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Retail Buyer Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

Edited by Indeed Employer Content Team
Last updated November 6, 2025
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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

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4 min read

A 446012136buyer10.15purchasing7.21procurement5.66supply chain4.64logistics1.9829570836579422000.0070762.38145000.00YEARLY1812444412025-11-012025-11-302025-10-012025-10-312025-12-05Retail Buyer, or Buyer, selects the goods that a retail store sells. They track consumer trends, locate suppliers and negotiate prices.

Retail Buyer duties and responsibilities

The purpose of 446012136buyer10.15purchasing7.21procurement5.66supply chain4.64logistics1.9829570836579422000.0070762.38145000.00YEARLY1812444412025-11-012025-11-302025-10-012025-10-312025-12-05Retail Buyer job duties is to ensure that a retail store has merchandise that customers will be eager to purchase. As a part of their daily work, they usually have the following responsibilities:

  • Staying abreast of the latest trends through industry reports, social media, trade shows and fashion shows

  • Seeking out new suppliers and building relationships

  • Reviewing and evaluating the current offerings available from suppliers

  • Determining which goods to purchase and in what quantities

  • Negotiating purchase terms with suppliers

  • Analyzing inventory data to identify strong and weak sellers

  • Generating reports and forecasts

  • Advising marketing and merchandising departments on the best ways to display and promote items

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Retail Buyer Job Description Examples

Example 1

Retail Buyer & Merchandiser (Royal Gift Shop within Bavarian Inn Castle Shops)

We are looking for a Retail Buyer & Merchandiser to join our Castle Shop team. The successful candidate will be responsible for sourcing, buying, pricing, and displaying Gift Shop merchandise . The ideal candidate will have excellent organizational skills, be able to work independently and have a strong eye for detail. The Retail Buyer & Merchandiser will also be responsible for analyzing sales data and providing feedback to store managers on product performance.

Responsibilities:

  • Analyze sales data to identify trends and opportunities.
  • Develop and implement strategies to increase sales and profitability.
  • Creates merchandise displays in an innovative, attractive and distinctive manner to encourage sales. This includes windows, hallways, and our outdoor Fairy Garden.
  • Maintain accurate inventory records. (Oversees the year-end physical count for accuracy and conducts inventory checks as needed.)
  • Train and supervise staff on product knowledge, customer service, and store policies.
  • Manage store budgets and ensure that all expenses are within budget limits.
  • Analyze guest product feedback to identify areas of improvement.
  • Assists in coordinating the unpacking, marking, and stocking of merchandise.
  • Evaluates slow-moving inventory and conducts markdowns as necessary.
  • Coordinates activities and events for the Gift Shop "Calendar of Events" and promotions.
  • May plan, coordinate and facilitate extra sales opportunities for guests with the Guests Services team.
  • Performs Sales Clerk responsibilities as necessary. Covers breaks in shop as needed.
  • Performs "Retail Manager On Duty" responsibilities as scheduled.
  • Attends regular trade shows to maintain new and fresh product mix.


Basic Qualifications:

  • Associates degree or equivalent.
  • 18+ years of age.
  • Previous buying/merchandising experience.
  • Proficient computer experience.
  • Minimum one year experience as a Sales Clerk or combined experience in a related sales position.
  • Neat appearance and friendly disposition. Able to communicate well with others.
  • Ability to stand/walk for duration of 8+ hour shift
  • Ability to lift moderate weights occasionally from 30 to 50 pounds.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $14.00 - $18.00 per hour

Benefits:
  • 401(k)
  • 401(k) matching
  • Dental insurance
  • Employee assistance program
  • Employee discount
  • Flexible schedule
  • Health insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Parental leave
  • Referral program
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Vision insurance
Schedule:
  • 8 hour shift
  • Weekends as needed



Ability to commute/relocate:
  • Frankenmuth, MI 48734: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Experience:
  • Retail Sales: 1 year (Required)
  • professional merchandising/buying: 1 year Location: In person

Example 2

The Regional Retail Buyer Is responsible for driving the revenue and profitability of our Regional retail business. To do this, the Buyer will set and execute market-specific assortment strategies[1]including products, their prices, and promotions-that help create a world-class patient/customer experience. We're looking for Individuals who possess unwavering integrity, unquenchable curiosity, and a passion for cannabis.

