Japanese Bilingual Buyer & Merchandising Associate

Job Summary

The Buyer & Merchandising Associate supports the store by helping with buying, merchandising, and inventory tasks. This includes assisting with product appraisal, handling merchandise, and maintaining the sales floor. The final decisions on pricing and purchasing are made by the Store Manager or Assistant Store Manager.

This role also helps with visual merchandising, customer service, store operations, and keeping the backroom organized. The position is important for maintaining product quality, store appearance, and smooth daily operations in a fast-paced resale retail environment specializing in secondhand merchandise.

• Support all buying and appraisal-related activities in accordance with established standards and guidelines
• Accurately evaluate, process, and record purchased items based on defined criteria
• Assist with price change processing, product removal, and disposal decisions
• Sort, organize, and manage inventory in the backroom and stock areas
• Visual Merchandising & Sales Floor Support
• Create and maintain visual merchandising displays based on store direction
• Support sales floor layout updates, display changes, and promotional material setup
• Regularly review sales floor conditions and assist with merchandise adjustments

• Assist with ordering store supplies and handling internal information sharing
• Support document organization, filing, and basic administrative tasks
• Customer Service & Issue Handling
• Provide customer service related to buying, product explanations, and store inquiries
• Handle first-level customer complaints and elevate issues when necessary
• Digital & Information Support
• Support content creation and posting for store SNS or blog platforms as assigned

• Provide on-the-job training (OJT) and daily work guidance to Sales Associates
• Support team operations without holding formal evaluation or hiring authority
• Cash Register & POS Support
• Assist with cash register operations, including opening/closing support and change replenishment
• Respond to basic POS or register issues and elevate when required

• Follow all store safety procedures, including proper lifting, equipment use, and backroom safety rules
• Maintain a clean and hazard-free workspace by promptly addressing spills, tripping hazards, or unsafe conditions
• Follow company policies for security, loss prevention, and handling of suspicious activity

• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned based on business needs

• High school diploma or equivalent required;
  Associate degree preferred
• 1–3 years of experience in retail or customer-facing operations preferred (experience in reuse/thrift is a plus)
• Accuracy and attention to detail required for buying and appraisal tasks
• Strong willingness to learn product knowledge, brands, and evaluation standards
• Ability to communicate clearly with customers during buying and service interactions
• Ability to perform backroom and stock-related tasks, including sorting and price changes
• Basic computer proficiency, including POS systems and inventory input