Associate Buyer

Job Description

We are seeking a passionate Associate Buyer to join our dynamic merchandising team. The ideal candidate will be supporting one of our buyers, who is responsible for sourcing, selecting, and purchasing a diverse range of footwear products that align with our brand aesthetic, target customer, and financial goals. This role requires a keen eye for trends, knowledge of retail math / financials, and an understanding of the sports fashion market. This individual will effectively exhibit JD Finish Line’s core values of Customer, People, Winning, Community, and Financial Responsibility in everything they do by performing the following main duties :

Key Responsibilities

Product Sourcing and Selection

• Support the buyer in identifying and evaluating new suppliers, brands, and product opportunities that align with company strategy and customer preferences.
• Participate in market research to stay abreast of current and emerging footwear trends, competitor activities, and consumer demands.
• Attend trade shows, fashion events, and vendor meetings to discover new products and build relationships.
• Support the buyer in curating a compelling and balanced footwear assortment across various brands & categories (e.g., classics, seasonal, basketball, running) ensuring a fresh and relevant offering.
• Analyze product performance and customer feedback to inform future buying decisions.

Vendor Management and Negotiation

Inventory Management and Financial Performance

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Qualifications

Required Education and / or Experience

Skills and Competencies

Required Computer and / or Technical Skills

Should have basic to intermediate knowledge and abilities with Google Suite, Microsoft, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The company reserves the right to modify this job description with or without notice. Employees may be asked to perform additional duties outside of normal job scope on a temporary basis per company policy.