Assistant Buyer, Plush - San Diego SSC
Event Network, LLCYOUR FUTURE BEGINS AT THIS PREMIER DESTINATION At Event Network, we believe the experience matters. As the leading operator of retail experiences at some of the most iconic and inspiring destinations across the United States, we infuse passion, creativity, and purpose into everything we do. Our team is dedicated to providing engaging and memorable retail environments that enhance the guest experience, while reflecting the unique mission and values of each location we serve. The Opportunity Event Network creates retail experiences inside some of the country's most memorable cultural, educational, and entertainment destinations. As an Assistant Buyer, you will help bring merchandising strategies to life by supporting product assortment planning, vendor communication, inventory allocation, and the day-to-day execution of compelling assortments across our locations. This role is ideal for a curious, organized, and commercially minded individual who is passionate about product and understands the importance of delivering the right assortment to the right guest at the right time. You will support the Buyer with business analysis, product execution, vendor follow-up, and actionable recommendations that help drive sales, per cap, margin, SKU productivity, and inventory health. CURIOSITY Learn the guest, product, and business. Ask questions, build category knowledge, and stay open to new ideas that strengthen your merchant perspective. GENEROSITY Be a dependable partner to Buyers, vendors, and cross-functional teams. Communicate clearly, share information freely, and help keep work moving forward. CREATIVITY Bring energy and fresh thinking to product, problem-solving, and assortment execution. Look for practical ways to improve details and support the team’s goals. Merchant Mandate Support the Buyer in executing product vision, assortment plans, and inventory strategies across assigned categories. Use business analysis, strong organization, and proactive follow-up to help ensure accurate orders and timely delivery to stores. Core Responsibilities Support Assortment Planning and Buying Support the Buyer with assortment planning, product selection, buying activities, and financial performance management for assigned categories. Help execute assortment plans aligned with guest needs, partner identity, category direction, sales goals, SKU targets, inventory objectives, and cost of goods sold targets. Maintain strong product knowledge and an understanding of guest demographics to support relevant and compelling assortments. Assist with order placement, item setup, vendor follow-up, product information, and other activities needed to execute assortments accurately and on time. Analyze Performance and Drive Recommendations Regularly analyze sales, sales per visitor, SKU count, inventory, margin, cost of goods sold, and other business performance metrics. Identify business successes, risks, and opportunities, and provide actionable recommendations to the Buyer. Help the business achieve assortment and inventory targets while improving revenue, margin, and productivity. Help monitor inventory health and product performance by store, department, and category, escalating concerns and opportunities as they arise. Contribute product performance feedback, market insights, and trend analysis to inform new product development. Coordinate Vendor and Cross-Functional Execution Support vendor communication and follow-up to ensure product, order, pricing, delivery, and assortment needs are addressed. Work closely with DMMs, SMMs, GMMs, the Creative Center of Excellence, Planning, Purchasing Operations, and store teams to coordinate priorities and support timely product delivery. Foster productive relationships with internal partners and vendors through clear communication, responsiveness, and dependable follow-through. Partner with the Merchandise Coordinator to provide direction and help resolve item setup, purchase order, invoicing, and other operationa…