Buyers Assistant

**Company Description - CTG Brands Inc.**

Founded in 1985, CTG is a major importer and distributor of consumer products for customers in the retail industry across North America.

CTG’s mission is to supply quality branded products at competitive prices. Our innovative and high perceived value packaging has strong consumer appeal that helps generate high turnover for our retail trade customers. Our corporate name reflects our focus on developing exceptional brand identities that represent the best value to consumers.

CTG’s great instincts for value and quality have resulted in an exceptionally strong presence in the consumer products market. Our full range of categories now includes giftware, home décor, novelties, kitchenware, housewares, stationery, candles & candle holders, health & beauty, hair accessories, household products, toys, electronic accessories, seasonal products and more. We design, import, manufacture and distribute over 13,000 active items. With a wide selection of comprehensive programs and more than 45 proprietary brands, we provide a true one-stop product solution for our valued customers with unequaled variety and depth.

**Position Summary**:
**MERCHANDISING**:

- Managing inventory by creating and maintaining item SKUs.
- Calculating initial costs for the buyer to review
- Maintaining price changes/updates and duty/exchange rate maintenance, updating item files
- Contributing towards establishing, maintaining and building strong relationships with vendors and internal departments
- Managing quality control issues, catalogs and system photo updates
- Communicating with sales, marketing, customer service & warehouse staff regarding product issues and to solve problems
- Learning from the buyer how to manage a portfolio of home décor/giftware categories

**PURCHASE ORDERS/SAMPLING**:

- Monitoring sample requests, tracking and inventory
- Assisting in pre-production approval
- Following up on purchase orders, monitoring and addressing any issues with vendors
- Monitoring purchase orders during production and shipping to verify that deliveries are on schedule

**ARTWORK**:

- Creating packaging concepts & liaisons with designers, photographers and the translation team
- Assisting with copy & file preparation for artwork, marketing, etc.
- Working with the photography team to ensure that all photo uploads are completed/updated
- Using Photoshop and illustrator to communicate concepts and edit photos/artwork
- Approving all artworks and confirming that all carton labelling is correct with suppliers

**PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT/DESIGN**:

- Performing trend and colour forecasting/research, creating seasonal trend boards
- Creating, updating and editing product designs using illustrator, Photoshop and /or other software
- Working with buyer to prepare seasonal collections and review past performance
- Participating in market analysis/market shopping

**VISUAL MERCHANDISING/MARKETING**:

- Helping to develop effective merchandising/marketing plans, assisting with visual merchandising and display
- Assisting with sample set up/display and delivering presentation plans to all showrooms
- Plan concepts for editorial-style photoshoots, implementing creative styling and catalog features to various departments
- Assisting with trade show planning, set-up, organization, marketing, etc. and attending trade shows as needed (merchandising/sales/research)

**Qualifications**
- Demonstrated experience (2+ years) in buying, purchasing or equivalent role, working with external vendors.
- Experience in a retail or wholesale environment for home décor, giftware or consumer products
- Demonstrated ability to address and resolve routine and complicated procurement issues.
- Computer skills including Outlooks, Excel, Photoshop, word-processing and Adobe.
- Ability to work autonomously.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from internal and external contacts.
- Demonstrated knowledge in retail or wholesale for consumer products
- Purchasing Industry certifications or endorsements

**Job Types**: Full-time, Permanent

**Salary**: $40,000.00-$45,000.00 per year

Additional pay:

- Bonus pay

**Benefits**:

- Company events
- Dental care
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Paid time off
- Tuition reimbursement

Schedule:

- Monday to Friday

COVID-19 considerations:
We provide necessary PPE onsite each workday and have COVID Safety Plan in place.

**Experience**:

- Procurement & Purchasing Occupations: 2 years (required)