Associate Buyer

Books-A-Million, America’s hometown bookstore since 1917, is headquartered in Birmingham,

AL, and is home to a family of brands including Books-A-Million, 2nd & Charles, Joe Muggs, and

Yogurt Mountain. We’re seeking an experienced and motivated Associate Buyer to join our

Merchandising team supporting our Gift business. This hybrid role is based at our Birmingham,

AL corporate office and is ideal for a professional with 2–5 years of buying, planning, or

merchandising experience who is ready to own categories. You’ll take ownership of assigned

categories, vendor relationships, and results, while working alongside an experienced buying

team.

The Associate Buyer owns the buying for assigned Gift categories, from assortment planning and

vendor negotiation to SKU lifecycle, open-to-buy, and markdown management. Working closely

with their assigned Buyer or Senior Buyer, as well as outside vendors, the distribution center,

stores, and internal marketing teams, the Associate Buyer drives sales, margin, and inventory

results for their categories. Assigned categories may change as the Gift business evolves. This

role thrives in a fast-paced, detail-oriented, and collaborative environment and is ideal for a self

starting, flexible, organized, and results-oriented team member who is eager to take on more.

• Execute and achieve assigned category sales, gross margin, and inventory goals.
• Develop merchandise assortments and strategies that support company and
• departmental goals while ensuring customer needs and satisfaction are met.
• Manage all aspects of the merchandise offering, including selection, mix, brand, pricing,
• promotion, negotiation, and disposition.
• Create, manage, and track purchase orders, including order entry.
• Complete item creation and SKU management, maintaining data accuracy and integrity.
• Manage the full life cycle of SKUs, from item creation through markdown and exit.
• Deliver accurate sales forecasts and projections by evaluating financial information and
• tracking current trends. Anticipate market changes and build a buying plan to reach
• sales and margin goals.
• Manage open-to-buy to stay on plan and support buying decisions.
• Plan and execute markdowns to protect margin and keep inventory fresh.
• Create planograms and in-store presentations that drive sales and fixture productivity.
• Conduct competitive and product category analyses to identify new licenses, brands,
• and proprietary opportunities that expand selection across categories.
• Prepare for and present product and merchandise analysis at assortment and business
• Plan promotional events and execution, ensuring accuracy on details such as pricing and
• marketing signage.
• Learn the vendor base and take ownership of vendor relationships for assigned
• categories.
• Develop and maintain collaborative vendor relationships to ensure merchandise
• availability, including exclusives, and timely delivery.
• Lead vendor and marketing negotiations, including costs, terms, and promotional
• support, and resolve problems quickly.
• Manage vendor performance to maximize profitability and achieve financial objectives,
• including cooperative marketing, incentive, and partnership plans.

• Collaborate with the Merchandising group, Marketing and Graphic Design team, and
• vendors on proprietary product sourcing, development, and presentation.
• Provide guidance and support to the Merchandise Planning group on merchandise flow,
• key items, and store groupings.
• Work with the Merchandising Operations group to deliver merchandising strategy and
• directives in stores.
• Guide Omnichannel on key themes and initiatives in assigned categories to maximize
• Visit stores to evaluate merchandise mix, observe competition, and…