This position will require consistent travel in the Region to our dispensaries and production facilities, partner production facilities, and competitive retail stores. The Buyer will report directly to the Regional Director of Retail for a given region.



Responsibilities:

  • Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to develop localized assortments, retail pricing strategies, and sales forecasts to drive profitability.
  • Allocate internally produced products from our manufacturing site to our stores on a weekly basis.
  • Execute allocation and purchasing strategies that align with the financial goals of each dispensary and market.
  • Collaborate with the Marketing team to define and execute local retail marketing campaigns.
  • Cultivate strong relationships with cannabis product suppliers to ensure consistent access to products for our patients.
  • Anticipate potential problems and risks, generating insights and proposing effective solutions based on data analysis.
  • Establish and maintain a reputation of credibility and responsiveness in the marketplace.
  • Gather critical information from vendors regarding market trends and competitor buying activity, and present findings effectively.
  • Monitor the market through competitor pricing, promotional activities, and product launches, utilizing comp shopping techniques.
  • Manage the complete assortment lifecycle, including innovation, vendor meetings, costing negotiations, sales analyses, promotional calendars, and product exit strategies.
  • Present the current state, health, and future plans for the retail business to senior leadership.
  • Conduct audits of purchasing and allocation processes to identify areas for improvement and implement best practices.
  • Maintain appropriate inventory levels to exceed sales expectations while minimizing unnecessary liquidation.



Qualifications:

  • Experience in retail buying, merchandising, planning, or category management. 7-10 years of relevant experience. Retail planning experience preferred.
  • Experience managing external relationships, adversarial and collaborative negotiations.
  • Adapts and thrives in a demanding, start-up, fast-paced environment
  • Strong presentation skills and ability to listen to the opinions of others to help form a cohesive decision
  • Ability to make decisions under pressure when needed
  • Must be a self-starter who likes to solve complex problems
  • Advanced proficiency in MS Excel
  • Ability to gather / analyze data and to work with incomplete information
  • Analytical mindset
  • Highly motivated, self-directed, innovative and able to work independently or among teams with keen judgment, common sense and resourcefulness
  • Possesses a high level of critical thinking
  • Operates with a high level of professionalism and integrity, including dealing with confidential information
  • Must understand and comply with the rules, regulations, policies, and procedures of Marimed
  • Eager to learn cannabis compliance laws, rules and regulations and passion to further their understanding and knowledge of the industry and the laws.
  • Bachelor's degree in a relevant field



Additional Requirements:

  • Must pass any and all required background checks
  • Must be and remain compliant with all legal or company regulations for working in the industry
  • Must possess valid driver's license
  • Must be a minimum of 21 years of age
  • Must be approved by state badging agency to work in cannabis industry

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $55,000.00 per year

Benefits:
  • Dental insurance
  • Health insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Vision insurance
Schedule:
  • 8 hour shift



Ability to commute/relocate:
  • Quincy, MA: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Experience:
  • Merchandising: 7 years (Required)
  • Retail buying: 7 years Location: In person

Example 3

Parks Marina is a multi-location apparel retailer in the Iowa Great Lakes seeking a Lead Buyer for our 3 clothing retail locations including the Barefoot Bar at Parks Marina. This is a year around full time position with overtime required during high tourist season, Memorial through Labor Day. Some weekends are required in high season, with lots of flexibility to be enjoyed during non-peak season, including a hybrid schedule.

Key Responsibilities

  • Select merchandise and develop product assortments to grow the business and increase market share.
  • Responsible for achieving sales, margin and inventory plans.
  • Maintain a healthy inventory for year round sales.
  • Research current trends in merchandise and social media and follow through with sourcing and purchasing of trending merchandise as to make sure store is on leading edge of current sales trends
  • Determine clothing assortment, deliver the sales, margin, inventory and promotional strategies.
  • Work closely with the marketing team to develop and implement an overall sales strategy for in store and online.
  • Lead change and bring in new ideas, designs and strategies for growth.
  • Identify growth opportunities and develop contingency plans.
  • Organize merchandising structure of the retail store.
  • Build and maintain strong vendor relations and put together solid business plans.
  • Source, evaluate and negotiate prices per product.
  • Assist in the coaching of part time associates on customer service and sales, restocking and more.
  • Work with and lead the receiving team to onboard merchandise and proper floor displays.
  • Leads team to maintain store website.

