Store Purchasing Associate

Position Overview

Responsible for merchandise allocation, purchasing and supply, product availability, inventory turnover, and store merchandise analysis for new and existing stores within assigned categories. Ensure complete and timely delivery of products for new stores through standardized allocation and project management. Continuously optimize merchandise assortment and inventory health in existing stores through ABC analysis, inventory-turnover monitoring, and oversight of slow-moving inventory disposal, thereby improving store merchandising performance.

Job Responsibilities

1.Store Allocation and Purchasing Plan Management

a. Calculate initial allocations, special replenishment, and transfer quantities based on approved standard SKU templates, fixed allocation ratios, store shelf capacity, and operational needs. Adjust within delegated authority; explain and submit deviations beyond standard configurations or permitted ranges to the Category Manager for review.

b. Issue purchase orders to local suppliers or overseas collectible-toy suppliers based on approved allocation or purchasing plans. Submit transfer requests for approved quantities when using central warehouse inventory.

c. Verify product quantities, case packs, lead times, expiration dates, transportation methods, and expected arrival dates for each supply source; coordinate purchasing, transfers, and phased deliveries.

d. Track order preparation, dispatch, transit, and warehouse/store receipt for purchases and transfers to meet scheduled supply milestones.

e. Promptly address stockouts, delays, incorrect shipments, missing items, and supplier quality issues; coordinate reshipments, replacements, returns, or credits and track resolution to closure.

2.New Store Merchandise Readiness

a. Develop delivery execution plans from approved new-store allocation plans and Opening Orders, taking account of opening dates, supplier lead times, and central warehouse stock; ensure initial products arrive in time for opening.

b. Coordinate with Visual Merchandising, Operations, and stores to verify arrival of promotional displays, endcaps, featured products, opening-event products, and display materials; ensure setup follows approved layouts and quantities.

c. Identify damage, near-expiry products, quality issues, missing or incomplete displays, and other opening risks; request corrective action, assign responsible departments and deadlines, and track closure before opening.

d. Recommend second-round replenishment based on early sales, inventory, and stockouts; execute within established rules and authority, escalating material deviations or high-inventory-risk orders for Category Manager approval.

e. Summarize product availability, stockouts, order exceptions, urgent replenishment, and supplier delivery performance after opening to improve future purchasing plans and allocation standards.

3.Store Inventory and Assortment Optimization

a. Regularly monitor inventory value, inventory turnover days, days of supply, sell-through, and inventory mix for assigned categories across stores. Identify excess stock, shortages, abnormal turnover, and stockout risks by store and SKU; analyze allocation, replenishment, sales changes, and data discrepancies.

b. Conduct periodic SKU ABC classification using company standards, analyzing sales value, unit sales, gross-margin contribution, sell-through, and inventory turnover to identify core, promising, and underperforming products.

c. Develop category-based actions: prioritize coverage, prime display positions, and safety stock for A items; define development or adjustment plans for B items; recommend observation, reduced replenishment, interstore transfers, purchasing suspension, or slow-moving stock treatment for C and underperforming items. Obtain Category Manager approval before purchasing suspension, product discontinuation, or major changes.

d. Summarize monthly inventory turnover, ABC mix, and slow-moving inventory actions; recommend delisting, replacement, or display changes for persistently weak products. Report unmet targets and improvement plans to the Category Manager; coordinate approved actions with relevant departments.

4.Data Records, Coordination, and Business Reviews

a. Establish and maintain records for store purchasing and allocation, merchandise progress, inventory turnover, ABC analysis, slow-moving inventory actions, and product replacements, with clear milestones, owners, and statuses.

b. Coordinate suppliers, warehouses, logistics, stores, Operations, Visual Merchandising, and New Product Development Specialists to deliver planned merchandise activities.

Provide timely warnings and escalation for major stockouts, delivery delays, excess stock, abnormal turnover, incomplete slow-moving inventory actions, and display issues.

c. Complete a review of allocation, inventory depletion, stockouts, and category sales contribution one month after each new store opens.

d. Quarterly, summarize category contribution, ABC mix, turnover, and slow-moving stock results by store, region, and store format; recommend category layouts, shelf configuration, and allocation-standard improvements.

e. Archive purchase orders, review records, analyses, corrective-action evidence, and approvals to ensure traceability.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or above; retail management, supply chain, marketing, business administration, or related fields preferred.
• Experience: At least one year in chain-retail purchasing, store merchandising, new-store preparation, inventory operations, or store operations.
• Knowledge and Skills: Store allocation / purchasing and transfers / inventory turnover / ABC merchandise analysis / slow-moving inventory management / display fundamentals / sales analysis / Excel / ERP / WMS
• Competencies: Data analysis / inventory management / project execution / cross-functional coordination / time management / attention to detail / risk awareness / accountability

Compensation

• From $22 Per Hour
• Quarterly Performance Bonus: This position is eligible for a quarterly performance-based bonus, subject to the eligibility requirements, performance criteria, and terms of the Company's bonus program

Benefits

• 401(k) & 401(k) matching - subject to the eligibility requirements
• Paid Sick Leave
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Paid Time Off

Job Type: Full-Time (On-Site)