What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Buyer position at DTLR, Inc.?
Associate Buyer Job Description
The Associate Buyer is responsible for assisting the buyer in managing all aspects of the category businesses to drive results that meet or exceed planned financial and qualitative objectives. The associate buyer will support administrative needs of the business group, independently analyzing data flow information and making recommendations to drive the business forward.
Duties/Responsibilities:
- Purchase Order Management: Enter buys into the system with an understanding of how products and deliveries affect the company's overall goals, reconcile and report receipts monthly, and demonstrate financial responsibility for business success.
- Manage Style Outs: Responsible for sample management for respective brands and coordinating pass offs to marketing, ecom, and visual merchandising teams. Create visual presentations of product information and color for VM, Marketing, and Ecommerce teams.
- Merchandise Analysis: Analyze weekly and monthly sales, stock, and on-order to optimize sales and minimize markdowns. Identify key trending in the marketplace and react quickly to drive sales and margins through vendor communication, internal design, and product development.
- Merchandise Planning: Work closely with the Buyer and Planner to revise plans and ensure sales and margin are optimized by class. Ensure buying direction is on target based on partnering with Buyer and comprehensive analysis of the business.
- OTB (Open-To-Buy) Management: Manage financial elements of the business, including OTB, IMU, MD's, and ensure receipt plan is tightly managed and orders are placed on a timely basis.
- E-Commerce: Assist in selecting new products for e-commerce division from retail's assortment. Suggest category extensions/web exclusives to further growth and provide vendor/style investments by quarter to promote product through web platforms.
- Vendor Relations: Develop effective and beneficial relationships with key vendors. Sit in on vendors' appointments and participate in product development and purchasing in the market. Prepare for meetings and projects with Business Analysts and manage vendor performance through negotiation and communication.
- Communication: Ensure all communication (listening and directing) is conducted appropriately with stores, vendors, ecommerce, and warehouse. Develop collaborative relationships with internal colleagues, including Planning, Visual Merchandising, Ecommerce, Buyers, Marketing, and Community, and Operational team.
Required Skills/Abilities:
- Demonstrate understanding of DTLR target customer and select appropriate product trend that appeals to customer and meets expectations.
- Experience with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint & Outlook) and ability to learn new computer systems quickly and retain information.
- Exhibit professional communication style (both verbal and written) as shown through strong presentation skills and excellent organizational skills with high sense of urgency.
- Able to prioritize tasks to balance immediate and long-term needs of the business.
- Must be task-driven and proactive when executing tasks.
- Work requires solid knowledge of business and excellent command of English language to effectively communicate with management, associates, and customers.
- Must demonstrate ability to think strategically, plan, and organize effectively.
- Must maintain exemplary degree of professionalism in all situations.
- Able to execute directives with precision and consistency.
- Detail-oriented, excellent time management with strong sense of urgency.
Education and Experience:
- High School Diploma or GED is a must.
- Requires minimum of two (3-5) years of retail experience.
- Must be willing to travel via car, plane, or train.
Career Path:
An Associate Buyer should expect to spend 2 years gaining experience and mastering required skills prior to being considered for promotion to the Buyer level.
Physical Requirements:
- Frequently required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk; or hear.
- Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
- Specific vision abilities required may include close vision, distance vision, and depth perception.
- Incumbent must be able to work in a fast-paced environment.