Other Duties as Needed/Requested

  • Willingness to lend opinion, support, ideas & assistance to all retail locations within the Parks Marina family.
  • Perform daily duties when called upon including restocking, merchandise transfers, receiving shipment, remerchandising, and customer service, opening and closing the register.
  • Other duties as called upon and that naturally arise as position evolves.

Qualifications

  • Candidate must have at least one year experience in retail sales and visual merchandising, preferably with a background in wholesale purchasing.
  • Candidate must be highly organized, and able to multi-task
  • Must be able to lead a team and give direction.
  • Understanding profit margin and a strong willingness to increase company bottom line.
  • Knowledge of Shopify, on-line sales and social media platforms strongly preferred.
  • Experience or desire to learn: purchasing and design of custom imprinted resort wear.
  • Ability to analyze sales reports to drive markdowns and re-merchandising.
  • This position must be able to adapt to the ever changing work environment of a growing company.

Pay will commensurate with experience. Great employee bonus plan and benefits! Live and work at the upper Midwest s most beautiful resort destination!

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $35,000.00 - $48,000.00 per year

Benefits:
  • 401(k)
  • Employee discount
  • Flexible schedule
  • Health insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Vision insurance
Shift:
  • 8 hour shift
  • Day shift
Weekly day range:
  • Monday to Friday
  • Weekends as needed



Ability to commute/relocate:
  • Okoboji, IA: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work Location: In person

Example 4

Who We Are:

Revive Athletics is a secondhand store located in NE Portland that specializes in gently used, high quality activewear & athleisure. At Revive Athletics, we are leading the way in creating an affordable and sustainable way to shop premium activewear that is both good for you and those (plants, animals & people) around you!

******THIS IS FOR OUR NEW LAKE Oswego Location Opening LATE October******

Who You Are:

You love to shop secondhand because you understand that it promotes individuality and creativity in a wardrobe and that it is also the most sustainable way to shop. You re interested in athleisure fashion and you enjoy learning about activewear clothing brands. You re comfortable making decisions on your own. You like interacting with many different types of people and strive to create excellent customer experiences. You get to know customers and remember their names. You are excited to work for and have an impact on small, growing business.

What You ll Do:

As our sales associate & buyer you are responsible for making decisions on the clothing we purchase for resale in the store. You understand that quality is better than quantity and make decisions that support the store in achieving its goals. We re looking for someone who has an interest in activewear & athleisure and current trends. We will provide you with paid training on all the rest!

Our buyers also service as customer service associates in the store and perform the necessary duties of helping customers in store. The duties are, though not limited to:

  • Contribute to an in-store experience for customers that keeps them coming back!
  • Deliver an elevated client experience acting as a brand ambassador - embody brand values, engage customers on the brand and share the stories of Revive Athletics with a focus on educating on the brands we carry and the benefits of shopping secondhand.
  • Understand Revive Athletics core values and demonstrate those in all store interactions
  • Maintain and uphold a professional, healthy, and productive work environment.

Follow opening and closing checklists

Package up clothes and prepare for shipping

Keep store clean and organized

Evaluate potential new clothing for purchase and make buying decisions

Price clothing for selling customers and process payments and credits

Provide a positive customer experience for each customer in store (say hello, offer to help, not look or be on phone when customers are in store)

Post within guidelines to social media when in store

Check and respond to emails and Instagram messages within guidelines

Take photos of product for website

What you ll bring:

  • Experience working with a sales or retail organization
  • An interest in secondhand shopping and fashion
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to interact effectively with diverse personalities
  • Available to work a minimum of 15 hours per week
  • Able to work flexible schedule (days, nights, weekends, & holidays if required to meet the needs of the business)
  • References required

Benefits:

