Tri-State Area Buyer/Merchant

**Buyer/Merchant** Mission: Deliver the World’s Best Luxury Beauty Buying Experience Job Title: Buyer/Merchant Company: Cos Bar Retail Location: Corporate – Remote Reports To: Senior Director of Buying Classification: Exempt Number of Direct Reports: 0 MAIN JOB OBJECTIVE The Buyer/Merchant role is responsible for selecting the finest and most distinctive product in their area of buying responsibility in alignment with the overall Cos Bar merchandising strategy. Reporting to the Senior Director of Buying, this role is responsible for Open to Buy management/purchase order writing, item management, 360 degree vendor management, merchandising and assortment strategies, sales/inventory data analysis, marketing and vendor negotiations to optimize and grow the business. Additional duties include market travel, market research, competitor analysis, product evaluations and testing, and creating and presenting executive level presentations and reports for the management team. Buyer/Merchant must possess a strong luxury beauty industry knowledge. In this role, you will leverage your expertise in buying and inventory management to optimize product selection, ensure alignment with the Cos Bar merchandising strategy, and drive profitability. Buyer/Merchant will be instrumental in executing buying strategies that resonate with our elevated brand identity and enhance the customer experience. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND JOB RESPONSIBILITIES - Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. - Develop and execute comprehensive merchandise buying and product plans that align with overall company strategy and objectives. - Manage consistent and reliable vendor communication in a professional manner; hold consistent monthly, quarterly and seasonal check-ins. Evaluate vendor performance. - Manage OTB and write PO’s in a timely manner. - Oversee and execute item setup and management. - Plan seasonal merchandise assortments and product launches. - Monitor inventory levels and sales performance to ensure optimal stock levels and minimize overstock or out of stock. Manage replenishment to optimize stock availability. - Analyze sales performance, inventory levels, market trends, and customer preferences. - Identify opportunities for margin improvement and sales growth. - Track product performance and adjust assortment strategies based on results to inform future buys. - Collaborating with Planning to forecast new launch demand and support financial planning activities. - Report on buying performance, producing actionable insights that drive continuous improvement. - Negotiate terms, RTV’s/swaps, marketing/store support, and contracts with vendors that maximize margin and profitability. - Attending and scheduling in person and virtual market appointments - Collaborate with planning, marketing, operations, and store teams. - Collaborating with marketing to develop co-op strategies and ensure best in class product experience on Cosbar.com - Lead cross-functional teams in the launch of new products, ensuring alignment between buying, marketing, stores and operations. - Conduct competitive market analysis and provide suggestions for new vendors. - Analyze market trends, consumer preferences, and competitor strategies to inform purchasing decisions. - Staying up-to-date on the latest trends and newest products in their industry. Buying - Product Selection & Assortment Planning - Responsible for selecting the finest and most distinctive product in their brand matrix that meets the high standards of quality and best suits the needs of the Cos Bar client - Develops and makes recommendations based on sales history and business analysis - Conducts brand and market share competitive analyses, develops insights and recommends tests to Sr Director of Buying - Identify and execute opportunities to create Cos Bar exclusive offerings and merchandising initiatives within own brand matrix - Take the lead on improv…