Associate Buyer

Associate Buyer

The Paper Store is committed to being the premiere destination for all of our customer’s gift-giving needs. Our mission is to share our passion for The Paper Store with each customer, during each visit, by going above and beyond their expectations for both selection and service.

The Associate Buyer’s role is responsible for category management within a specific product category or subset, as well as contributing to the development of merchandise directives and strategies to optimize sales and profitability. This may include tasks such as conducting market research, analyzing sales data, negotiating with vendors, managing purchase orders, and collaborating with other teams such as product design and marketing.

The Associate Buyer reports directly to the VP of Merchandising/Purchasing.

COMPETENCIES:

• Accountability: Demonstrates a sense of corporate responsibility. Takes personal ownership and responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work. Ensures that actions are consistent with words.
• Communication: Communicates information with consistency and clarity; uses active listening to effectively understand and provide feedback. Adjusts communication style to suit the audience to promote engagement and increase understanding.
• Creativity and Initiative: Forward-thinking, recognizes opportunities and finds new ways of doing things and implements improvements whenever possible. Encourages creativity and innovation.
• Professionalism: Maintains a professional and positive manner even under changing or uncertain conditions. Works well with a wide range of individuals to provide support, encouragement and direction. Engages others to accomplish organizational and departmental goals. Is seen as a role model.
• Personal Development: Displays self-awareness, a high level of energy, persistence and a positive outlook. Continuously seeks ways to improve and learns from mistakes and constructive feedback.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Be a brand ambassador for The Paper Store

Data entry, PO and SKU management, and database maintenance:

• Place orders and follow up with vendors to receive shipping confirmations and verify costs and availability.
• Respond to inquiries regarding order status, changes, or cancellations.
• Contact and follow up with vendors for product samples, new SKU information, damages, and management of back-ordered goods, bestseller lists, catalogs, etc.
• Update vendor information in the database.
• PO cleanup and maintenance
• Removing discontinued or back-ordered items from purchase order
• Price changes
• Vendor changes
• Open Order report clean-up
• Build and maintain style lists for promotional events, markdowns, special events, table statements, etc. Add/remove items as necessary to ensure accuracy.
• Create collages of new products.
• Initiate and follow up on transfers, consolidations, and recalls between the stores and the distribution center.
• Distribute batches from the warehouse.
• Perform allocations and execute replenishments.
• Knowledge of Smart Sheet and how to execute directives.
• Work with stores and distribution center to answer questions, identify and resolve issues.
• File packing lists, completed orders, and catalogs.
• Ship packages via UPS and FED EX.
• Print labels and ship to vendors as needed.
• Perform other duties as determined by management but not limited to the above-mentioned.

• Communication with warehouse with regards to any discrepancies or exceptions

• Review sales performance and learn to identify sales trends.
• Attend discussions on evaluating and adjusting future product as well as sales forecast to develop understanding of key financial concepts and components.
• Develop expert knowledge of customer base by participating in local store visits.

• Work closely with vendors to obtain and develop desired products and build relationships.
• Attend trade shows to keep informed of new products and build vendor relations.
• Have knowledge on your department and other department’s product.

Category Management and Product Design/Development:

• Employ sophisticated negotiation tactics, such as value-based bargaining, strategic concessions, and relationship-building approaches, to secure favorable terms, pricing, and supplier agreements.
• Manage a subset of designated category and implement strategic category management techniques for a designated subset of products, including assortment planning, pricing optimization, and promotional strategies to maximize category performance.
• Collaborate with the design team to find inspiration and ensure accurate pattern development through effective communication and feedback loops.
• Conduct comp shopping to identify emerging trends, pricing strategies, and relevant information from other stores within the industry.

Reporting:

• Run and format sales reports
• Provide analysis of sales; sell through, turn, and gross margin on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, and seasonal basis.
• Knowledge of basic formulas for retail: turn, gross margin, net margin, net profit, sales per square foot, % increase or decrease, % to total.
• Knowledge of all reports in Merch Analytics and Infobase.
• Knowledge of all reports in Quantisense
• Run markdown reports and create Excel summary.

Merchandising and Ecommerce:

• Create merchandise directives to communicate new product placement.
• Responsible for making sure buyers have accurately stocked product in e-commerce. Run reports as necessary.
• Act as the liaison between the buying team and the E-Commerce/Marketing team including prepping materials in order to put items online.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be proficient with Microsoft Office Suite: Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook.
• Good organizational skills including prioritizing, time management, and meeting deadlines.
• Strong numerical and analytical aptitude.
• 2-5 years of experience as an assistant buyer in a retail organization.
• Communication and negotiation skills/experience
• Ability to work 3+ days/week at the Corporate Office in Acton, MA
• Professional presentation in attire, demeanor, and appearance

The Paper Store is an equal-opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, veteran status, or any other classification protected by state, local or federal law.