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Assistant Buyer: Home Decor, Garden Decor, & Tech

Brooklyn, New York

ABOUT US 

Uncommon Goods partners with independent makers and small businesses to offer a wide, constantly evolving assortment of original, creative products. 

We are built on better business practices and committed to having a positive impact. Learn more here.  

The best part of Uncommon Goods is us—our team. We've been around for over 20 years because of all the wonderful people who make UG the one-of-a-kind company it is. 

Learn more about our products, B Corp certification, guiding principles, Better to Give program, and team members you might be working with. Listen to the story of Uncommon Goods from our Founder and CEO here and here. 

EVERYONE IS WELCOME HERE 

At Uncommon Goods, we believe we're all out of the ordinary.  That's why we're committed to making diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging part of everything we do. We strive to make significant changes to our business, from how we find our products to how we build and cultivate our team—so we can be everyone's favorite place to work. 

We are an equal-opportunity employer. If you would like to request any accommodation during the application process, please email people@uncommongoods.com. 

ABOUT THE ROLE

As an Assistant Buyer, you will support the category buyer with the day-to-day functions of the department and execution of assortment strategies. You will assist in driving growth by fostering relationships with our existing partners and through brand outreach as we expand our network in the home decor, garden decor, and tech communities. Assistant Buyers are entrepreneurial business drivers and self-starters who can create structure and work independently with limited supervision. We are always in search of the next great uncommon good and are passionate about the people and the products we work with.

This hybrid role works on-site at our waterfront Brooklyn location 2 to 3 days a week reporting to our Senior Buyer.

ABOUT YOU

You are a natural problem solver who brings solutions to the table more than issues. You are an extremely organized and efficient worker. You have a great eye and are passionate about creatively designed items. You are the one who can always find the needle in the haystack, and you obsess over the details. You have a knack for using data to build on current success and are not afraid to champion new ideas. You have an interest in developing and bringing to life product ideas of your own. You are excited to explore the endless possibilities of e-commerce and won’t settle for business as usual.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES 

  • Manage the new item pipeline; work with vendors to ensure all new items are onboarded efficiently and accurately and convey key details to cross-functional teams.
  • Promptly set up new vendors and items as they’re approved and maintain/update existing items in our database.
  • Oversee sample handoff process, including requesting samples, tracking delivery, soliciting any missing product details from vendors, writing copy/photo notes, preparing sample PowerPoint presentations, and managing their lifecycle with cross-departmental partners.
  • Connect with vendors and internal partners to effectively resolve issues or discrepancies promptly.
  • Help monitor, report, and interpret sales and inventory data. Assist Buyer in conducting weekly, monthly, and quarterly business reviews.
  • Help pitch items to market that are seasonally appropriate and backed by revenue projection/investment.
  • Own one or two subcategories by creating an assortment plan, sourcing new items, developing exclusive and innovative product ideas, and driving revenue to support financial goals.
  • Form relationships with new brands, artisan makers, and designers, as well as support existing partner relations.
  • Maintain awareness of the competitive landscape, product distribution, and customer preferences in the industry.

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor’s Degree preferred
  • Passion for the Uncommon Goods brand and artisan-made products
  • 2-3 years of equivalent work experience within cross-functional merchant roles
  • Excitement for home, garden, and tech industries preferred
  • Self-motivated with the ability to perform in a fast-paced environment, consistently meet deadlines, and creatively solve problems
  • Extreme attention to detail and highly organized
  • Excellent communication (verbal and written) skills and collaborates effectively with cross-functional partners
  • Track record for exceeding expectations and striving for excellence
  • Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and retail math required
  • Basic knowledge of Tableau, JIRA, Asana, and Trello encouraged

 COMPANY PERKS

  • Benefits: We invest in your well-being through subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance, and in your future via 401K matching. You can even invest in our future through employee stock options.  
  • Education Subsidy: We reimburse up to $5,250 (the yearly IRS limit) of tuition for college coursework or professional training.  
  • Service: We offer eight hours of paid time off each year for volunteering. 
  • Commuter benefits: We offer a pretax discount for those who take public transportation (train, bus, and ferry). For those who prefer to pedal to work, we offer significantly discounted yearly Citi Bike memberships and/or will provide money to help with the purchase or repair of your own bike.  
  • Team member discounts: Our team members can buy our goods at a 40% discount (and take our Uncommon Experience classes free).  
  • Work/life balance: We offer generous paid time off, and we supplement New York State Short-Term Disability for 3 weeks and New York State Paid Family Leave for 8 weeks. 
  • Casual environment: No need to dress up—wear comfortable clothes every day. And we hold occasional, fun, company-wide events. 
  • Open book policy: We share our financial results with the entire team every week in our management update email and our monthly company-wide meeting, UncommonCo. 
  • Collaborative environment: Whether it's a data analyst recommending products to the buyers or a warehouse manager providing the theme for an email blast, we welcome your talents and insight, wherever they apply.
  • Learn more about your FMLA rights here.

This is a full-time, salary position with an annual base salary range of $62,400-65,000. This role is eligible for our annual performance bonus program and options.

To apply, please submit: 

  • Resume 
  • Cover letter that includes answers to the following two questions in the application form: 
    • What motivates you to excel in a buyer role, and why are you particularly interested in joining our organization?
    • What excites you about the home, garden, and tech industries?

 

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