THE NORTH FACE: ASSISTANT RETAIL BUYER (ALAMEDA, CA)

Description

 At The North Face, we push the boundaries of innovation with our product design and development of premier apparel, equipment and footwear to enable and inspire athletes and enthusiasts to Never Stop Exploring. We remain deeply proud to be the first choice of the world's most accomplished climbers, mountaineers, extreme skiers, snowboarders, endurance runners, and explorers. If you have a passion for the outdoors and enjoy a fast-paced environment, this is the place for you!

As a member of the Retail Team, the Assistant Retail Buyer will be assisting the Retail Buyer in planning, purchasing, communicating, and controlling merchandising and marketing for the assigned area in support of the Company positioning statements and consumer-focused branding strategy to maximize sales and profits and increasing market share for the retail stores.

Qualifications

 Education/Experience:
Years of Related Professional Experience: 1-3.
Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Retail Administration, Merchandising, Business, or other related field and/or related experience preferred.

Skills:
Merchandising skills preferred
Trend Analysis and problem solving skills are required
Strong team building skills
Strong organization skills
Ability to work in a fast paced environment
Strong time management skills with a sense of urgency

Key Responsibilities 1. Maintains and monitors purchase orders including item set up and keying in addition to daily contact with the distribution center to determine current receipts, rush delivery to stores, resolve any problem receipts, arranging for timely delivery returns to original source in cases of incorrect receipts.
2. Track sales; analyze reports, discusses information with the buyer in timely fashion and makes basic re-order recommendations.
3. Assists the Buyer by preparing recommendations for next season’s assortments based on analysis of selling history and coming seasons sales plans.
4. Monitor basic stock inventory and sales within stores; maintain model stock levels within the stores;project future receipts and sales of basic stock.
5. Responds pro-actively to poor sellers and advises store management teams as appropriate. Manages markdown process and communicates variances to Buyer 6. Communicates findings to the Buyer, Store Operations team members, GMM, and VP of Retail.
7. Sets goals for department based on plan and anticipated sell through
8. Learns how to determine mark up and price changes on products
9. Review and analyze current sales trends and compare and contrast the data against sales history including reviewing sales by department and reviewing sales by style.
10. Works with the Buyer and the Visual team on store communications.

Posted By: Audrey Donaldson

ASSISTANT BUYER - RETAIL, POTTERY BARN KIDS (SF)

Location: San Francisco, CA, US

Requisition Number: PK-5580
Area of Interest: Merchandising
Division: Corporate Pottery Barn Kids
Position Type: Full Time

JOB DESCRIPTION

Our Company

Founded in 1956, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is the premier specialty retailer of high-quality products for the kitchen and home in the United States. Our family of brands are Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, PBteen, West Elm, Williams-Sonoma Home, Rejuvenation, and Mark and Graham. These brands are among the best known and most respected in the industry. We offer beautifully-designed, stylish and functional products for every area of the home, including the kitchen, living room, bedroom, home office, closet, laundry room and even outdoor spaces. We've seen some big changes since our first brick-and-mortar store opened more than half of a century ago. What hasn't changed is our passion for high-quality products, functional design, outstanding customer service, and enhancing the lives of our customers and the communities where we operate. Today, we're a multi-brand, multi-channel, global enterprise supported by state-of-the-art technology and some of the most talented teams in retailing - and we're always looking for new energy and ideas.

Position Summary

Assist Buyer with developing business strategies and seasonal assortment plans to maximize the development of the brand, sales and profits for a department or assigned area. Identify opportunities and recommend new product or concepts for department. Coordinates information across functions working closely with Design, Inventory Management, Sourcing, Production, Packaging and Visual to ensure the process is followed and timelines met. Handles visual signage (new, specials, markdowns). Coordinates production of in-store collateral and product information binders. Attends and participates in Design meetings. May manage one program or small department.

