Bike Buyer

Description

The Bike Buyer plays a critical role in ensuring our retail stores have the right products to meet customer needs while aligning with our company’s financial and operational goals. This role requires a balance of analytical decision-making, market awareness, and strong collaboration with internal teams and vendor partners. The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive in managing inventory, anticipating trends, and optimizing purchasing processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Product Selection & Inventory Planning: Evaluate and select bike models that align with customer demand, sales trends, and company goals. Maintain optimal inventory levels to minimize stockouts and excess inventory.
• Vendor & Supplier Management: Develop and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, ensuring favorable terms, pricing, and timely deliveries. Collaborate with brands to secure exclusive models, promotions, and incentives.
• Data-Driven Decision-Making: Analyze sales reports, market trends, and customer feedback to make informed purchasing decisions. Leverage historical data and forecasting to adjust buying strategies.
• Cross-Team Collaboration: Work closely with retail store teams, marketing, and service departments to ensure the right mix of products is available to enhance the customer experience. Facilitate open communication to address store needs and challenges.
• Open-to-Buy Management & KPI Tracking: Maintain and manage an open-to-buy plan to ensure optimal inventory levels. Monitor and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) such as sell-through rates, margin performance, and inventory turn to make informed purchasing decisions and drive financial success.
• Process & Systems Efficiency: Continuously refine purchasing workflows and inventory management processes to improve efficiency and accuracy. Collaborate with internal teams to streamline operations.
• Pricing Integrity & Management: Ensure all bike models are accurately priced according to company guidelines, regularly reviewing pricing structures and monitoring sale prices on a weekly basis to maintain consistency and profitability.
• Open-to-Buy Management & KPI Tracking: Maintain and manage an open-to-buy plan to ensure optimal inventory levels. Monitor and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) such as sell-through rates, margin performance, and inventory turn to make informed purchasing decisions and drive financial success.
• Bike Allocation & Stock Balancing: Weekly bike allocation from distribution center(s) and managing store-to-store stock transfers between retail locations. 

Qualifications & Experience

• Experience in purchasing, merchandising, or inventory planning within the bicycle or outdoor industry preferred.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret sales data and market trends.
• Excellent negotiation and vendor relationship management skills.
• Ability to balance financial objectives with customer needs and operational constraints.
• Highly organized with attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong communication skills with a collaborative approach to working across teams.
• Proficiency in inventory management systems and reporting tools.

This role is ideal for someone passionate about the cycling industry and committed to ensuring our stores have the right bikes at the right time to serve our customers effectively.