Buyer – Outdoor at CSC Generation

Cottonwood Heights, Utah, United States

CSC Generation Logo
Not SpecifiedCompensation
Mid-level (3 to 4 years), Senior (5 to 8 years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
Outdoor Retail, EcommerceIndustries

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or related field preferred; Master's degree a plus
  • 3-5 years' buying experience, ideally within outdoor retail or a closely related area, with a demonstrated record of strategic sourcing and vendor management success
  • Proven negotiation acumen and familiarity with outdoor industry trends and consumer preferences
  • Advanced analytical and problem-solving capabilities; fluency in Excel and experience with purchasing, planning, and reporting systems
  • Strong inventory management background and proficiency with procurement software and demand forecasting tools
  • Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills for both vendor and cross-team collaboration
  • Results-oriented work style with strong organizational skills

Responsibilities

  • Develop and execute sourcing strategies for outdoor products to ensure a diverse, high-quality merchandise assortment aligned with financial targets
  • Build and nurture strategic relationships with vendors, negotiate pricing, terms, and key buys to maximize gross margin and support differentiated product stories
  • Consistently research trends, partner with merchandising, and curate compelling, on-brand product offerings that drive customer engagement
  • Secure advantageous pricing and volume discounts while upholding competitive customer pricing and profitability targets
  • Manage inventory levels and stock health; collaborate with planning for optimal turns, minimal stockouts, and efficient management of excess inventory
  • Lead quality standard enforcement and regular supplier/product audits, guaranteeing compliance with both company and customer expectations
  • Leverage sales data, trend analysis, and consumer analytics to forecast demand and develop data-driven procurement plans
  • Partner with Planning on seasonal budgets, forecasting, and KPI reporting to ensure alignment with business objectives
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing, Creative, and Operations, developing promotions and initiatives that drive brand engagement and revenue growth
  • Mentor and support junior buying staff, fostering accountability, professional development, and a results-oriented culture
  • Monitor key KPIs, buying trends, and vendor metrics; utilize reporting platforms to detect trends and prescribe action plans to maximize profitability

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

procurementpurchasingvendor managementnegotiationsourcing strategiesinventory optimizationmerchandisingdata-driven decision makingmarket researchcross-functional collaboration

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What is the employment type for this Buyer position?

This is a full-time position.

Is this Buyer role remote or does it require office work?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What key skills are required for the Buyer – Outdoor role?

The role requires expertise in the outdoor industry, outstanding negotiation skills, a data-driven approach to merchandising, and strong vendor relationship management.

What is the company culture like at Backcountry?

Backcountry focuses on connecting people to their passions through premium outdoor products, superior shopping experiences, personalized expertise, and community-centered content in a dynamic retail ecommerce environment.

What makes a strong candidate for this Buyer position?

A strong candidate is highly skilled and experienced, passionate about the outdoor industry, attuned to consumer trends, data-driven in merchandising, and excels in negotiation, vendor partnerships, and cross-functional collaboration.

CSC Generation

Acquires and revitalizes struggling retail brands

About CSC Generation

CSC Generation specializes in acquiring and revitalizing struggling retail brands to make them profitable. The company identifies underperforming brands with potential and integrates them into its operating platform, which includes technology, skilled personnel, and efficient processes. This approach has allowed CSC Generation to successfully transform several well-known brands, such as DirectBuy and Sur La Table, into profitable ventures. The company generates revenue through the sales of products from its portfolio, which features over 325,000 items and attracts around 10 million monthly page views. Unlike many competitors, CSC Generation focuses on "unsexy" opportunities—brands that others might overlook but have significant turnaround potential. The goal of CSC Generation is to drive growth and profitability for the brands it acquires, ultimately enhancing the customer experience and increasing sales.

Merrillville, IndianaHeadquarters
2016Year Founded
$107.6MTotal Funding
SERIES_ECompany Stage
Consumer Software, Consumer GoodsIndustries
51-200Employees

Risks

Increased competition may lead to higher acquisition costs for CSC Generation.
Operational challenges in integrating new brands like Backcountry could affect performance.
Economic downturns could reduce consumer spending, impacting CSC's profitability.

Differentiation

CSC Generation specializes in acquiring and revitalizing struggling retail brands.
The company integrates brands into its platform to drive growth and profitability.
CSC Generation identifies 'unsexy' opportunities with significant potential for turnaround.

Upsides

CSC Generation's acquisition of Backcountry expands its consumer-centric brand portfolio.
The rise of AI-driven personalization can enhance CSC's customer engagement and conversion rates.
Direct-to-consumer models offer CSC increased profitability by cutting out intermediaries.

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