Associate Buyer

We are seeking a dynamic and resourceful Buyer to develop impactful buying programs and establish strong vendor relationships for Winmark's brands. This role plays a crucial part in negotiating contracts, working collaboratively across departments, and driving value-driven merchandise and programs into our franchise stores.

Winmark Corporation is a premier, nationally recognized franchisor of over 1,300 resale retail stores in North America, including Once Upon A Child, Plato's Closet, Play It Again Sports, Music Go Round and Style Encore.

As an Associate Buyer you will:

* Negotiate national programs to secure quality products with competitive pricing, terms, and freight arrangements.

* Build strong vendor partnerships to develop resources for stores, including buying guides, assortment plans, and visual presentation guides.

* Serve as the primary liaison for vendor participation in conferences and trade shows, and conduct new product workshops.

* Deliver training for new franchisees on buying principles, inventory management, and merchandising and provide tailored opening order recommendations for new stores based on top-performing items.

* Analyze category performance to communicate trends and opportunities to the franchise system.

Desired Attributes include:

* 4-year degree in business or related field, with 2+ years prior buying experience in retail related product lines.

* Excellent problem solving, verbal and written communication skills. Negotiating and program development skills required.

* Strong organizational and time management skills required with attention to detail. Ability to work independently.

* Must display a high degree of professionalism, confidentiality, tact and diplomacy in all interactions with franchisees and customers.

* Position requires a strong working knowledge of MS Office and technical aptitude. Prefer a candidate with AI experience, and or inquisitiveness about AI.

* Requires the ability to travel within the United States and Canada as necessary to work with vendors and franchisees. Travel to stores and conferences as required.

This is an onsite position at Winmark's Plymouth, Minnesota location. Annual salary is $60,000 - $70,000 DOQ, plus discretionary profit-sharing and great benefits package.

At Winmark Corporation you collaborate with others who are passionate about cultivating strong relationships and those who want to make a positive influence on communities, while making a sustainable impact on the world. At Winmark you will discover what it's like to work for a company where taking care of our people is genuinely a top priority - where we seek out those looking for a career, not just a job, and we offer exceptional benefits.

In exchange for your talent, Winmark offers rich health and welfare benefits such as a low premium, low deductible health plan, dental insurance, company-paid life and short-term disability insurance, generous paid time off, profit sharing, 401(k) retirement plan, and more. Open doors, relationships and take care of our people are essentials of the Winmark culture. If you're looking to surround yourself by people that help you become your best you, then let's connect!