Team Sales Buyer Job in Wausau, Wisconsin US
SUMMARY
Main function is to research and merchandise the assigned categories, to provide the best selection and mix of product for sales growth and profitability.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
Buyers must be leaders. Leaders who are have a strategy, can see a vision, and can clearly communicate and lead their teammates to deliver the company’s plan for their assigned categories.
Assortment Planning
Develop and maintain a merchandising strategy and assortment plan for each category assigned. Emphasis should be placed on maximizing sales volume and profitability. Focus on exclusive products that make our business distinct, and maximizing the width of assortment that our customers have come to expect and demand. Capitalize on new growth opportunities. Support the BM assortment plans with divisional web site assortment plans. Prepare and present seasonal product presentations to senior management.
Financial Control
Work closely with the Planners to maintain an open-to-buy forecast in Marketmax to meet and exceed the category’s assigned budget. Keep inventory within plan. Keep inventory aging within divisional standards.
Vendor Management
Maintain a professional relationship with all vendors and their sales reps at all times. Develop and drive vendor initiatives. Work closely with the vendors to find the best available products and resolve vendor issues. Identify special make-up (SMU) and closeout opportunities.
Manage vendor negotiations relating to price, terms, and delivery dates. Improve purchase discounts when the opportunity presents itself. Require correct samples from vendors on time. Help obtain product copy, technical information, and missing UPC codes when needed. Negotiate and manage Return to Vendor (RTV) efforts when needed.
Trend Identification
Research the market to find the new trends within each category and determine what products will best serve our target customer. Follow trade and industry insider evaluations. Do market visits, Internet shopping comparisons, and competitive analysis. Attend our target customer’s athletic and social events to do market research. Keep up-to-date on all performance, fashion and competitive trends in the marketplace.
In-Season Management
Work with the Planners to adjust the receipt plan in Marketmax on a weekly basis to match the revised sales and margin forecasts. Initiate and drive strategies that maximize growth opportunities in up-trending categories, and minimize the impact of down-trending categories. Execute concise liquidation strategies with the Liquidation department. Execute timely fill-in’s and cancellations. Review the Marketing Calendar on a weekly basis.
People Development
Teamwork – Represent and support the department’s initiatives when working with other departments. Work with the other departments to insure that those initiatives are carried out in the prescribed manner and in the spirit of professional teamwork. Work with your assigned Marketing Planner and Marketing Merchandiser to develop merchandising ideas by category.
Staff Management – Provide goal setting and performance feedback for any direct reports.
Training – Prepare and train direct reports for career advancement. Develop written succession plans for yourself and your staff.
Other
Ensure departmental processes and records are timely maintained and that the department is in complete compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) requirements throughout each fiscal year.
Serve as new buyer mentor, training employees on the processes that have proven to be successful and accurate including closeouts, AUV, maintain margin, receipt, sales forecasting, creating and maintaining Open-to-Buys.
Due to the unique nature of our business, it is a requirement that you or your back-up be available to make system updates to ready product for launch in your department. These required updates may fall on weekends and holidays e.g. Friday nights, Christmas Eve, etc. Management will, to the extent possible, balance the individual/departments required to make these changes so as not to over impact the group.
Attend weekly Buyer meetings.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Supervises Inventory Support Specialist for category.
QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
Bachelor's degree (B. A.) from four-year college or university; or one to two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Ideal experience for a Buyer would include 2-5 years of retail sales, 2-5 years of merchandising, and 2-5 years of financial planning.