Buyer, Electrics and Coffee

United States·SeattleFull Timemid

OtherBuyerProcurement & Purchasing

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Overview

With over 59 stores and the largest avocational cooking program in the US,

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OtherBuyerProcurement & Purchasing

With over 59 stores and the largest avocational cooking program in the US, Sur La Table offers an unsurpassed selection of exclusive and premium-quality goods for the kitchen and table – and the culinary expertise and inspiration to go along with it. Whether the job entails interacting with our customers, driving digital growth, or providing vital behind-the-scenes support, we’re all here for the same reason – to roll up our sleeves and create happiness through cooking and sharing good food.

As our Buyer, Electrics and Coffee, you will own the full commercial strategy for two of Sur La Table's most technically complex and high-visibility hard-goods categories. This role exists to grow category revenue, improve margin health, and ensure our product assortment reflects both customer demand and emerging culinary trends — from countertop appliances to specialty coffee equipment.

You will lead vendor negotiations, develop seasonal and core line plans, and partner cross-functionally with Planning, Creative, and Visual teams to bring your category strategy to life in stores and online. At 6–12 months, success looks like hitting your department KPIs, establishing strong vendor partnerships, and having a clear product roadmap that positions Electrics and Coffee as a destination category for Sur La Table customers.

This is a lean team. You will own a lot, move fast, and make decisions with full end-to-end responsibility.

Analyze past performance and develop, communicate, and execute seasonal and core department strategies aligned to brand goals.

Own department KPIs including sales, gross margin dollars, initial and maintained margin rates, sell-through, open-to?buy, and on-time delivery; build recovery plans when off-track.

Develop pricing and promotional strategy for core and seasonal products, including analysis of tariff impact on demand and profitability.

Partner with the internal product development team and domestic and foreign partners to drive product development across core and seasonal categories.

Identify product trends using a mixture of qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Manage inventory health with Planning through open-to-buy management, MOQ negotiations, investment alignment, and profitable transition and exit plans.

Build quarterly line plans and assign key metrics in line with department initiatives and goals.

Lead vendor business planning including negotiating product launches, pricing, timing, and exclusivity; negotiate funding for training, promotions, and co-op programs.

Partner with Planning and Allocation to determine order quantities, receipt flow, and product life cycle.

Collaborate with the Visual team to ensure monthly floorsets reflect both core and seasonal initiatives.

Partner with the Creative team to drive packaging and signage needs for core and seasonal products.

Work cross-functionally to ensure the in-store and online experience and marketing reflect the strategic direction of the department.

Cultivate strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external vendors.

Communicate complex ideas and concepts clearly and concisely to multiple audiences.

Lead, mentor, and coach direct reports; establish individual goals and objectives and monitor progress to drive business results and professional development.

Bachelor's degree in Merchandising or a related field; relevant work experience considered in lieu of education.

2+ years of experience in a Buyer role, preferably in a hard-goods omni-channel retail environment.

2+ years managing and negotiating with vendors and third-party brands.

2+ years leading and supervising the work of others.

Strong analytical ability and retail math skills.

Knowledge of the housewares industry and relevant product lines.

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).

Willingness to travel to markets, trade shows, and factories as needed.

The people who do best here are builders. They take ownership, move fast, and want to see the direct impact of their work.

Category Ownership: You will have full end-to-end ownership of the Electrics and Coffee categories — from vendor negotiations to in-store assortment — with visibility to brand leadership on your results.

Growth Through Craft: Sur La Table is a brand built on culinary expertise. You will deepen your category knowledge, develop relationships with best-in-class vendors, and sharpen your commercial instincts in a category that genuinely matters to our customers.

Autonomy and Accountability: You will set your own category strategy and be trusted to execute it. There is no committee standing between your ideas and the shelf.

Competitive Benefits: Paid time off policies, 401(k) match, medical/dental/vision and a variety of supplemental policies, and employee discounts at our portfolio of brands.

Recruiter Screen: A call to discuss your background, the role, and what success looks like for our Electrics and Coffee categories.
Hiring Manager Interview: A deeper conversation with the merchandising leader focused on your buying experience, category strategy, and vendor management approach.
Cross-Functional Interviews: Conversations with Planning, Creative, and/or Visual partners to assess how you collaborate across functions.
In-Person Interview: A final on-site conversation at our Seattle office with senior Sur La Table leadership.
Reference Checks: Conducted in parallel with the final stages where possible.
Offer: We move quickly for the right candidate.