Assistant Buyer

The Paper Store is committed to being the premier destination for all our customer’s gift-giving needs. Our mission is to share our passion for The Paper Store with each customer, during each visit, by going above and beyond their expectations for both selection and service.

The Assistant Buyer is responsible for directly assisting and supporting the Buyer and ensuring that day-to-day business runs smoothly, accurately, and efficiently.

The Assistant Buyer reports directly to the Vice President of Purchasing and Allocation.

COMPETENCIES:

• Accountability: Demonstrates a sense of corporate responsibility. Takes personal ownership and responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work. Ensures that actions are consistent with words.
• Communication: Communicates information with consistency and clarity; uses active listening to effectively understand and provide feedback. Adjusts communication style to suit the audience to promote engagement and increase understanding.
• Creativity and Initiative: Forward-thinking, recognizes opportunities and finds new ways of doing things and implements improvements whenever possible. Encourages creativity and innovation.
• Professionalism: Maintains a professional and positive manner even under changing or uncertain conditions. Works well with a wide range of individuals to provide support, encouragement and direction. Engages others to accomplish organizational and departmental goals. Is seen as a role model.
• Personal Development: Displays self-awareness, a high level of energy, persistence and a positive outlook. Continuously seeks ways to improve and learns from mistakes and constructive feedback.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Be a TPS brand ambassador

Data entry, PO and SKU management, and database maintenance:

• Place orders and follow up with vendors to receive shipping confirmations and verify costs and availability
• Respond to inquiries regarding order status, changes, or cancellations
• Contact and follow up with vendors for product samples, new SKU information, damages, and management of back-ordered goods, bestseller lists, catalogs, etc.
• Update vendor information in the database
• PO cleanup and maintenance
• Removing discontinued or back-ordered items from purchase order
• Price changes
• Vendor changes
• Open Order report clean-up
• Build and maintain style lists for promotional events, markdowns, special events, table statements, etc. Add/remove items as necessary to ensure accuracy
• Create collages of new products
• Initiate and follow up on transfers, consolidations, and recalls between the stores and the distribution center
• Distribute batches from the warehouse
• Perform allocations and execute replenishments
• Have knowledge of Smart Sheet and how to execute directives
• Work with stores and distribution center to answer questions, identify and resolve issues
• File packing lists, completed orders, and catalogs
• Ship packages via UPS and FedEx
• Print labels and ship to vendors as needed
• Perform other duties as determined by management but not limited to the above-mentioned
• Communicate with the warehouse regarding to any discrepancies or exceptions

• Review sales performance and learn to identify sales trends
• Attend discussions on evaluating and adjusting future product as well as sales forecast to develop understanding of key financial concepts and components
• Develop expert knowledge of customer base by participating in local store visits.

• Work closely with vendors to obtain and develop desired products and build relationships
• Attend trade shows to keep informed of new products and build vendor relations
• Have knowledge on your department and other department’s product

Reporting:

• Run and format sales reports per request of buyer
• Provide analysis of sales; sell through, turn, and gross margin on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, and seasonal basis
• Knowledge of basic formulas for retail: turn, gross margin, net margin, net profit, sales per square foot, % increase or decrease, % to total
• Knowledge of all reports in Merch Analytics and Infobase
• Knowledge of all reports in Quantisense
• Run markdown reports and create Excel summary

Merchandising and Ecommerce:

• Create merchandise directives to communicate new product placement.
• Responsible for making sure buyers have accurately stocked product in e-commerce. Run reports as necessary.
• Act as the liaison between the buying team and the E-Commerce/Marketing team including prepping materials in order to put items online.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be proficient with Microsoft Office Suite: Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook.
• Good organizational skills including prioritizing, time management, and meeting deadlines.
• Strong numerical and analytical aptitude.
• 1-3 years of experience as an assistant buyer in a retail organization.
• Communication and negotiation skills/experience
• Ability to work 3+ days/week at the Corporate Office in Acton, MA
• Professional presentation in attire, demeanor, and appearance

The Paper Store is an equal-opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, veteran status, or any other classification protected by state, local or federal law.