Assistant buyer job description

Forever 21 is a fashion industry leader making the latest trends accessible to all while inspiring unique style and confidence. With a renewed focus on the customer experience, the brand offers high style designs and fashion basics with compelling values and a dynamic store environment. While driving innovation across e-commerce and digital to expand access and convenience, the brand continues to strengthen its positioning as today's preferred destination for the fashionable consumer. Forever 21 is located in more than 540 locations globally and online, and we're seeking passionate and creative people to join our Forever family.

The Assistant Buyer, Sleep & Swim will support the Buyer, Sr. Buyer or Buying Manager to ensure that inventory receipt goals are met. The Assistant Buyer will maintain the flow of production by coordinating constantly with external vendors and cross functional departments, making sure that production deadlines are met and samples are up to standard.
Responsibilities

* Coordinate with Buyers, Planners, Logistics, Accounting, Quality control, Receiving departments, and vendors to ensure production requirements are followed
* Communicate with vendors any revisions or changes to products expressed by the Buyers
* Assists with the preparation process for the negotiation of product pricing with vendors and management
* Maintain the Time and Action calendar to track the status of each garment
* Communicate any changes to existing orders to the Purchase Order department
* Work to consistently obtain Pre-Production and Top of Production samples on time
* Maintain a library of best-selling styles, materials, and colors
* Manage the data and files for production matters
* Organize selling, pull reports for Buyers and ensure that all Purchase Order deliveries are made to the appropriate department

Qualifications

* BFA in Fashion Merchandising, Fashion Marketing or some other related field
* Must have at least 1 year of exposure in a specialty retail environment including internships; 1 year of buying experience preferred
* Must possess basic knowledge of production, product development, specifically in the fashion retail industry
* Knowledge of Web PDM preferred
* Must have exceptional organizational skills
* Must be proactive, detail oriented, and possess the ability to meet tight deadlines
* Must have excellent communication skills (verbal and written)
* Must possess basic Microsoft Word and Excel skills

At Cracker Barrel, our mission is Pleasing People. This is evident from the moment you walk through our doors, with the first smile that greets you, from the items in our retail store to the food on the table, we welcome you home! We have an exciting opportunity to join our merchandising team in bringing those one of a kind items into our stores!

This individual will assist the Buyer by conducting vendor follow-up and item sales review. Sets-up new items and identifies shipping packs; ensures item is set up appropriately. They will assist Buyer in developing new items; calculates and determines initial order quantities. Also assist in coordinating and and resolving packaging issues, and tracks missing invoices or late payments. Negotiates return to vendor and follow-through.
Responsibility

* Responsible for the vendor set-up process, including the Vendor Insurance program. Processes all new items to be entered in Retek Merchandise System. Creates purchase orders for approved items and verifies receipt of purchase orders. Ensures product integrity by scanning and approving barcodes prior to shipment. Maintains SKU file for accuracy. Responsible for cost and retail price changes. Ensures all model store samples are received by scheduled date. Assists in coordinating priority shipping of new product with the Distribution Center. Communicates shipping information with respect to potential delays, or problems with the shipment to the Merchandising Team.
* Initiates sample requests from vendors. Orders and tracks samples for the model store. Approves pre-production samples. Communicates with vendors on product issues, both domestic and international. Communication with the Director of Visual Presentation, Director of Merchandise Product Development, Guest Relations, DC, and the vendor community regarding various issues including product samples, shipping, changes to original plans, and vendors.
* Provides support to the Director of Merchandise, Sr. Buyer, Buyer, and Associate Buyer. Provides assistance to the VP/GMM as needed. Receives and answers calls, types and distributes letters, memos and other communications, faxes, files, copies, etc. Processes all requested samples and unsolicited merchandise; prepares incoming submittals for the Buyer's review; and drafts and sends correspondence letters and/or emails. Unpacks and sets up all product samples. Returns samples to vendor upon request.
* Completes special projects and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

* High school diploma. Bachelor's degree preferred.
* 2-3 years of merchandising experience in a retail setting.
* Strong oral and written communication skills.
* Basic computer skills.
* Strong organizational and prioritizing skills.
* Basic knowledge of accounting methods. Knowledge of retail industry.
* Knowledge of merchandise. Knowledge of shipping cost, freight, etc.
* Excellent negotiating skills.
* Strong creative thinking skills.

NOTE: Racism, either overt or perpetuated through unconscious bias, has no place at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, and both our Mission and People Promise are firmly rooted in the principle of valuing what everyone brings to the table. Our employees work hard to ensure that our brand, which is grounded in genuine hospitality and nostalgia, represents only what is good about those things. While our décor and food may harken back to earlier times, our inclusive culture and beliefs about equality and diversity do not.

About Us
Food52 is an award-winning brand in the kitchen and home space, using an innovative commerce, content and community business model to reach over 24 million homecooks and homebodies, and was recently named No. 28 on Fast Company's list of the World's Most Innovative Companies of 2022. We're passionate about giving our deeply-engaged audience everything they need to enjoy life's most important pleasures - food, home & connection to others.

As part of an ongoing initiative, we remain focused and committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion as the center of our hiring process and our company culture. We're committed to building a community that values and honors the contributions of underrepresented communities to our shared culinary experience-starting with the Food52 family. You can read more about our support, and link to our progress, in our DEI Vision Statement.

About the Role
As Food52 continues to accelerate our growth, we are hiring for an Assistant Buyer to work with our Commerce team in our New York City headquarters, concentrating on our Kitchen and Pantry division. This role will involve setting category strategy and being accountable for category performance, curating our product assortment and building strong relationships with our vendor base.
ResponsibilitiesSupport the Senior Buyer, Kitchen & Pantry in all aspects of Buying including assortment analysis, margin goals, open to buy, trend reporting, and regular sales tracking.Proactively manage inventory and follow up with vendors on their performance in our Shop.Manage SKU setup in our admin & quality assurance process to ensure all details are completed and accurate before SKU goes live. This includes coordinating with our Editorial, Customer Care, and Creative teams daily.Manage the sample process; this includes requesting samples, pulling samples in advance of product review meetings, and sample closet organization.Partner with vendor Relations Coordinator to onboard new vendors and manage existing vendor relationships.Support the Shop and Marketing teams on exciting projects like Holiday, exclusive collections and key Food52 moments.
Requirements2-3 years retail experience Excellent analytical skills and understand retail math and strategy Self-starter and problem-solver -- you have a keen eye and ideas for ways to improve a business Extremely detail and goal-oriented -- you track down that missing piece of information and make sure all team members are up to speed on potential changes Entrepreneurial mindset and enjoy the fast-pace nature of working at a rapidly growing business.Impeccable communication skills -- both written and verbal Process-driven and are constantly looking for ways to streamline and simplify complex tasks You enjoy making new and managing existing merchant relationships. You pride yourself on being responsive and thinking creatively about how you can help each Shop partner grow their business on Food52You have a keen eye (and exceptional taste!) for great products and beautiful tools and wares -- you understand our aesthetic You follow Kitchen & Home trends, industry news, and are interested in sustainability
Compensation & Benefits
Final compensation for this role will be determined by various factors such as a candidate's relevant work experience, skillset and geographic location, and includes an annual bonus plan. Additionally, we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes:
Medical, dental and vision options (some at no cost to you!)
Flexible spending accounts (health & dependent care)
Short and long term disability, life insurance
401(k) retirement plan
Paid holidays, unlimited vacation, company-wide weeks off (Summer Week and Winter Week)
Flexible hours and working arrangements
Exclusive access and employee discounts to our Food52 and Schoolhouse shop products!

Visa Sponsorship
Currently, Food52 does not provide Visa sponsorship. All applicants must be able to provide legal proof of their eligibility to work in the U.S.

Food52 is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of one's sex, age, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage, religion, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation or affectional preference, gender identity and expression, disability, genetic trait or predisposition, carrier status, citizenship, veteran or military status and other personal characteristics protected by law. All applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected characteristics. Food52 will consider qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local "Fair Chance" laws.