Specialty Buyer

Job Purpose:

Develops and maintains product category by gathering and analyzing information for merchandising plans; entering and tracking current information; improving product offerings; maintaining relations with vendors; preparing reports.



Duties:

* Develops merchandising plans by visiting markets and competition; collecting and analyzing price comparisons; entering and analyzing inventory control data and trends; analyzing sales trends; developing sales forecasts; obtaining and testing samples and products; determining size distributions; attending vendor meetings.



* Determines daily status by balancing open-to-buy; entering and analyzing stock keeping units (SKUs); entering mark-downs and reorders; entering, tracking, and expediting orders; conferring with Warehousing and Transportation; coordinating with Liquidation Manager.



* Improves product offering by re-negotiating terms with vendors, including service, price, product quality, markdown allowances, exclusivity, packaging, lead times, and returns; developing new sources; coordinating information, analyses, and actions with Quality Assurance.



* Develops merchandise display plans by coordinating with Visual Merchandise Planners; planning endcaps, schematics, and seasonal shops; coordinating celebrity appearances.



* Develops product category by studying merchandising goals and product attributes; identifying, studying, and evaluating new products; completing product development process; developing product specifications.



* Resolves discrepancies by collecting and analyzing vendor or merchandise information.



* Provides merchandise information by answering questions and requests



* Prepares merchandise reports by collecting, analyzing and summarizing information and trends.



* Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.



* Enhances department and organization reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests; exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.



Skills/Qualifications:

Supply Management, Inventory Control, Organization, Verbal Communication, Data Entry Skills, PC Proficiency, Strategic Planning, Analyzing Information, Thoroughness, Job Knowledge, Product Knowledge