Assistant Buyer

Princess Auto is a private, Canadian-owned company employing over 3,000 Team Members, with our Home Office in Winnipeg, Manitoba. We provide hard-working Canadians with a unique assortment of tools and equipment through more than 50 stores coast-to-coast, a National Call Centre, and our online store.

Our strength is in our people. In fact, we call our employees “Team Members”, and our managers “Leaders”. We all work together towards a common goal: to make Princess Auto a great place to work and shop.Overview of the Position

The Assistant Buyer is responsible for providing support to Buyers in the management of category product lines with a focus on effective and beneficial relationships with Vendors. We are looking for a candidate who demonstrates openness to new ideas and a willingness to learn across multiple buying categories.

To be successful in this role, you will need to:

• Coordinate Catalogue and Promo items and encourage Vendor participation
• Initiate a well-researched resolution to Vendor issues and may determine outcomes in the absence of direct leader
• Communicate and respond to product inquiries via emails and telephone calls from Vendors
• Request credits and discounts on defective Vendor products as required
• Provide Brand instructions to Vendors to ensure consistency of messaging
• Assist with product sourcing, marketing, set-up and maintenance
• Research and source new items and Vendors for both regular sales line and promotional opportunities
• Assist Buyer in Product Knowledge Sessions
• Assist with opportunity buys such as close-outs and Vendor overstocks
• Assists Buyer in evaluating product samples
• Remain aware of competition to ensure their category is competitive in the marketplace
• Maintain up to date information on competition pricing and understands what they do best
• Assist in the planning and execution of Assortment Reviews and maintaining milestone dates
• Set up Product Information Management (PIM) for new products, including proper attributes and allocation of copy into Web, Catalog and Flyer
• Confirm packaging strategy, including color scheme, photo, bilingual, copy, Private Label (work with Content Team)
• Review Flyer and Catalog proofs
• Assist in special projects to implement new initiatives or make improvements to existing processes and assist with team building

To be considered for the role you will need:

• Post-secondary education is considered an asset
• 1-2 years’ experience in a retail or buying environment
• Highly organized coupled with strong analytical and planning skills
• Sound product knowledge
• Ability to initiate and lead the completion of work activities
• Proficient in Microsoft Office including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Able to work independently and under pressure while responding to changes quickly
• Ability to lift up to 20lbs
• Ability to travel

What our unique and fun world can offer you:

At Princess Auto, we strive to be unique . . . in our product selection, our Team Members and in our Leadership. We share information. We value opinions and collaboration from all our people across the company, regardless of position or scope of responsibility and work as a collective team in a supportive environment. We strive to provide Royal Service, our high standard of serving not just our customers, but each other, and it is a philosophy we embrace and demonstrate every day. In addition, our Team Members receive:

• Competitive Compensation
• Company-funded, comprehensive benefits package (not just for you, but for your eligible dependents too!)
• Paid vacation and personal care time
• Paid "My Community Day" (a day to spend volunteering at something meaningful to you!)
• Long-term Disability coverage
• Annual Profit Sharing Plan
• Deferred Profit Sharing Plan
• Company Pension Plan
• Group RRSP, TFSA, RESP
• Maternity Leave top-up plan
• Discount at our retail stores
• Free parking
• Access to onsite amenities such as a restaurant, salon, and gym
• Training and professional development opportunities
• Opportunities for advancement and relocation

Voted one of Canada’s Best Employers 2024 by Forbes

Accessibility
Princess Auto Ltd. will consult with all applicants requesting accommodation during the recruitment process to ensure that the accommodation provided takes into account the applicant’s individual accessibility needs.