Ripple Junction LLC. is seeking a candidate who excels at Assortment Planning strategy, buying and merchandising strategies for eCommerce businesses, is analytical, a systems and process thinker, and an organized deductive thinker.
This Retail Buyer opportunity provides a fast paced, fun, collaborative, and rewarding environment in the eCommerce business unit. At Ripple Junction, we pride ourselves on bringing joy to pop culture fans, recognizing our employees, and providing the best service to our customers.
The Retail Buyer (DTC & Marketplaces) is responsible for selecting, planning, and purchasing merchandise to be sold in our retail, eCommerce, and marketplace business. The ideal candidate will understand market trends, plan the assortment driven by customer data/ insights and leverage analytics, be experienced in forecasting and projections, place buys and replenishment orders, develop and deploying optimal allocation strategy, and make decisions that align with the overall business strategy.
The Retail Buyer will take ownership of Retail/ eCommerce Business merchandising, buying, and allocation strategies and is accountable for the business unit's overall sales growth and profitability.
Key Responsibilities:
Market Research: • Stay informed about market trends, consumer preferences, and competitor activities. • Analyze sales data, customer trends and feedback, and competitor data, to identify popular products and potential opportunities for the Retail Business.
Product Selection: • Evaluate product offerings, work closely with the product management and design teams, develop the product & assortment strategy, and select merchandise that aligns with the target customer demographic and the retail business objectives.
Work closely with eCommerce, product, and marketing teams to create a cohesive and appealing product assortment. Ensure product quality standards are met. Meet and exceed customer expectations through selection and pricing.
Inventory Management: • Monitor inventory levels and collaborate with demand planning and inventory management team to ensure optimal stock levels. • Implement inventory turnover strategies and manage stock replenishment. • Define and deploy optimal allocation strategies on our assortment and manage profitability goals across various eCommerce channels.
Budget Management: • Develop and manage budgets for product categories. • Maintain budgeted profit margins and OTB for the overall retail business. Monitor and control costs to maximize profitability and achieve financial targets.
Trend Analysis: • Anticipate and respond to changes in consumer trends and preferences. • Partner closely with the customer service team to drive insights from our eCommerce channels and develop product improvement strategies and new product/ assortment plans. • Attend trade shows and industry events to stay ahead of emerging trends and innovations.
Collaboration: • Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including marketing, sales, product management, Design, and assortment planning, to align buying decisions with overall business strategies. • Communicate effectively with internal teams and external partners.
Risk Management: • Assess and mitigate potential risks associated with product selection, supplier relationships, and market dynamics. • Develop contingency plans for unexpected events affecting the supply chain.
Qualifications and Skills: • Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or a related field. • 3-5 years of proven experience as a buyer in the retail industry. • Understanding of e-commerce merchandising and digital inputs that influence success online. • Strong negotiation skills and the ability to build and maintain relationships with suppliers. • Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret sales data, market trends, and strong problem-solving skills. • Excellent communication and decision-making skills. • Creative and forward-thinking approach to product selection.