Position Overview
As a Retail Associate Buyer, you will be responsible for curating, developing, and acquiring quality product from varied vendors across the broader jewelry marketplace that resonate with our brand identity and customer base. The ideal candidate will be able to leverage available market opportunities, focus on strategic assortment planning, be capable of spotting emerging market trends and their respective impacts on forecasting goals, possess the ability to maintain and strengthen long-term vendor partnerships, and drive growth through innovative product selection and category management.
This position is located in Knoxville, Tennessee and is not a remote posiition.
Key Responsibilities
- Collection Curation & Sourcing: Identify and develop jewelry assortments that align with brand standards and growth strategies. Research global markets to source unique materials and finished pieces that differentiate our brand.
- Product Development & Design Collaboration: Work closely with manufacturers to develop exclusive designs. Provide feedback on aesthetics, quality, and craftsmanship to ensure all pieces meet our "signature" look.
- Strategic Negotiation: Negotiate Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), payment terms, and exclusivity agreements with global vendors to maintain healthy margins while ensuring premium product quality.
- Global Trend Forecasting: Act as the subject matter expert on trends.
- Lifecycle Management: Manage the "Open-to-Buy" (OTB) budget. Monitor sell-through rates and inventory health, the making of data-driven decisions on pricing reorders and markdowns,
- Vendor Partnership Management: Cultivate and maintain sustainable, long-term relationships with factories and wholesalers. Evaluate vendor performance based on quality control, lead times, and reliability.
Qualifications
- Experience: 2+ years of experience in retail buying, retail merchandising, and fashion product development within a retail environment.
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree
- Analytical Prowess: Ability to translate complex sales data into actionable buying strategies. Proficiency in retail math (Markup, GMROI, Sell-through).
- Communication & Influence: Excellent negotiation skills with the ability to build rapport with diverse international vendors.
- Software Skills: Strong working ability in Excel and experience with PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) or ERP systems.
Pay: $50,000.00 - $60,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
