What are the responsibilities and job description for the Merchandise Buyer position at Big Lots?
Come join our VW/Big Lots Merchandising team!
Variety Wholesalers, Inc. is looking for business-minded, self-motivated professionals with a passion for merchandising and an eye for trends. You’ll need strong negotiation and relationship-building skills, and the ability to balance product, trend, and fashion with our customer’s needs in mind.
Essential Job Functions:
- Manage opportunistic buying responsibility (based on vendors or classifications) and accountability for sales and margin performance
- Analyze reports and figures
- Control Open to Buy, Inventory Levels, and Monthly deliveries in order to meet the company’s financial goals
- Manage assortments by category, review for balance, manage all aspects of the buying process, and adhere to strategic objectives of the category
- Contribute to the development of merchandising strategies utilizing historical data, competition, vendors, and trends for each season. Partner with the Planners to develop open-to-buy within an assortment that supports the strategy of stock positioning for key categories and classifications
- Manage production calendar deadlines with internal and external partners to ensure the timely delivery of product.
- Travel to buying markets
- Shop all competing and Variety Wholesalers, Inc. stores to identify opportunities, trends, and labels
Education: Bachelor’s degree preferably in Fashion Merchandising, Marketing, or Business
Experience:
- Minimum 4 years of experience with buying
Knowledge/Skills:
- Strong market awareness and ability to assess customers and trends
- Strong analytical, financial, and negotiation skills
- Knowledge of retail planning and allocation
- Ability to build and maintain strong cross-functional partnerships
- Strong presentation and communication skills with the ability to interact at an executive level
- Strong Excel, Microsoft Word, and PowerPoint skills
Benefits:
- 401(k) and 401(k) match
- Dental Insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Behaviors
Preferred- Enthusiastic: Shows intense and eager enjoyment and interest
- Team Player: Works well as a member of a group
- Functional Expert: Considered a thought leader on a subject
- Detail Oriented: Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well
Motivations
Preferred- Self-Starter: Inspired to perform without outside help
- Growth Opportunities: Inspired to perform well by the chance to take on more responsibility
- Ability to Make an Impact: Inspired to perform well by the ability to contribute to the success of a project or the organization
