Function: plan, purchase, assign, and initiate the promotion of merchandise in specific market area leading to the achievement of plan sales and profitability with guidelines set by the company's merchandise plan.

Duties and responsibilities:

Buying: 

1. Achieve planned goals in sales, turnover, margin, markdowns, gross profit, and controllable elements of net profit.
2. Control the open to buy, stock levels, and deliveries in order to stay within stock plans and to increase turnover.
3. Make market trips on a regular basis as necessary; maintain good vendor relation, plan sales promotion and special buys with vendors.
4. Negotiate with vendors for favorable terms, discounts, transportation cost, co-op advertising, rebates on merchandise purchased; plan major vendor programs in important growth areas; analyze the performance of resources to aid in the building of relationships with key vendors
5. Informs accounts payable of any discounts, deductions, or promotions to ensure accurate payment
6. Explore new merchandise trends and new vendors frequently; test and develop new items in the stores. Consult with the divisional merchandise manager vendor changes.
7. Analyze and interpret necessary reports and take prompt appropriate action in order to achieve sales and profit goals. Identify and maximize fast sellers by reordering sufficient quantities. Identify slow sellers promptly and dispose of quickly keeping within markdown guidelines.
8. Maintain well balanced stock, size, color assortments in each store.
9. Maintain an effective basic stock program in departments where applicable. Calculate in stock needs by location and place monthly reorders to keep stock fresh, color and size assortments available, and increase turn.
10. Regularly review on order files and take appropriate action on upcoming orders. Send cancellations to vendors as corrective measures. Instruct the distribution center to hold early shipments if need be and request dating from vendor if shipped prior to the start date of the order
11. Shops and analyze competitive stores to evaluate their assortment, prices, and merchandising presentation order to maintain a competitive edge in our market areas
12. Train and develop assistant and/or associate buyers in merchandising and management as directed by the divisional merchandise manage
13. Develop items on the hot item area in store, maintain stock level to established open to buy; monitor results
14. Ensure distribution center has adequate information necessary to expedite orders in a timely manner; ensure all charge backs have been handled in a timely manner; maintain accurate sized inventory in c.o.w.; work with distribution manager to reduce shipping charges on inbound orders; ensure all electronically transmitted orders are accurate in terms of upcs, color, and sizing

Merchandising:

1. Visit the store regularly to check assortments of merchandise, stock levels, and old merchandise.
2. Coordinate with the area merchandisers on departmental layout, display and merchandise presentation in a hands on approach
3. Provides a continuous flow of communication with the area merchandisers and divisional merchandise manager on the merchandising of assigned departments, works with store managers, area merchandisers, and the divisional merchandise managers in preparation for in store contests and sales promotion.
4. Reads trade publications in order to be aware of current and future trends.
5. Conducts training while in stores for area merchandiser and sales associates to current and future trends, and new merchandising themes.
6. Uses time spent on the sales floor for exposure to customers and customer reaction to product.

Advertising:

1. Prepares and submits items, complete with description, and cuts; selects and groups merchandise for photo shoots, re-tags all goods for return to store.
2. Informs all stores of advertised products/ listed skus well in advance of the ad; schedules deliveries so that stock is available in the store to cover all advertisements.
3. Analyze and make notations of ad results for future planning.
4. Recognize, develop, and submit co-op advertising promotions to advertising and accounts payable.
5. Follow up on advertised items to ensure understanding of ads by area merchandisers.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties performed by this employee. He or she will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties as requested by the divisional merchandise manager.

This a salaried position and is not limited to a 40 hour work week.

This job classification is charged to the buying office salaries.

Education: B.S./B.A. degree, preferably a business major.