Buyer

About Star Furniture:

At Star Furniture, we know it's not simply furniture. It's Thanksgiving dinner, late-night chats, gameday get-togethers, and more. At Star Furniture, we set the stage for where life happens. With deep Texas roots, we've spent over 100 years perfecting a premium shopping experience-one that's built on quality products, a broad selection, and honest practices. We put our customers first, and they feel it at every touchpoint.

WE'RE TOLD WE'RE DIFFERENT. AND WE AGREE-WE'RE DIFFERENT BY DESIGN.

Our Mission:

Our mission is to be the preferred home furnishings provider for Texas families who value style, quality, and affordability. By providing exceptional service to our guests and community.

Company Values

As a Company, we're guided by four core values. They impact our long-term strategy, day-to-day business interactions, and our relationships, while helping us stay true to ourselves and Vision.

INTEGRITY / SERVICE / ACCOUNTABILITY / RESPECT

Reports To: Vice President of Merchandising

Position Summary

The Buyer is responsible for developing and executing merchandise strategies that support the Star brand, drive sales growth, and maximize profitability within assigned product categories. This role owns assortment planning, vendor partnerships, inventory performance, and product lifecycle management while identifying emerging trends and market opportunities. The Buyer collaborates closely with cross-functional teams including Retail Operations, Marketing, Visual Merchandising, E-Commerce, and executive leadership to deliver a compelling customer experience and achieve company objectives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Merchandise Planning & Product Assortment

• Develop and execute merchandise strategies, assortment plans, and product selections for assigned departments.
• Analyze market trends, consumer behavior, competitive activity, and sales performance to identify growth opportunities and optimize category performance.
• Establish and maintain a balanced product mix that meets customer needs, supports brand positioning, and maximizes sales and profitability.
• Identify emerging trends and recommend new products, collections, and merchandising concepts.
• Conduct SWOT analyses and develop business strategies that capitalize on strengths, address challenges, and leverage market opportunities.

Inventory & Financial Management

• Manage purchase orders, inventory levels, product flow, delivery schedules, and exit strategies.
• Monitor category performance and recommend adjustments to quantities, deliveries, promotions, and markdown strategies to achieve sales, margin, and inventory objectives.
• Partner with leadership to manage Open-to-Buy (OTB) budgets and inventory investments.
• Analyze sales trends, inventory productivity, and merchandise performance to drive informed business decisions.

Vendor Management & Negotiation

• Build and maintain strong relationships with domestic and international vendor partners.
• Lead vendor negotiations related to product assortment, pricing, terms, promotional support, and delivery schedules.
• Resolve vendor issues and collaborate to ensure product quality, availability, and business objectives are achieved.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Visual Merchandising to develop floor plans, product presentations, and promotional strategies.
• Collaborate with Marketing, E-Commerce, Quality Control, Store Operations, and Retail Leadership to ensure consistent execution of merchandising initiatives.
• Work closely with the web team to ensure product information, imagery, and online merchandising accurately represent category offerings.
• Communicate merchandising strategies, product knowledge, and business updates to field leadership and store teams.

Store & Customer Insights

• Conduct regular store visits and maintain communication with field leadership to gather customer insights, sales feedback, and product performance information.
• Investigate and resolve field-related product and merchandising issues.
• Use customer and store feedback to improve product assortments and overall business performance.

Process Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve merchandising processes, reporting, communication, and operational efficiency.
• Recommend and implement best practices that enhance workflow, decision-making, and business results.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Merchandising, Business, Interior Design, Marketing, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of buying, merchandising, or category management experience.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales, inventory, and market data to drive decision-making.
• Proven negotiation and vendor management experience.
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to travel as business needs require.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in furniture, home furnishings, retail, or specialty retail merchandising.
• Knowledge of retail planning, allocation, inventory management, and Open-to-Buy practices.
• Experience working with e-commerce merchandising and digital product presentation.
• Familiarity with retail sales and merchandising systems.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Thinking
• Business Acumen
• Negotiation & Influencing Skills
• Analytical Problem Solving
• Inventory Management
• Communication & Presentation Skills
• Time Management & Organization
• Collaboration & Teamwork
• Customer Focus
• Adaptability & Flexibility
• Results Orientation

Supervisory Responsibilities

Responsibilities may include training, coaching, delegating work assignments, monitoring performance, and supporting employee development to ensure alignment with departmental objectives and company standards.

The Buyer may also lead cross-functional project teams and coordinate activities involving Marketing, Visual Merchandising, E-Commerce, Store Operations, and vendor partners to ensure successful execution of merchandising initiatives.

Work Environment

This position operates primarily in a professional office environment and routinely utilizes standard office equipment, including computers, phones, printers, and related technology. Periodic travel to stores, markets, and vendor locations is required.

Physical Requirements

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

While performing the duties of this role, the employee is regularly required to communicate verbally and in writing, sit, stand, walk, use hands and fingers, reach with hands and arms, and occasionally lift or move materials related to merchandise reviews and presentations.

Position Type & Expected Hours

This is a full-time, exempt position. The typical work schedule consists of 40+ hours per week. Additional hours, travel, evenings, or weekends may be required based on business needs, market appointments, merchandising events, or project deadlines.

What Star Offers:

Benefits are an important part of the total compensation that Star offers. Star is dedicated to offering competitive compensation enhanced by a variety of benefits that allow team members to choose whether to participate based on their needs. Some of the benefits offered include:

• Comprehensive health care options (Medical, Telemedicine, Dental and Vision)
• 401(k)
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Voluntary Benefits
• Generous Employee Discount

(waiting periods may apply to the above)