Buyer, Custom Home - 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 As a Buyer, you will turn merchandising strategy into compelling product by discovering, developing, sourcing, and managing assortments that are relevant to our guests, authentic to our partners, and commercially strong. This role is ideal for a curious, decisive merchant with strong product instinct, financial fluency, and the drive to find what is next. You will build trusted vendor relationships, bring forward well-developed recommendations, manage product from idea through execution, and partner with Division Merchandise Managers, General Merchandise Managers, Creative, Planning, and support teams to deliver differentiated assortments with discipline and speed. As the custom Home department buyer, you will develop bespoke, location-specific giftables for our guests and partners. From soft home textiles and tabletop to collectible ornaments and figurines, you will translate broader content direction from the GMMs into compelling product assortments, working closely with your DMM, vendor partners, and Product Development to bring ideas to life. You will have the unique ability to develop products that balance creative vision with aesthetic, quality, and sales objectives, while exploring innovative, on-trend product types that can drive the business and scale through custom execution across cultural attraction and lifestyle retail locations. CURIOSITY Stay close to guests, product, vendors, trends, and performance; ask thoughtful questions and continually search for what is next. GENEROSITY Share ideas, market intelligence, vendor capabilities, and learning across teams so the strength of the enterprise makes every business better. CREATIVITY Bring fresh product ideas and strong merchant judgment to every assortment, balancing differentiation, storytelling, value, and commercial performance. Leadership Mandate Own product discovery, development, vendor management, and buying execution within established categories and portfolio strategies. Bring a strong point of view, use data and market intelligence to improve decisions, and ensure products are brand-right, financially sound, on time, and ready to perform. Core Responsibilities Discover, Build, and Manage Assortments Source, develop, and manage product assortments aligned with portfolio strategy, partner identity, guest needs, category direction, and financial goals. Continuously discover products, vendors, brands, materials, trends, and market opportunities through research, competitive shopping, trade shows, showrooms, stores, and industry relationships. Bring a clear point of view to assortment reviews, respond constructively to editing and direction, and develop custom or proprietary product with Creative and Product Development. Own Vendor Management and Buying Execution Build strong vendor relationships and lead day-to-day sourcing, product development, negotiation, and commercial communication for assigned categories. Negotiate cost, terms, minimums, lead times, delivery, and quality within established category strategy. Own execution from approved concept through order placement, partnering with Assistant Buyers and Merchandise Coordinators to ensure accurate information, clear handoffs, and timely follow-through. Escalate material opportunities or risks to the DMM. Drive Product and Financial Performance Maintain a strong working knowledge of sales, per cap, cost of goods, inventory productivity, SKU and category performance, and new-product results. Use performance data to ident…