Buyer

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Job description

A Premier Needle Arts Company

Vancouver, WA / Buyer / Full Time, On-Site

About Us

For thirty years Crafts Group has been making crafts accessible to everyone through quality products and engaging content. Today, Crafts Group is home to four thriving brands that serve quilters, knitters, crocheters, and sewists through print catalogs and content-rich e-commerce sites. Our core mission (and passion) is to inspire and enable people to create beautiful things.

The handmade movement is growing worldwide and becoming increasingly relevant to the values our society holds dear. Here in the US, were leading this growth. We source the best quality yarns, fabrics, threads, and other supplies so that crafters can do what they do best: create. We give crafters the tools they need to support their handmade lifestyle.

Our close-knit teams for all four brands are headquartered just across the river from Portland, OR. Located ten minutes from the Portland Airport, our Vancouver office is a supportive and creative environment in a newly renovated work space. If you value community, creativity, and all things handmade, this is the place for you.

Crafts Group is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a company that represents the craft communities we serve. We welcome employees of all backgrounds and perspectives, and we are committed to providing an inclusive working environment.

The Challenge and The Opportunity

As our Buyer, you will place and track all purchase orders with vendors and provide open order reporting. You will work collaboratively to achieve efficiencies and lower costs. You will maintain relationships with vendors by keeping open lines of communication. You will use your organizational skills and aptitude for detail to control inventory levels, and perform daily, weekly, and monthly inventory activities and generate status reports.

Job Duties

* Enter data regarding new products into inventory management systems and perform item maintenance (i.e. discontinuing, closeout, sales, clearance and kit ordering).

* Manage drop ship orders and communicate status with Customer Service department and vendors.

* Manage sale price of items based on promotional activity, sales channel and closeout status.

* Coordinate barcode, UPC and ISBN labels and other artwork for vendors.

* Manage open purchase orders on a weekly basis; follow up on unconfirmed orders; track orders that have not yet arrived and notify customer service and brand teams when there are material delays.

* Work with receiving team at warehouse, shippers, freight forwarders, and vendors to track partial, undelivered and missing orders. Communicate with vendors regarding quality issues and manage returns.

* Proof catalog pages for correct inventory item information, and make buys in preparation for catalog launches.

* Assist with product development for brand and merchandising teams.

* Performs other duties, special projects and functions as necessary or as assigned.

* Maintains punctual, regular and predictable attendance.

* Works collaboratively in a team environment with a spirit of cooperation.

* Display excellent communication skills including presentation, persuasion, and negotiation skills, and be able to remain calm and courteous under pressure.

Requirements

* A self-starter with excellent organizational and time management skills and the ability to quickly re-prioritize while still meeting deadlines.
* Exceptional problem solving and analytical skills with proven ability to transform findings into action plans and solutions.
* Display excellent communication skills including presentation, persuasion, and negotiation skills, and be able to remain calm and courteous under pressure.
* Flexible and works well in rapidly changing environment
* Skilled at synthesizing large amounts of data into conclusions and recommendations
* Proven history of building strong working relationships with business partners
* Ability to work independently and with teams interchangeably to deliver results
* Intermediate in Microsoft Excel with the ability to master new and available technical applications
* Experience in Sage, Response and Cagdev a plus
* Associate degree or equivalent 3+ years work experience in inventory planning/buying

Physical Demands

Required to sit for extended periods of time; use hands to finger, handle or feel; talk and hear. Occasionally required to stand or walk; reach with arms or hands; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Occasionally required to lift and move up to 25 lbs. unassisted. Vision to include ability to adjust focus, color perception, depth perception. Job may occasionally require hours that exceed 8 hours per day and/or 40 hours per week.

Benefits

We offer a generous Benefits Package, including:

* *Multiple medical and dental plan options after 30 days (with company contributions to the premium costs)
* *Healthcare savings account with company contribution (if enrolled in a high-deductible medical plan)
* Company-paid employee assistance program and and mental health benefits for you and your household
* *Company-paid life, AD&D and short-term disability insurance
* Vision insurance
* Other voluntary life and income replacement plans
* 401(k) retirement plan with company match after 90 days
* 3 weeks of paid time off during your first year plus 9 paid holidays
* Employee discounts at all Premier Needle Arts companies!

*Coverage beings on the first day of the month following 30 days of employment and is available to full-time employees only for these benefits.