Associate Buyer Toys and Plush
On-siteLebanon, Tennessee, United States
Job Summary
Associate Buyer Toys and Plush at Cracker Barrel’s Store Support Center owns a defined product category or subcategory, including assortment strategy, vendor matrix, and financial performance. You will develop and execute seasonal and annual assortment plans aligned to customer needs, brand positioning, and business goals, champion the guest perspective in assortment decisions, and identify product opportunities through trend analysis and sales insights. You’ll lead product ideation and development, curate assortments across newness, core replenishment, and SKU rationalization to maximize productivity and growth, co-own open-to-buy and inventory decisions with Planning, and drive rapid, data-informed decisions on reorders, markdowns, consolidations, and product exits to optimize financial outcomes. You’ll collaborate with Planning, Allocation, Marketing, Visual Merchandising, and Store Operations to bring assortments to market, and influence cross-functional decisions with strong communication and business insight. The role requires experience in multi-channel retail with vendor interaction for product development or sourcing, and a solid foundation in retail math, margins, and inventory management principles.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Merchandising, Marketing, or related field
- 3+ years of experience in retail buying, merchandising, or related functions
- Experience owning or significantly influencing a product category or assortment
- Experience with assortment planning and forecasting tools
- Experience in multi-channel retail (store + e-commerce)
- Experience working directly with vendors on product development or sourcing
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales, inventory, and financial data
- Solid understanding of retail math, margins, and inventory management principles
- Demonstrated ability to own or influence a category, assortment decisions, or key business outcomes
- Excellent negotiation and vendor management skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and retail/merchandising systems
Desired Qualifications
- Experience owning or significantly influencing a product category or assortment
- Strong vendor management and negotiation skills
- Experience with assortment planning, forecasting tools, and retail math
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