Specific Responsibilities

* Correspond with functional areas. Resolves, handles and escalates difficult issues to Buyer, Call Center and Stores.
* Summarize and communicate merchandising information for store newsletters and emails. Coordinate with Store Operation for disseminating information through appropriate channels.
* Work with Visual to create signage and in-store collateral. Provide Visual with product information (facts, inspiration, pricing). Coordinate the development all signage (new, special, markdowns) and all in-store collateral.
* Communicate pre-ticketing instructions to Sourcing and Production. Provide Inventory Management with pre-ticketing prices.
* Provide Merch Coordinator with product information (facts, pricing) to create Product Information sheets.
* Assist the Buyer with developing the seasonal assortment plans (line lists) to define product requirements for Design.
* Assist Buyer and Inventory Management to provide Sourcing and Production Management with purchase quantities, delivery dates, flow and exit strategies for initial cost and production negotiations for new programs.
* Assist Buyer with providing Inventory Management with final assortment plans (line lists), product details, target retails, estimated IMU, importance to overall assortment (big bets) and floor plan location for developing purchase projections and buy plans. Update document and ensure accuracy.
* Investigate and respond to field issues. Coordinate communication strategies with Store Operations. Provide appropriate merchandising information for Store Newsletters.
* Visit stores and contact field management to gather information on product and issues.
* Analyze market (domestic) and provide observations of market to Buyer for market analyses.
* Identify and recommend new products or business opportunities.
* Make recommendations to assist Buyer with developing seasonal and core product mix for department or area. Participate in the development of annual and seasonal financial plans.
* Recommend floor layouts to Buyer.
* Assist Buyer and Inventory Management with determining appropriate adjustments (markdowns, delivery changes and quantity changes) to the plan to maximize sales, profits, budget (OTB) and to protect the brand. Recommend contest ideas and coordinate awards and in-store collateral.
* Assist Buyer with providing information to Visual on in-store promotion strategies and placement of markdown goods.
* Handles escalated customer service issues.
* Provide SKU information to Merchandising Operations for input.
* May be responsible to manage and oversee small department or area.
* Works with the Visual Packaging team to deliver on time artwork to the vendor. Approves artwork and/or works with Protective Packaging team to create packaging for easily damaged items.
* Order input and order tracking (once goods have left the port).
* Work with Production Manager/Sourcing to ensure timely delivery and/or changes to delivery.
* Responsible for approving catalog proofs for each season (pricing, naming, copy).

Personal Competencies

Global Business Acumen - Understand the complexity of business on a global scale. Embrace cultural and individual differences with empathy. Work with the nuances of specific local cultures to make informed decisions.

Strategic and Analytical Capability -- Ability to think globally, strategically, and objectively. Effectively translates data into actionable insights, strategies and financial plans.

Leading Teams -- Attracts, develops and motives the talent needed for current and future business requirements. Articulates an inspiring vision for the future, establishes high performance expectations and sets example through own behavior. Ensures alignment of individual goals with overall business objectives. Coaches team members to success and holds individuals accountable for achieving results.

Drive for Results -- Credibility earned through delivering results. Balances urgent and effective action, commitment to excellence, taking initiative to resolve problems and work quality. Demonstrates high initiative and provides leadership in a project-oriented environment.

Effective Communication -- Communicates clearly and effectively with associates at all levels, board members, external partners and customers. Strong verbal and written presentation skills including the ability to communicate complex ideas in a simple way and to tailor key messages and presentation style to multiple audiences.

Influence and Collaboration -- Builds and sustains collaborative relationships at multiple levels in the company. Able to work through complex disagreements and conflict to achieve resolution. Builds trust by including others and by keeping the cross-functional teams focused on the success of the entire company.

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS
* BA/BS required.
* Previous experience in a retail buying office, or a related experience.
This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Nearest Major Market: San Francisco
Nearest Secondary Market: Oakland
Job Segment: Procurement, Artist, Merchandising, Buyer, Operations, Creative, Retail

Posted By: Audrey Donaldson

Cost Plus World Market - Merchandising Assistant (Oakland, CA)

Merchandising Assistant

Job ID: 
Location: Oakland, CA
Position Type: Entry Level
Position Duration: Full-Time

Description:

General Overview:
The Merchandising Assistant will provide support the Merchandising Division in achievement of financial plans and adhere to the Retail Master Calendar. Direction will be provided by the Divisional Merchandise Manager for the divisional needs and projects. The main focus is sample management, information entry and upkeep, and daily vendor/store communication.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
• Sample management – tracking, unpacking and organizing new samples, coordinate samples for visual and advertising as necessary
• Develop and maintain sku’s
• Complete promotional and markdown entry
• Provide timely store and vendor communication
• Maintain and meet deadlines on multiple, concurrent projects
• Special projects as assigned

Requirements:

• Demonstrated flexibility, ability to work independently on multiple projects in a fast-paced, resulted driven environment
• Strong organizational, prioritizing, analytical and problem solving skills
• Detail-oriented with a high degree of accuracy and an ability to detect inconsistencies in data
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite tools including Excel & Word
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to communicate with all levels of the organization
• Solid math skills
• Retail and administrative/office experience preferred
• BA/BS degree preferred, but not required
• Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment consistent with the requirements of all applicable law.

Cost Plus World Market is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
No phone calls or agencies, please.

Posted by Alicia Luu