  • Employee discount
  • Flexible schedule
  • Profit based bonuses
  • Two fitness class credits each month up to $50 in value
  • Flexible scheduling
  • Paid training

To Apply:

Please submit your resume.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $15.50 - $18.00 per hour

Benefits:
  • Employee discount
  • Flexible schedule
Shift:
  • Day shift
Weekly day range:
  • Monday to Friday
  • Weekends as needed



Ability to commute/relocate:
  • lake oswego, or: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Experience:
  • Retail sales: 1 year Location: In person

Example 5

Description

Sportique is a multi-channel e-commerce company based in San Francisco, CA. We're small, scrappy, and are as close to a work family as you can find. The company has recently earned a standing in Inc. 5000's List of Fastest Growing Private Companies for the forth consecutive year, and plans to continue growing faster, stronger, better, and more intelligently curated. As a close knit team, we value personality above all else. We are looking for someone with collaborative team spirit as well as independent drive, who d love to help impact the heart of our business - curation and brand management. You will learn the fundamentals of product buying and logistics from curation, to relationship management, to analytics and forecasting.

Responsibilities

Some daily responsibilities include:
  • Sales Forecasting
  • Vendor Relations
  • Inventory Management
  • Purchase order creation
  • Vendor order tracking, logistics
  • Brand accounting
  • Internal product flow support
  • Curation (brand research)
  • Brand onboarding

Requirements

Qualified candidates have an affinity for fine details, a passion for brand discovery, a high level of comfort with analytics and spreadsheets, and a love for logistics. Strong communication skills, both internally and externally, are also critical to your success. At a minimum, we hope some of the following bullets are ways you might describe yourself:
  • Passionate about products design, discovery, and marketing
  • A proficient and confident communicator
  • Analytically minded
  • Highly organized
  • Excited to learn
  • Personable, driven, and looking to make a daily impact
  • Previous buying experience
  • Previous experience working with Amazon Seller Central preferred

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: $20.00 - $30.00 per hour

Benefits:
  • Employee discount
  • Flexible schedule
Schedule:
  • Monday to Friday
Supplemental pay types:
  • Bonus opportunities



Education:
  • Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:
  • Merchandising / Retail Buying: 2 years (Required)
  • Amazon Seller Central: 1 year (Preferred)

Language:
  • English Location: Remote
Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines
Job Description Best Practices
Optimize your new and existing job descriptions to reach more candidates
Get the Guide

What does a 446012136buyer10.15purchasing7.21procurement5.66supply chain4.64logistics1.9829570836579422000.0070762.38145000.00YEARLY1812444412025-11-012025-11-302025-10-012025-10-312025-12-05Retail Buyer do?

A Retail Buyer allows retailers to meet customer demand with products that appeal to their target market. When they excel at performing 446012136buyer10.15purchasing7.21procurement5.66supply chain4.64logistics1.9829570836579422000.0070762.38145000.00YEARLY1812444412025-11-012025-11-302025-10-012025-10-312025-12-05Retail Buyer job duties, they allow retail stores to purchase highly desirable goods at the lowest possible prices and sell them for a profit. Skilled Retail Buyers help retailers avoid the costs associated with storing and selling off excess inventory. By choosing products that shoppers can benefit from, they increase customer satisfaction and encourage customer loyalty. Their guidance also aids sales managers and marketing and merchandising professionals, allowing for a unified approach to promoting, presenting and selling goods that contribute to the overall success of stores.

446012136buyer10.15purchasing7.21procurement5.66supply chain4.64logistics1.9829570836579422000.0070762.38145000.00YEARLY1812444412025-11-012025-11-302025-10-012025-10-312025-12-05Retail Buyer skills and qualifications

To meet and exceed performance expectations in Retail Buyer careers, candidates must possess key skills. Some qualifications that may help you identify quality candidates include:

  • Thorough knowledge of the store’s niche and ideal customer profiles

  • Networking skills to find new suppliers and continue to build relationships

  • Decision-making skills to select items and purchase the right quantities

  • Written and oral communication skills to compile reports and collaborate with other departments

  • Negotiation skills to secure favorable pricing

  • Mathematic skills to calculate profits and investor needs

  • Computer skills to use spreadsheet, word processing and inventory management software

