Senior Buyer in Minneapolis, Minnesota at AQUATIC SALES SOLUTIONS LLC

Become part of the Aperture Team

Aperture Pet & Life is a global leader in helping saltwater and freshwater aquarists be successful through exceptional products with our banner brands of EcoTech, Neptune, AquaIllumination, AquaReady, and HelloReef sold in 50+ countries, through the industry’s leading online marketplace, Bulk Reef Supply, with one of the largest YouTube followings in the entire pet industry and our world-class distribution.

We look for people who are curious, collaborative, innovative, and driven to make an impact. Our culture thrives by putting the customer at the center. At Aperture, it’s about each person bringing their own unique skills and passion to a thriving and constantly evolving environment.

What we are looking for:

The Senior Buyer is responsible for leading assigned product categories by developing and executing merchandising strategies that drive sales, profitability, and customer satisfaction. This role owns the full category lifecycle, including assortment planning, purchasing, vendor management, pricing, inventory optimization, and product lifecycle management.

The ideal candidate is an analytical, results-driven professional with strong negotiation, communication, and organizational skills who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. Hands-on experience as an active saltwater or freshwater aquarium hobbyist, with a passion for the aquarium industry, is highly preferred.

Success in this role requires balancing customer needs, business performance, and vendor partnerships to deliver long-term category growth.

What you'll do:

Category Management & Strategy: Own and develop merchandising strategies for assigned product categories to drive sales, profitability, and customer satisfaction. Own the financial performance of assigned categories, including sales growth, gross margin, inventory productivity, and profitability. Manage category performance through assortment planning, product lifecycle management, and continuous optimization. Identify opportunities for category expansion, product rationalization, and innovation based on customer demand and market trends. Develop annual category strategies, business objectives, and growth initiatives.

Vendor Management: Build and maintain strategic partnerships with domestic and international suppliers. Lead negotiations for pricing, rebates, freight programs, promotional funding, payment terms, and annual business agreements. Conduct regular business reviews with key vendor partners to evaluate performance and identify growth opportunities. Resolve supplier issues while maintaining positive long-term relationships.

Purchasing & Inventory Management: Forecast inventory requirements and manage purchasing to support customer demand while maintaining healthy inventory levels. Create, manage, and monitor purchase orders from placement through receipt. Partner with Supply Chain and Operations to improve inventory turns, reduce stockouts, and minimize excess inventory. Monitor supplier lead times, fill rates, and purchasing performance.

Merchandising & Pricing: Develop pricing strategies that maximize margin while remaining competitive within the marketplace. Manage MAP compliance and monitor competitive pricing. Plan promotional calendars, product launches, and merchandising initiatives in collaboration with the Marketing team. Recommend promotional opportunities based on sales performance and market conditions.

Category Analytics: Analyze category performance through sales, margin, inventory turns, GMROI, forecasting, and profitability metrics. Utilize reporting tools and data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities. Present recommendations and action plans to leadership based on business performance.

Product & Data Management: Oversee the complete product lifecycle, including new product onboarding, ERP setup, product updates, and SKU discontinuation. Ensure product, pricing, vendor, and inventory data remain accurate across all systems. Maintain product information and merchandising content that support the customer experience.

Market Intelligence: Monitor industry trends, competitive activity, customer insights, and emerging technologies. Identify new brands, products, and market opportunities that strengthen Aperture's competitive position. Recommend assortment enhancements based on market research and customer feedback.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Marketing, Sales, Operations, Product Development, Customer Service, and eCommerce teams to execute category initiatives. Support new product launches, promotional campaigns, vendor events, and strategic business initiatives. Contribute to continuous improvement efforts that enhance merchandising processes and operational efficiency.

What You Will Work on and Who You’ll Work With:

As a member of the Merchandising team, you'll help shape the future of some of the most respected brands in the aquarium industry while supporting one of the industry's leading Retailers and distribution networks. You'll collaborate with passionate professionals across Marketing, Sales, Operations, Product Development, eCommerce, and Supply Chain to develop category strategies that drive growth, strengthen vendor partnerships, and deliver exceptional customer experiences.

In this role, you'll influence product assortment, vendor relationships, pricing strategies, promotional planning, inventory optimization, and new product launches across a diverse portfolio of industry-leading brands. You'll work closely with both internal brand teams and external manufacturing partners to bring innovative products to market and ensure our customers have access to the best solutions available.

If you're passionate about combining data-driven decision-making with strategic merchandising, building strong supplier partnerships, and making a measurable impact on a fast-growing global organization, you'll thrive on our team.

What you bring

● Self-motivated with an entrepreneurial mindset and a passion for driving results.

● Collaborative team player with excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

● Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities with exceptional attention to detail.

● Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (PivotTables, XLOOKUP, and data analysis); proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

● Ability to communicate effectively with cross-functional teams and leadership.

● Active saltwater and/or freshwater aquarium hobbyist with a genuine passion for the aquarium industry.

Minimum Qualifications

● Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Merchandising, Marketing, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

● 5+ years of progressive experience in buying, category management, and merchandising, preferably within retail or eCommerce.

● Proven experience developing and executing category strategies that drive sales, profitability, and inventory performance.

● Demonstrated success managing vendor relationships, negotiating pricing, annual agreements, promotional funding, and business terms.

● Experience analyzing sales performance, gross margin, inventory turns, GMROI, forecasting, and other merchandising KPIs to make data-driven business decisions.

● Experience forecasting demand and partnering with inventory planning or supply chain teams to optimize inventory levels and improve product availability.

● Experience working with ERP systems. Sage experience is preferred but not required.

● On-site position based at the Aperture LLC office in Minnesota.

Aperture is a growth company that looks for team members to grow with it. Aperture offers competitive benefits, including health insurance, a 401 (k) match, and a diverse and inclusive culture with boundless opportunities for personal and professional development.