Buyer - Housewares

We are seeking an experienced Housewares Buyer to join our purchasing team in a fast-paced, high-volume environment. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in sourcing and purchasing housewares products, managing vendor relationships, analyzing market trends, and optimizing inventory levels. This role requires excellent analytical skills, strong negotiation abilities, and a deep understanding of product assortments, seasonal buying, and inventory management. Responsibilities and Duties Source and purchase housewares products while maintaining competitive pricing, product quality, and availability. Create, process, and track purchase orders from placement through delivery. Negotiate pricing, terms, promotional opportunities, and product exclusives with vendors. Monitor inventory levels to ensure appropriate stock while minimizing excess inventory and maximizing inventory turns. Analyze product performance, sales trends, and key metrics to make informed purchasing decisions. Forecast demand and plan future purchases based on historical sales, seasonal trends, market conditions, and product life cycles. Monitor market pricing, competitive activity, consumer trends, and emerging products to identify opportunities and mitigate risks. Develop and manage product assortments across key housewares categories, ensuring alignment with customer demand and company objectives. Apply inventory optimization and just-in-time purchasing principles while managing sell-through performance. Build, develop, and maintain strong relationships with manufacturers, distributors, and brand partners to support long-term business growth. Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Finance to ensure purchasing strategies align with inventory and revenue objectives. Maintain accurate purchasing records and ensure data integrity within company systems. Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Merchandising, or a related field. Minimum of 5 years of purchasing or merchandising experience, with a strong focus on housewares, kitchenware, tabletop, home organization, or related consumer products. Proven experience managing high-volume and high-value purchasing. Strong understanding of forecasting, inventory planning, seasonal purchasing, and product life cycles. Experience negotiating with manufacturers, distributors, and domestic and international suppliers. Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. Advanced Microsoft Excel skills. Experience with Great Plains (Microsoft Dynamics GP) is a plus. Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills. Ability to prioritize multiple projects and thrive in a fast-paced environment. Preferred Skills Knowledge of housewares industry trends, consumer buying behaviors, and pricing strategies. Experience with assortment planning, inventory optimization, and demand forecasting. Strong business acumen and data-driven decision-making skills. Ability to identify emerging product trends and develop strategic vendor partnerships. Experience sourcing products from both domestic and international vendors is preferred. Health insurance 401(k) plan with an employer match Life insurance and long-term disability insurance Paid time off Generous employee purchase and incentive programs The successful candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive. They possess strong negotiation skills, a solid understanding of the housewares industry, and the ability to balance inventory investment with customer demand while developing long-term vendor relationships. They have a passion for identifying new products and trends that drive sales and enhance the company's product assortment. Rymax understands the value of employee appreciation and customer loyalty. As the #1 full-service loyalty marketing organization, Rymax provides strategic, customized recognition programs and events to Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 corporations. Our award-winning programs are carefully designed to maximize business growth, engage employees, motivate sales teams, and increase customer retention through aspirational brand-name rewards. Come join an organization that values employee engagement and rewards achievements! #J-18808-Ljbffr Rymax