  • Analytical skills to interpret sales and inventory data and assess product performance

Retail Buyer experience requirements

How much experience a 446012136buyer10.15purchasing7.21procurement5.66supply chain4.64logistics1.9829570836579422000.0070762.38145000.00YEARLY1812444412025-11-012025-11-302025-10-012025-10-312025-12-05Retail Buyer needs to succeed varies. Large chain stores usually employ many Retail Buyers with varying levels of responsibility. Little to no experience may be necessary to succeed in entry-level positions, such as Assistant Retail Buyer. Generally, it takes several years of work experience to reach higher levels. Smaller stores may only have one Retail Buyer on staff. In this case, employers typically look for individuals with 5 or more years of experience buying for a store in a similar niche.

Retail Buyer education and training requirements

Most employers prefer Retail Buyers to have bachelor’s degrees in business, finance, supply management or a related field. Some community colleges offer associate degrees specifically in retail buying. Completion of one of these programs may be adequate for entry-level positions. Large retailers may prefer candidates with Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees for top-level 446012136buyer10.15purchasing7.21procurement5.66supply chain4.64logistics1.9829570836579422000.0070762.38145000.00YEARLY1812444412025-11-012025-11-302025-10-012025-10-312025-12-05Retail Buyer positions.

446012136buyer10.15purchasing7.21procurement5.66supply chain4.64logistics1.9829570836579422000.0070762.38145000.00YEARLY1812444412025-11-012025-11-302025-10-012025-10-312025-12-05Retail Buyer salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Retail Buyer is $76,106 per year. Actual salaries in Retail Buyer careers vary based on company size, geographic location, level of responsibility, experience and education.

Job description samples for similar positions

If the details of this 446012136buyer10.15purchasing7.21procurement5.66supply chain4.64logistics1.9829570836579422000.0070762.38145000.00YEARLY1812444412025-11-012025-11-302025-10-012025-10-312025-12-05Retail Buyer job description don’t capture all the requirements for your open position, one of these alternatives may be a better fit:

Retail Buyer job description FAQs

How does a 446012136buyer10.15purchasing7.21procurement5.66supply chain4.64logistics1.9829570836579422000.0070762.38145000.00YEARLY1812444412025-11-012025-11-302025-10-012025-10-312025-12-05Retail Buyer differ from a Purchaser?

Retail Buyers acquire merchandise for retail stores to sell to customers. Purchasers acquire goods and services for companies to use. For example, they may purchase raw materials used for manufacturing or office supplies and software for employees to utilize. Both jobs involve locating vendors and negotiating prices, but the goods they focus on serve different purposes.

Who does a 446012136buyer10.15purchasing7.21procurement5.66supply chain4.64logistics1.9829570836579422000.0070762.38145000.00YEARLY1812444412025-11-012025-11-302025-10-012025-10-312025-12-05Retail Buyer report to?

At large retailers, a Retail Buyer may report to a Senior or Lead Retail Buyer. A Purchasing Manager will usually serve as the supervisor for multiple Senior Lead Buyers, but in some cases, they may be a Retail Buyer’s immediate supervisor. Usually, a Production Department Manager or Director or Vice President of Production supervises purchasing along with other departments such as quality assurance and logistics. At smaller retailers, a 446012136buyer10.15purchasing7.21procurement5.66supply chain4.64logistics1.9829570836579422000.0070762.38145000.00YEARLY1812444412025-11-012025-11-302025-10-012025-10-312025-12-05Retail Buyer may directly report to the head of the production department.

What qualities make a good 446012136buyer10.15purchasing7.21procurement5.66supply chain4.64logistics1.9829570836579422000.0070762.38145000.00YEARLY1812444412025-11-012025-11-302025-10-012025-10-312025-12-05Retail Buyer?

Retail buying is fast-paced. As a result, candidates who are conscientious about meeting deadlines and able to work in high-pressure situations may be a good fit. People who enjoy traveling and interacting with others may enjoy working in Retail Buyer careers. Having a passion for the types of products the retailer carries is also beneficial.

Job Description Best Practices
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Get the Guide

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