Buyer Assistant

About Bluestem Brands

Bluestem Brands is a leading provider of consumer goods and services, operating in the e-commerce retail and fintech sectors. Our primary mission is to serve customers through our Fingerhut brand, offering a range of products and services to help consumers establish, build, or rebuild credit.

We are seeking an experienced Assistant Buyer to join our Appleseeds Brand Team. This role will be based in our Middleton, MA office, which operates in a hybrid work environment.

Job Summary

The Assistant Buyer will support the buying team in advancing the business while learning key processes and providing comprehensive administrative and operational support. This is a true learning role that allows you to build and grow your skillset in a growing e-commerce apparel environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Shop the market to identify current and emerging trends and work closely with the buying team to select products, negotiate buys, plan and place initial orders, and determine seasonal assortment plans.
• Partner with buyers to present new seasonal lines and top sellers to senior leadership.
• Attend and participate in planning meetings with senior leadership, buyers, inventory control, art directors, and the copy team.
• Analyze and track weekly, monthly, and quarterly sales.
• Collaborate with manufacturers and design teams on private label products to ensure adherence to specs and oversee fit of pre-production merchandise.
• Request samples and follow up on production schedules with vendors.
• Prepare and maintain advertising boards and control of samples for initial advertising meetings, fit sessions, and photoshoots.
• On occasion, travel to vendors, showrooms, and trade shows.
• Partner with inventory control to ensure on-time delivery, order updates, and inventory levels.
• Work with the quality control team to ensure fit, care label, and fabric content accuracy.
• Proof copy, request item codes, and perform maintenance on codes as needed throughout the season.

Requirements

• BA in Apparel Design or related field and 1-3 years of experience as an Assistant Apparel Buyer (preferably e-commerce) or a combination of education and experience.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills with the ability to articulate plans and present ideas to senior leadership.
• Highly proficient in retail math with the ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, markups, and percentages.
• Enthusiasm, creativity, and desire to work on an innovative team that has the strategic focus of overall company growth.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Strong skillset in Microsoft Suite (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook, etc.).
• Experience in Illustrator, InDesign, and PLM preferred but not required.