Buyer

Southern Hobby Distribution, LLC. was founded in 1991 with one simple goal: to become our customers’ greatest asset by delivering top-quality products, unmatched customer service, and the most knowledgeable sales staff in the hobby industry.

The Buyer is responsible for overseeing product purchasing, managing inventory levels, and ensuring a consistent and reliable supply of collectibles and hobby merchandise across the distribution network. This role supports sales, warehouse operations, and vendor management by maintaining accurate product data, anticipating demand, and aligning purchasing decisions with market trends and organizational goals. Success in this role requires strong analytical skills, a pulse on collector behavior, and the ability to cultivate productive vendor relationships.

Key Responsibilities

• Set up and maintain accurate product records, including SKUs, pricing, descriptions, and vendor attributes.
• Monitor inventory levels, weeks-on-hand, and category performance to maintain optimal stock and prevent outages or overstocking.
• Create, issue, and manage purchase orders in alignment with sales forecasts, promotional programs, and vendor lead times.
• Partner with manufacturers, distributors, and licensors to negotiate availability, timelines, and program opportunities.
• Communicate product launches, assortment changes, and vendor updates to the sales and operations teams.
• Support sales with product knowledge, collector insights, and brand positioning to help drive customer engagement and sell-through.
• Analyze sales, trends, and competitive activity to inform purchasing strategies and identify new product opportunities.
• Collaborate with marketing on new releases, high-demand items, and category promotions.
• Coordinate with warehouse and logistics teams to resolve receiving discrepancies, damages, and quality issues.
• Manage the full product lifecycle, including sell-through tracking, markdown recommendations, and end-of-life planning.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, or related field preferred; equivalent experience accepted.
• 2+ years of purchasing or buying experience, ideally within distribution, wholesale, or the collectibles/hobby industry.
• Strong understanding of collector communities, market cycles, and licensed product trends.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and familiarity with ERP or inventory management systems.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities.

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