Associate Buyer, Storage

Overview

The Associate Buyer position is responsible for the storage product category of the Buyer’s business wherein they lead the product assortment selection process, manage inventories and implement merchandising directives for all store locations as well as our online store.

This positions partners with the Buyer and Merchandise Planner for the timely delivery of products to increase sales and gross margin.

What We Stand For

Established in 1978, The Container Store has grown to be the leading specialty retailer of storage and organization products in the United States and the only national retailer solely devoted to the category.

We provide creative, multifunctional, customizable storage and organization solutions that help our customers save time, save space and improve the quality of their lives.

We foster a culture built around our Foundation Principles, which define how we approach our relationships with our employees, vendors, customers and communities and influence every aspect of our business.

Responsibilities

• Identifies vendors and selects the assortment of storage and organization products that best represent our brand and truly differentiate The Container Store as the storage and organization experts
• Establishes and maintains mutually beneficial vendor relationships and negotiates with vendors to obtain the best pricing and terms possible
• Works with Buyer to lead and direct vendor meetings, communicate the processes, principles and values of The Container Store to our vendors and promote and support the Company interests
• Assists Buyer in leading and guiding Assortment Review Meetings, determining agenda, timing, and objectives as well as creating and following through on action items
• Researches industry trends and engages with the vendor community to stay current on future and emerging industry trends and develop merchandising strategies to maintain competitive edge in the marketplace
• Reviews and considers product performance and customer feedback and analyzes sales trends to develop a strategic course of action for future and existing product assortments for both stores and online
• Analyzes the competition to ensure The Container Store’s product is competitively priced and our merchandising and product assortment is the best possible
• Partners with the Buyer to train, coach and develop the Assistant Buyer
• Partners with the Merchandise Planner and Visual Sales team to develop strategic product placement and adjacencies that produce a visual presentation that drives sales
• Creates and maintains SKU and vendor information in our proprietary Merchandise Management System (MMS)
• Develops timely, relevant and actionable communication to other departments within the company to support the introduction of new products or collections to maximize sales potential

The Benefits of Working Here

Our benefits exemplify our commitment to ensuring employees and their families are well taken care of, safe and secure. Some of our benefits include :

• Competitive Pay
• Medical / Dental / Vision Plans
• Discount : 50% on elfa, 40% on Merchandise and Gift Cards, 30% on Installation
• Paid Time Off plus Holidays
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Employee First Fund : providing grants to employees experiencing unforeseen emergencies

Qualifications

• College degree required
• Experience in the retail industry, preferred
• 3+ years’ experience in buying, merchandising or design industry
• Based in Dallas / Ft. Worth area
• Ability to travel 10% a year, based on the business needs
• Strong computer skills : proficiency in Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and knowledge of Excel
• Strong knowledge of merchandising terminology, functions and analysis including retail math
• Ability to learn and comprehend merchandising systems, forecasting systems and the fundamentals of supply chain management
• Passion for consumer products and home décor
• High taste level and strong point of view in design and ability to articulate The Container Store brand
• Strong leadership, analytical and management skills
9 days ago