PO management in a fast-paced retail environment at our Acton, MA location.

Ideal candidates have 2+ years in Toy buying, strong Excel skills, and a degree in Business, Fashion, or Retail. This role involves onsite work 4 days/week in Acton, MA and offers opportunities to grow

Qualifications

• 2+ years in buying/merchandising in Toy retail.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Fashion, or Retail preferred.
• Proficiency in Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUPs a plus).
• Strong time management and prioritization.
• Analytical mindset with data-driven decisions.

Responsibilities

• Support trend discovery and product flow to inspire new ideas.
• Assist vendor meetings, trade shows, and product reviews.
• Track newness, best sellers, and opportunities in the category.
• Manage purchase orders with vendors from entry to follow-ups.
• Monitor order status, shipping accuracy, and cost discrepancies.
• Maintain SKU setup and vendor data in internal systems.
• Manage open orders, cancellations, and backorder resolution.
• Execute allocations and replenishment to meet store needs.
• Coordinate with Planning and DC for smooth product flow.
• Initiate transfers, consolidations, and recalls as needed.
• Analyze sales, markdowns, and inventory; report trends.
• Learn retail math and financial drivers for decisions.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with E‑Commerce and Marketing.

Skills

Toy category buying

Merchandising

Category management

Analytical mindset

Cross-functional collaboration

Time management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Fashion, or Retail preferred

Tools

Excel

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Paper Store, a TPS Group Holdings brand, is seeking an Assistant Buyer, Toys, to help build compelling toy assortments and drive category growth. You will support trend discovery, vendor collaborations, and detailed PO management in a fast-paced retail environment at our Acton, MA location.

Ideal candidates have 2+ years in Toy buying, strong Excel skills, and a degree in Business, Fashion, or Retail. This role involves onsite work 4 days/week in Acton, MA and offers opportunities to grow