Buyer

• Manage purchasing efforts to optimize inventory at each warehouse location
• Analyze historical sales trends, current inventory levels, and forecasted demand by SKU and geographic location
• Understand vendors’ production capabilities, ordering constraints, and processes
• Oversee the lifecycle and maintenance of SKUs, ensuring accuracy and compliance with internal and external standards
• Serve as point of contact for vendors, holding accountable meetings and setting clear expectations
• Develop and implement inventory strategies aligned with company goals
• Monitor inventory health to prevent stockouts and overstock situations
• Identify, lead, and execute inventory-management projects and process-improvement initiatives
• Communicate inventory-health implications across the organization
• Manage factory production and shipping schedules to forecast consumer buying patterns, sales, and inventory
• Partner with Operations to allocate incoming inventory and monitor inventory flow, demand, vendor, and factory production
• Collaborate with Sales and Branding on retailer needs and preferences
• Liaise with the Asia office to optimize purchasing and inventory flow
• Maintain and issue purchase orders based on lead time, demand, forecasts, inventory levels, sales expectations, and quality-control factors

• Collaborate with Product Management and Engineering teams to support new product development (NPI)
• Manage procurement processes and ensure timely acquisition of high-quality materials and components
• Source, evaluate, and negotiate with vendors, especially in Asia, to obtain competitive pricing and terms
• Analyze supplier quotations based on product specifications and market conditions
• Plan and monitor inventory levels to align with customer requirements and company targets
• Develop and implement strategies for long lead-time and unique components
• Prepare and analyze inventory and aging reports
• Identify opportunities to improve procurement accuracy and streamline supply chain processes
• Implement best practices to optimize resource utilization and cost savings
• Support cross-functional teams in forecasting, demand planning, and risk mitigation strategies

Buyer/Planner – Components

• Plan and purchase material requirements and ensure flow of materials for ongoing production and new products in development
• Prepare, review, and place department purchasing requisitions
• Maintain computerized purchasing records and paper filing
• Monitor and resolve production material shortages
• Seek, partner with, and maintain relationships with reliable outside vendors and suppliers
• Manage purchase orders based on demand
• Place orders and follow up with counterpart contract manufacturers to achieve sales demand and fulfillment
• Monitor contract manufacturer production schedules to ensure on-time delivery, including prototype projects
• Update planning spreadsheets and internal reports regularly
• Review and monitor inventory levels against sales ratios and sales forecasts
• Respond to changes in sales trends and forecasts
• Enter purchase transactions precisely and gather historical and current data
• Complete other projects and tasks assigned based on business needs

Buyer/Planner – Key Components

• Collaborate with Product Management and Engineering teams to support new product development (NPI)
• Manage procurement processes and ensure timely acquisition of high-quality materials and components
• Source, evaluate, and negotiate with vendors, especially in Asia, to obtain competitive pricing and terms
• Analyze supplier quotations based on product specifications and market conditions
• Plan and monitor inventory levels to align with customer requirements and company targets
• Develop and implement strategies for managing long lead-time and unique components
• Prepare and analyze inventory and aging reports
• Identify opportunities to improve procurement accuracy and streamline supply chain processes
• Implement best practices to optimize resource utilization and cost savings
• Support cross-functional teams in forecasting, demand planning, and risk mitigation strategies