Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Merchandise Buyer: Jewelry, Fashion Textiles, & Logo Merchandise
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Boston, MA, United States
Position Overview
Reporting to the Director of Retail, the Merchandise Buyer will determine the overall strategic direction of the product and merchandise mix for the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) Retail Division, with a focus on Jewelry, Fashion Textiles, and Logo Merchandise. The Buyer will establish and manage merchandise assortments for the MFA's physical stores, exhibition shops, and online store, while achieving sales, margin, and inventory goals. The role requires maintaining strong business relationships with vendors, customers, and MFA staff to ensure a unique, high-quality shopping experience that aligns with the museum's mission.
Essential Functions:
- Merchandise Strategy:
Develop and execute the overall strategic vision for Jewelry, Fashion Textiles, and Logo Merchandise, ensuring alignment with the MFA's brand and exhibition themes.
- Product Selection & Assortment Planning:
Curate and establish merchandise assortments for the MFA stores, exhibition shop, and online store. Source unique products that enhance the visitor experience and reflect the MFA's artistic identity. Work collaboratively with the Retail Designer on exclusive, proprietary products.
- Sales and Inventory Management:
Set and achieve budgeted sales goals, maintain inventory levels, and manage margins to ensure profitability. Analyze sales trends and adjust purchasing strategies to optimize performance. Participate in annual physical inventory.
- Vendor Relations:
Establish and maintain strong business relationships with vendors. Negotiate favorable terms and pricing while ensuring high-quality, artistically aligned merchandise offerings. Maintain professional communication, both externally and internally.
- Customer Relations:
Work closely with retail staff to understand customer preferences and feedback, tailoring merchandise offerings accordingly. Create a customer-centric retail environment that encourages repeat business and increases customer satisfaction.
- Collaboration with MFA Staff:
Collaborate with exhibition curators and other MFA departments to develop merchandise that supports exhibitions, events, and museum programming. Ensure that all merchandise reflects the museum's mission and enhances the visitor experience.
- Budgeting and Financial Oversight:
Manage financial performance, including monitoring sales targets, overseeing margin goals, and controlling inventory levels to maximize profitability. Work within an Open-To-Buy to insure a proper flow of goods. Regularly report on financial performance to senior management.
- Market Research & Trend Analysis:
Stay up to date on market trends in the retail and fashion industries, particularly those related to jewelry, fashion textiles, and museum retail. Use data and research to make informed purchasing decisions.
Requirements and Characteristics:
Additional Information:
The MFA is an equal opportunity employer. The community and audience we serve is diverse, and we wish to foster that diversity in our workplace. Toward that end, the MFA does not discriminate against individuals in hiring, employment or promotion on the basis of race, religion, color, sex/gender, gender identity and gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship, handicap or disability, veteran or military status, political belief, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.
Reporting to the Director of Retail, the Merchandise Buyer will determine the overall strategic direction of the product and merchandise mix for the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) Retail Division, with a focus on Jewelry, Fashion Textiles, and Logo Merchandise. The Buyer will establish and manage merchandise assortments for the MFA's physical stores, exhibition shops, and online store, while achieving sales, margin, and inventory goals. The role requires maintaining strong business relationships with vendors, customers, and MFA staff to ensure a unique, high-quality shopping experience that aligns with the museum's mission.
Essential Functions:
- Merchandise Strategy:
Develop and execute the overall strategic vision for Jewelry, Fashion Textiles, and Logo Merchandise, ensuring alignment with the MFA's brand and exhibition themes.
- Product Selection & Assortment Planning:
Curate and establish merchandise assortments for the MFA stores, exhibition shop, and online store. Source unique products that enhance the visitor experience and reflect the MFA's artistic identity. Work collaboratively with the Retail Designer on exclusive, proprietary products.
- Sales and Inventory Management:
Set and achieve budgeted sales goals, maintain inventory levels, and manage margins to ensure profitability. Analyze sales trends and adjust purchasing strategies to optimize performance. Participate in annual physical inventory.
- Vendor Relations:
Establish and maintain strong business relationships with vendors. Negotiate favorable terms and pricing while ensuring high-quality, artistically aligned merchandise offerings. Maintain professional communication, both externally and internally.
- Customer Relations:
Work closely with retail staff to understand customer preferences and feedback, tailoring merchandise offerings accordingly. Create a customer-centric retail environment that encourages repeat business and increases customer satisfaction.
- Collaboration with MFA Staff:
Collaborate with exhibition curators and other MFA departments to develop merchandise that supports exhibitions, events, and museum programming. Ensure that all merchandise reflects the museum's mission and enhances the visitor experience.
- Budgeting and Financial Oversight:
Manage financial performance, including monitoring sales targets, overseeing margin goals, and controlling inventory levels to maximize profitability. Work within an Open-To-Buy to insure a proper flow of goods. Regularly report on financial performance to senior management.
- Market Research & Trend Analysis:
Stay up to date on market trends in the retail and fashion industries, particularly those related to jewelry, fashion textiles, and museum retail. Use data and research to make informed purchasing decisions.
Requirements and Characteristics:
- Bachelor's degree in Retail, Merchandising, Fashion, Business, or a related field.
- 3-5+ years of experience as a buyer, preferably within the museum, cultural, or specialty retail sector.
- Proven ability to develop and execute successful product strategies that drive sales and profitability.
- Strong negotiation and vendor management skills.
- Excellent financial acumen and experience in budgeting, sales forecasting, and inventory control.
- Passion for art, culture, and design, with a keen eye for artistic and fashion trends.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
- Proficiency in retail management software and online merchandising platforms.
Additional Information:
- Full-time position (35 hour per week) with competitive salary and benefits package.
- $65,000 - $70,000
- This role requires occasional travel for trade shows, industry events, or market research.
- This position is affiliated with the United Auto Worker's Union
The MFA is an equal opportunity employer. The community and audience we serve is diverse, and we wish to foster that diversity in our workplace. Toward that end, the MFA does not discriminate against individuals in hiring, employment or promotion on the basis of race, religion, color, sex/gender, gender identity and gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship, handicap or disability, veteran or military status, political belief, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.