Merchandise Buyer at Coopers Uptown

Smile, you're at Coopers Uptown! Join our Coopers Uptown and lead a one-of-a-kind retail and cafe experience located in the heart of Kenosha. What makes Coopers Uptown unique is not only its 100+ years of history, but it truly stands alone in that it is both an award-winning shopping and dining destination. Whether it's our thoughtfully curated selection of merchandise, or our delicious homemade food, this one-stop shop was made for the purpose of making generations of people smile. JOB SUMMARY The Merchandise Buyer is responsible for curating a distinct and compelling product assortment that reflects the Coopers Uptown brand, connects with our customers, and drives profitable sales. This role owns the merchandise buying process across various retail categories, from identifying trends and sourcing vendors to purchasing, pricing, replenishment and inventory management. JOB EXPECTATIONS Product Curation & Buying Curate a unique, relevant assortment that reflects the brand and target customer. Continuously source new products, vendors and categories that create excitement and differentiation. Build balanced assortments across core, seasonal and new products to drive sales. Balance creativity with financial responsibility to ensure customer engagement while driving profitability. Business & Financial Management Develop quarterly/seasonal buying strategies aligned with sales, inventory and financial goals. Manage open-to-buy, inventory levels and margins to maximize profitability. Analyze sales, sell-through and inventory performance to guide future buying decisions. Replenish strong sellers and proactively address slow-moving or excess inventory. Customer & Market Insights Maintain a strong understanding of the customer and evolving shopping behaviors. Stay ahead of retail trends to keep the assortment fresh and relevant. Use sales results, customer feedback and market insights to identify new opportunities. Continually seek products and categories that attract new customers and encourage repeat visits. Merchandise & Inventory Management Own the merchandise lifecycle from vendor selection and purchasing through pricing and replenishment. Ensure accurate product setup, pricing, receiving and inventory information. Keep store teams informed of new products, key selling stories and merchandise priorities. Maintain appropriate inventory levels to support sales while minimizing excess inventory. Resolve vendor and product issues quickly to maintain accurate, sellable inventory. Additional Expectations Travel as needed, for buying shows, markets and vendor meetings to discover new products and opportunities. Demonstrate creativity, strong business judgment and financial discipline. Ability to move and lift merchandise up to 25 lbs. QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED: Proven work experience as a Merchandise Buyer, Store/Retail Manager, General Manager, Hospitality Manager or similar role Proven experience managing vendor relationships and buying product

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