Overview
Merchandise Buyer Jobs in United States at S Piper Staffing LLC
Title: Merchandise Buyer
Company: S Piper Staffing LLC
Location: United States
Title: Merchandise Buyer
Type: Contract (June – November 2026)
Location: Fully Remote (U.S.-based candidates only)
🌄 About the Role:
We’re looking for a Buyer, Camp & Backpack to support a high-impact product category within a dynamic retail environment. This role is responsible for driving category performance across sales, margin, inventory, and assortment strategy, while partnering cross-functionally to bring compelling product stories to life. This is a highly visible opportunity within a core outdoor category… Ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative merchandising environment, and enjoys both strategic planning and hands-on execution.
🎯 What You’ll Do:
Assortment & Product Strategy:
- Develop and execute assortment strategies aligned with financial targets and customer needs
- Partner with planning to build forecasts using trends, performance data, and market insights
- Manage SKU productivity, pricing strategies, and in-season assortment adjustments
- Align product plans with marketing, visual merchandising, and digital channels
- Communicate assortment direction, product details, and strategy across internal stakeholders
Vendor Management & Negotiation:
- Build and maintain strong vendor relationships to support profitability and innovation
- Negotiate costs, terms, freight, and marketing support
- Identify and onboard new vendors and emerging product opportunities
- Partner with vendors on marketing initiatives and inventory strategies
Business Planning & Analysis:
- Monitor category performance and industry trends to inform decisions
- Support short- and long-term category planning
- Collaborate with planning and forecasting teams on lifecycle and inventory strategies
Operations & Execution:
- Manage category workflow and timelines across planning and replenishment
- Partner cross-functionally (digital, marketing, visual merchandising) to execute strategy
- Support product data setup, sample management, and open order tracking
- Resolve operational issues across vendors and internal teams
- Conduct competitive and ad hoc analysis as needed
✅ What You Bring:
- 2–3+ years of buying or merchandising experience in the outdoor industry, in the retail/apparel, sporting goods, backpack, and/or camping space/industry
- Strong, analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and drive decisions
- Experience with assortment planning, SKU management, pricing, and vendor collaboration
- Ability to work independently while taking direction in a fast-paced environment
- Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and merchandising/planning systems (e.g., SAP or similar tools preferred)
⭐ Ideal Background:
- Experience supporting outdoor, gear, or specialty retail categories
- Exposure to vendor negotiations and line reviews
- Familiarity with merchandising financials (margin, markdowns, inventory turn, OTB)
- Quick learner who is detail-oriented and execution-focused
💡 Why This Role?
This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a core product category within a well-established retail environment. You’ll gain exposure to end-to-end merchandising while working alongside experienced teams across planning, marketing, and digital.
👉 If you’re a data-driven merchant/buyer who loves building compelling assortments and driving category performance, we’d love to connect!
