Experience with high-volume and complex merchandise categories
Strong negotiation and marketing skills
Excellent communication and organizational abilities
Motivated self-starter and eager to learn
Team-oriented with collaborative spirit
Responsibilities
Build and maintain vendor relationships
Define merchandise strategy to determine product mix
Collaborate with planner to create merchandise plans that meet sales and margin goals
Identify and execute sales and margin enhancement opportunities
Work with multiple departments to refine internal processes
Conduct store visits to analyze merchandise presentation and customer trends
Attend trade shows to source deals and network with industry contacts
Foster a collaborative team environment and mentor junior staff
Complete administrative tasks as needed
Achieve annual sales, margin, and inventory turn targets
Benefits
Opportunities for professional development
Collaborative team environment
Dynamic work culture with constant learning
Exposure to industry events and trade shows
Mentorship opportunities for career growth
Full Job Description
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Fosters relationships with vendors. Negotiates deals with vendors. In instances when purchases are not made, maintains positive vendor relationships for future opportunities.
Defines the merchandise strategy, such as mix of close-out vs. non-closeout business.
Jointly with the planner, develops a merchandise plan to support the strategy and achieve stated sales, turn and margin goals.
Identifies opportunities to exploit sales and margin opportunities and partners with planner and merchandise analyst to develop execution tactics.
Collaborates with Planning, Allocation, Distribution and Transportation Services, and Field Management to understand and improve upon internal company processes.
Travels to stores to understand merchandise packaging and presentation requirements, customer requirements and customer trends. Shops competitor stores to assess direction of competition and understand competitive pricing structures.
Travels to trade shows and vendor locations to develop a network of contacts, to stay informed on industry and competitor direction, and to source deals.
Develops a collaborative team atmosphere through an open exchange of ideas and positive feedback between buyer, planner and allocation analyst team members.
Trains and mentors Assistant Buyers and/or Buyers, as requested.
Performs administrative tasks, as needed or requested.
Accountabilities: Achieve annual Sales Dollar, Margin Dollar and Inventory Turn targets for assigned product areas.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
College degree, required.
A minimum of five years of retail buying experience, preferred.
Experience in buying complex merchandise categories and categories with large sales volumes.
Excellent negotiation and marketing skills.
Excellent oral and written communication and organization skills.
Motivated and self-starter, willing to take on new challenges and learn every aspect of merchandising.
Able to work as part of a team to achieve common goals.
System capable in spreadsheet, word processing and data analysis tools.
About Big Lots
Big Lots Stores, Inc. is an American retail company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio with over 1,400 stores in 47 states.
