Merchandise Buyer

Come join our VW Merchandising team!
Variety Wholesalers, Inc. is looking for business-minded, self-motivated professionals with a passion for merchandising and an eye for trends. You'll need strong negotiation and relationship-building skills, and the ability to balance product, trend, and fashion with our customer's needs in mind.
Essential Job Functions:
•Manage opportunistic buying responsibility (based on vendors or classifications) and accountability for sales and margin performance
•Analyze reports and figures
•Control Open to Buy, Inventory Levels, and Monthly deliveries in order to meet the company's financial goals
•Manage assortments by category, review for balance, manage all aspects of the buying process, and adhere to strategic objectives of the category
•Contribute to the development of merchandising strategies utilizing historical data, competition, vendors, and trends for each season. Partner with the Planners to develop open-to-buy within an assortment that supports the strategy of stock positioning for key categories and classifications
•Manage production calendar deadlines with internal and external partners to ensure the timely delivery of product.
•Travel to buying markets
•Shop all competing and Variety Wholesalers, Inc. stores to identify opportunities, trends, and labels
Education: Bachelor's degree preferably in Fashion Merchandising, Marketing, or Business
Experience:

• Minimum 4 years of experience with buying

Knowledge/Skills:

• Strong market awareness and ability to assess customers and trends
• Strong analytical, financial, and negotiation skills
• Knowledge of retail planning and allocation
• Ability to build and maintain strong cross-functional partnerships
• Strong presentation and communication skills with the ability to interact at an executive level
• Strong Excel, Microsoft Word, and PowerPoint skills

Benefits:

• 401(k) and 401(k) match
• Dental Insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance