Buyer - Sports Apparel & Souvenirs

Purpose: The Buyer - Sports Apparel & Souvenirs is responsible for sourcing, selecting, and purchasing for sports merchandise in alignment with the company’s goals and current trends for both Duty Free and Duty Paid locations, ensuring the right products are available to meet customer demands while maximizing profitability. 

Essential Functions: 

• Sources, develops, and curates new brands and product assortments that align with the company objectives, customer preferences and market trends 

• Monitors industry trends, consumer preferences, and competitor activities to proactively identify opportunities and challenges; adjusts assortments accordingly 

• Manages supplier and vendor relationships, negotiates pricing and terms, ensures optimal delivery schedules 

• Analyzes sales data and performance metrics to make informed decisions on assortment mix and inventory replenishment 

• Develops and maintains an understanding of the target audience, adjusting assortments to match evolving consumer preferences 

• Addresses aged and slow-moving inventory levels and develops strategies for markdowns and promotions 

• Executes SKU rationalization to maximize performance based on space allocation 

• Partners with Planner using the OTB to manage stock levels 

• Develops an exit strategy on non-go forward items; negotiates RTVs, implement markdowns, promotions, and price changes 

Reporting Relationship: The Buyer - Sports Apparel & Souvenirs reports to the Category Directory, Non-Luxury 

Major Interdependencies: Global Category team, Supply Chain, Master Data, Revenue Generation, Planning, Space Planning, Marketing, and Operations 

Minimum Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Work Environment:  

• Education and Experience: The combination of education and professional experience must exceed 5 years: 

• In a technical role: Requires 5 years of retail experience engaged in delivering buying programs 

• A bachelor’s degree in a program related to the functional area can count for 3 of the five requirement 

• In the industry: 3-5 years of retail experience 

• Specialized Training:  

• Training that leads to an in-depth understanding of the buying function 

• Specialized Skillset/Competencies/Traits 

• Knowledge of financial tools and concept profitability; has the ability to understand and use market research and market trend information to maximize profitability 

• Versatility, flexibility, and a willingness to work enthusiastically and independently with constantly changing priorities  

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail; excellent written communication and interpersonal communication skills 

• Proficient in Microsoft Office, especially Excel 

• Experience with SAP preferred 

• Business acumen and also has the mindset required to understand the long-term implications of buying decisions and to advance the organization’s goals 

• Demonstrated history of understanding the needs of the business, stakeholders, the employee population, and individual circumstances 

• Demonstrated history of creating and maintaining positive work environments to achieve common goals 

• Location/Travel:  

• This position is based at the North America Support Center in East Rutherford, NJ 

• Requires ability to travel up to 15% of the time for meetings and to visit branch locations 

Disclaimer: 

All job requirements are subject to change to reflect the evolving position requirements or to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a threat or risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to which will be required in this position. Employees will be required to follow other job-related duties as requested by their supervisor/manager (within guidelines and compliance with Federal and State Laws). Continued employment remains on an "at-will" basis. 

Dufry, Hudson, and HMSHost are equal opportunity employers and do not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors.