Associate Buyer

Overview We are authentic, professional providers of fun, focused on building a Great Place To Work For All by staying true to our mission: “Life’s a Party, We’re Makin’ It Fun!” and “So Much Fun It’s Scary!” At Spencer’s and Spirit, we do the right thing always-integrity, fairness, respect, and transparency are our foundation. You will find our culture to be inclusive, passionate, resilient, and one that values differences and embraces all. One Team / One Goal We are leaders and owners of our business success. Whether it’s developing new and exclusive costumes, quality testing products, or implementing technology solutions, our teams understand the value of working collaboratively to embrace change through innovation, curiosity, and thoughtfulness. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes: Flexible work environment Career advancement Competitive base salary Bonus opportunity Vacation, Personal, Sick and Holiday pay Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Life and AD&D insurance 401k with a company match 30% merchandise discount Responsibilities The Associate Buyer manages purchasing and inventory for specific departments, driving sales and profitability through collaboration with internal teams and external partners. They assist in curating assortments, ensuring timely deliveries, and analyzing sales performance. The role also involves identifying new products and trends through research and competitive shopping. Additionally, the Associate Buyer helps guide and train Assistant Buyers and Senior Assistant Buyers. Responsible for building, creating & managing merchandise assortments that align with market and consumer trends, to be presented to the Buyer. Assortment creation includes selecting and developing merchandise by considering quality, sourcing, timing, delivery, mix, and price Analyze weekly sales and item performance to find opportunities and strategies to drive sales and margin Prepare merchandise and reports for weekly team meetings Manage entire product lifecycle from creation, tracking of the purchase orders, samples, merchandising in store, to markdowns and discards Responsible for making purchasing decisions independently that satisfy the customer demand and achieve sales, turn and margin plan Travel to store locations to review product mix, gather feedback, and share information with the merchant team Attend trade shows and travel to vendor locations to grow and maintain professional relationships with external partners, as well as gain insight on new trends and opportunities Maintain and grow professional relationships with external suppliers and internal partners via telephone, email, and face-to-face meetings Partner with leadership and planning counterparts to manage the OTB and to identify opportunities in style count, sales goals, and inventory flow Manage markdowns and promotion strategies Qualifications Bachelor's degree (B. A.) from four-year college or university; and 5+ years experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience Proven ability to develop and implement strategies that drive business growth Exceptional written and verbal communication abilities, facilitating clear and effective dialogue with stakeholders Ability to work independently while also thriving in collaborative environments, taking initiative to drive projects forward Strong aptitude for partnering with cross-functional teams to achieve shared goals and enhance organizational effectiveness Skilled in developing, planning, presenting, and executing strategic initiatives that align with business objectives The pay range reflects the potential base salary range for this role. Individual base pay is determined by various factors such as relevant experience and skills, and the scope and responsibilities of the position. Pay Range $70,000 - $80,000