BUYER

Full-time - Mid Level

Elmwood, LA

Furniture, Home Furnishings, Electronics, and Appliance Retailers

About the position

As a Buyer at Imperial Trading, you will play a crucial role in maintaining optimum in-stock service levels on products while achieving inventory investment goals and profits. Your primary responsibility will be to ensure that the most comprehensive offering of products is available to enhance sales and profits. This position requires a proactive approach to replenishment buying, which includes maintaining demands and forecasts, ordering timely within vendor and service level guidelines, and managing products that are not fulfilled by vendors. You will also be responsible for planning pre-book distributions within your order cycles and communicating any issues to the category manager and vendors. In addition to replenishment buying, you will establish, modify, and maintain optimal profit analysis criteria for all assigned vendor lines and categories. Regular reviews and resets of vendor performance will be part of your duties. You will manage overstock and deadstock on a weekly basis and keep accurate records of sales and customer requests for future reporting. Your role will also involve coordinating with the Category Manager on SKU rationalization and efficiency practices, as well as working with operations on new items, damages, returns, and inventory checks. You will be expected to maintain accurate vendor pricing in the system, including terms and conditions of sale, customer allowances, and lead times. Attending meetings with vendor and broker representatives will be necessary for negotiating deals and resolving ongoing issues. Timely notifications and presentations to sales, merchandising, and customer service personnel regarding new items, promotions, and category changes will also be part of your responsibilities. This position requires a self-motivated individual who can work independently and as part of a team, with a strong emphasis on communication and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Maintain optimum in-stock service levels on products.
• Achieve inventory investment goals and profits through proactive product availability.
• Execute daily duties of replenishment buying, including maintaining demands and forecasts.
• Order timely within vendor and service level guidelines.
• Manage products not fulfilled by vendors on order received daily.
• Plan pre-book distributions within order cycles timely.
• Communicate issues to category manager and vendors.
• Establish, modify, and maintain optimal profit analysis criteria for assigned vendor lines and categories.
• Review and reset vendors on a regular cadence.
• Manage overstock and deadstock on a weekly basis.
• Keep records of sales/customer requests for future reporting.
• Coordinate with Category Manager on SKU rationalization and efficiency practices.
• Work with operations on new items, damages, returns, and inventory checks.
• Maintain accurate vendor pricing in the system, including terms and conditions of sale.
• Attend meetings with vendor and broker representatives for assigned lines and categories.
• Negotiate deals and resolve ongoing problems such as deadstock and overstock.
• Notify relevant departments of specific information relating to deals and purchase orders.
• Provide timely notifications and presentations to sales, merchandising, and customer service personnel on new items and promotions.

Requirements

• College degree or work experience equivalent.
• Knowledge and understanding of purchasing/procurement processes.
• Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Excel).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; able to negotiate and process contracts.
• Ability to multitask, prioritize, and manage time efficiently.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Self-motivated and willing to actively seek knowledge.
• Background in retail or foodservice purchasing preferred.

Benefits

• Wellness program
• Disability insurance
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• 401(k)
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) matching