Williams-Sonoma, Inc.

Buyer - West Elm Company Owned

About the Role

The West Elm Buyer will play a pivotal role in spearheading growth in the UK Market. You will be responsible for developing business strategies and seasonal assortment plans to maximize the development of West Elm, sales and profits for a department or assigned area in the market. Coordinate information across functions working closely with Brand Merchants, Inventory Management, Ecommerce, Visual Merchandising, Marketing and Global Product team to ensure business goals and timelines are achieved. In this role you will bring West Elm to life, maintaining the brand identity while making strategic adjustments to the assortment and presentation specific to the UK market.

You're excited about this opportunity because you will...

Sales and Revenue Generation:

• Partner with global leadership to develop and deliver financial plans for your category of business (Growth %, Sales, MMU$, Inventory). Develop seasonal and foundational assortment strategies, lead planning and execution for both pre-season and in season
• Develop and recommend seasonal and core product mix for department or area. Collaborate with Inventory Management to develop annual and seasonal financial plans
• Responsible for in season management of all categories, and OTB management in partnership with Inventory team and buying leadership.
• Develop promo and markdown strategies to ensure inventory targets and sales are met each season

Data Analysis and Reporting:

• Analyze and report on weekly company owned business performance and drive associated action steps
• Conduct market analysis, competitive shop and analyze sales trends to keep abreast of current trends. Obtain feedback from stores to improve product and add to collections
• Identify emerging trends and develop business strategies outlining strengths, weaknesses, new opportunities, and threats. Communicate annual and seasonal strategies to functional areas (Inventory, Ecommerce, Visual).
• Manage Merchandising Line Lists

Collaboration with Internal Teams:

• Collaborate with Inventory Management and buying leadership on final assortment plans (line lists), product details, target retails, estimated IMU, importance to overall assortment (rank & big bets), flow to DC and channel distribution
• Participate in visual mapping process to ensure floor plan direction supports market-specific and store-specific visual display and sales plans
• Drive retail store & ecommerce execution of your market product strategies in close partnership with store Visual, Store operations and Ecommerce marketing teams.
• Review EDM, Homepage creative and participate in monthly UAT activities
• Summarize and communicate merchandising information for store newsletters and emails. Coordinate with Store Operation for disseminating information through appropriate channels.
• Correspond with functional areas. Resolve, handle, and escalates difficult issues to Buyer, Call Center and Stores. Investigate and respond to field issues
• Coach and develop direct report

Why you will love working at Williams-Sonoma, Inc.

• We're a successful, fast-growing company with an entrepreneurial vibe
• A technologically and data-driven business
• Competitive salaries and comprehensive health benefits
• We're at the forefront of tech and retail, redefining technology for the next generation
• We're passionate about our internal and external clients and live/breathe the client experience
• We get to be creative on a daily basis
• A smart, experienced leadership team that wants to do it right and is open to new ideas
• We believe in autonomy and reward taking initiative
• We have fun!

We're excited about you because you have...

• A minimum of 7 years of directly relevant sales experience, Furniture/Home industry preferred
• A proven track record of driving meaningful sales growth
• A passion for furniture and interior design
• Proficient in inventory management and forecasting
• An understanding of global market and the ability to grasp the cultural and commercial nuances
• Strategic planning and competitive analysis abilities
• Retail math fluency
• The ability to build relationships -- both with cross functional internal partners and external
• The ability to effectively manage concurrent and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent proactive, solution oriented, problem-solving skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with a variety of internal and external customers/clients/business partners and build strong relationships
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, to include Power Point, Outlook, and Excel

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time
• Ability to type on a keyboard and operate a PC
• Ability to converse over a telephone
• Ability to transport materials or equipment or lifting, moving, carrying objects up to 50 pounds on a limited basis
• Ability to work in office and perform in corporate environment

About Williams-Sonoma, Inc.

Founded in 1956, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is the premier specialty retailer of high-quality products for the home. Our family of brands includes Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, PBteen, West Elm, Williams-Sonoma Home, Rejuvenation, and Mark and Graham. These brands are among the best known and most respected in the industry. We offer beautifully-designed, stylish and functional products for every area of the home, including the kitchen, living room, bedroom, home office, closet, laundry room, and even outdoor spaces. We've seen some big changes since our first brick-and-mortar store opened more than half of a century ago. What hasn't changed is our passion for high-quality products, functional design, outstanding customer service, and enhancing the lives of our customers and the communities where we operate. In 2017, we acquired Outward, Inc., a 3-D imaging and augmented reality platform for the home furnishings and decor industry. Today, we're a multi-brand, multi-channel, global enterprise supported by state-of-the-art technology and some of the most talented teams in retailing - and we're always looking for new energy and ideas.

Benefits:

Once you are here, you can look forward to a wide variety of benefits designed to help you grow, personally and professionally, to keep you healthy, to prepare you for the unexpected, to care for your family and to build a secure future. Depending on your position and your location, here's a look at what you might be eligible for:

• A generous discount on all Williams Sonoma Inc. brands through multiple shopping channels
• A 401(k) plan and other investment opportunities
• Paid vacations, holidays and other time-off programs
• Health benefits, including health, dental and vision insurance; health and dependent care tax-free spending accounts; medical, family and bereavement leave; same-sex domestic partner benefits; short- and long-term disability programs; life and travel insurance; an employee assistance program
• Tax-free commuter benefits
• A wellness program that supports your physical, financial and emotional health
• In-person and online learning opportunities through WSI University
• Cross-brand and cross-function career opportunities
• Location specific sample sales
• A business casual work environment
• Time off to volunteer
• Matching donations to qualifying nonprofit organizations
• Company-sponsored community involvement
• Various discounts on local businesses

The expected starting pay for this position is $104,400. Applicable pay ranges may differ across markets. Actual pay will be determined based on experience and other job-related factors permitted by law. In addition to competitive pay, compensation may include a variety of other components like benefits, paid time off, merit, and bonus opportunities.

WSI will not now or in the future commence an immigration case or "sponsor" an individual for this position (for example, H-1B or other employment-based immigration

This role is not eligible for relocation assistance.