Purchasing Assistant Full Time

Purchasing Specialist (Entry to Junior Level)

Primary Location: Melrose Park, IL 60160

(Note: Occasional reporting and work at the Headquarters in the Greater Chicago Area are required.)

Role Overview

We are looking for a proactive Purchasing Specialist who wants to be more than just a buyer. Our team works collaboratively to select the best products and strategize their placement (merchandising) to drive results. You will be a key contributor to the entire product lifecycle—from discovering the next bestseller at a trade show to ensuring it is perfectly displayed at our retail locations.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborative Product Selection: Work closely with the team to identify, evaluate, and select new products that align with market trends and customer demand.
• Vendor Management & Expansion: Manage relationships with hundreds of existing vendors and aggressively source new suppliers to grow our portfolio.
• Strategic Merchandising: Visit retail locations to audit product placement and collaborate on visual merchandising strategies to ensure maximum sales velocity and reduce “dead stock.”
• Trade Shows & Trend Scouting: Attend national and international beauty trade shows to discover competitive products and negotiate terms directly with vendors.
• Data-Driven PO Execution: Analyze POS data and real-time store feedback to determine precise order quantities and restocking schedules.
• Supply Chain Follow-up: Maintain rigorous communication with vendors regarding lead times, pricing, and performance to ensure a seamless supply chain.

Qualifications

• Strategic Mindset: Ability to think critically about product selection and how products should be presented to customers.
• Communication & Collaboration: Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively within a tight-knit team and manage a high volume of vendors.
• Analytical Skills: High proficiency in Microsoft Excel is mandatory for tracking vendor and sales data.
• Operational Agility: Comfortable with a fast-paced environment that shifts between the office, retail stores, and global trade shows.
• Learning Potential: A proactive attitude and willingness to master our specialized end-to-end purchasing and merchandising system.

Benefits & Compensation

• Salary: $50,000 – $65,000
• 100% Company-Paid Premium for employee medical insurance.
• Standard PTO and Vacation.