Mercantile Buyer Location:

Winchester Mystery House - San Jose, CA - Hybrid partial onsite/ partial remote

Employment Type:

Part-Time, approximately 10-20 hours per week

Department:

Marketing Reports To:

Sr. Marketing Manager Position Summary The Mercantile Buyer is responsible for developing and maintaining a compelling, profitable, and distinctive merchandise assortment for the Winchester Mystery House. This position combines retail buying and procurement expertise with a strong appreciation for history, storytelling, design, and the unique character of the Winchester Mystery House. The Buyer will identify, source, evaluate, and purchase merchandise that appeals to the property's diverse visitor base while supporting the Winchester Mystery House brand, seasonal programming, special events, and overall guest experience. This role will work closely with Marketing, Gift Shop leadership, and other internal stakeholders to develop merchandise concepts and ensure the store remains fresh, relevant, and commercially successful. The position is primarily focused on buying strategy, product selection, vendor management, purchasing, and inventory planning rather than daily retail store operations or employee supervision. This position is onsite as needed to host meetings with vendors and receive/check shipments with inventory staff, but the majority of administrative, purchasing, planning, and vendor-related responsibilities may be performed remotely, with the expectation that the employee is available onsite when business needs require. Essential Responsibilities Merchandise Buying & Product Selection Develop and maintain a merchandise assortment that reflects the history, mystery, architecture, and distinctive personality of the Winchester Mystery House. Research retail trends, visitor preferences, competitive offerings, and emerging product categories to identify new merchandise opportunities. Select and purchase gifts, apparel, books, home décor, collectibles, souvenirs, jewelry, specialty products, and other merchandise appropriate for the Winchester Mystery House audience. Identify products that provide strong retail potential while maintaining an appropriate connection to the property's brand and story. Evaluate new product opportunities based on anticipated sales, margin, price point, quality, uniqueness, and guest appeal. Develop seasonal merchandise assortments for major visitor periods, holidays, Halloween, and other special programming. Vendor & Supplier Management Establish and maintain productive relationships with existing vendors, manufacturers, artists, publishers, and specialty suppliers. Research and develop relationships with new vendors to continually expand and improve the merchandise assortment. Negotiate pricing, wholesale terms, minimum order quantities, shipping arrangements, payment terms, exclusivity, and other purchasing conditions. Evaluate vendor performance, including product quality, pricing, fulfillment, reliability, and responsiveness. Identify opportunities for exclusive, private-label, custom, or locally sourced merchandise. Maintain accurate vendor and product information and coordinate with internal staff regarding purchase orders and deliveries. Winchester Mystery House-Specific Product Development Identify opportunities for merchandise that is uniquely connected to the Winchester Mystery House, Sarah Winchester, the property's architecture, history, and stories. Collaborate with Marketing and other internal stakeholders to develop custom or exclusive products that strengthen the Winchester Mystery House brand. Source merchandise connected to special events, exhibits, tours, seasonal programming, and marketing campaigns. Explore opportunities with local artists, makers, designers, historical organizations, and other appropriate partners. Participate in discussions regarding branding, packaging, product design, and licensing opportunities as appropriate. Ensure proposed merchandise is consistent with established brand standards and the historical and cultural character of the property. Inventory & Retail Performance Monitor inventory levels and make purchasing recommendations based on sales trends, seasonality, inventory turns, and available budget. Review sales reports and other retail performance data to identify best sellers, underperforming products, and opportunities for assortment adjustments. Use retail math to evaluate gross margin, markup, sell-through, inventory investment, and return on inventory. Develop purchasing recommendations that balance product availability with appropriate inventory levels. Identify slow-moving or obsolete merchandise and recommend markdown, promotional, return, or discontinuation strategies. Work within established purchasing and inventory budgets and communicate anticipated purchasing needs to management. Merchandising & Guest Experience Partner with Gift Shop leadership to ensure merchandise assortments support an engaging and cohesive guest experience. Provide recommendations for product placement, seasonal collections, cross-merchandising, and visual presentation. Coordinate with store leadership regarding new product launches and seasonal merchandise transitions. Evaluate the overall merchandise assortment to ensure an appropriate balance of price points, product categories, impulse purchases, premium merchandise, and Winchester-specific products. Monitor competitive museum, attraction, and specialty retail stores for ideas and opportunities. Collaboration & Reporting Work collaboratively with Marketing, Gift Shop leadership, and other departments to align merchandise strategy with organizational priorities. Prepare periodic buying recommendations, assortment reviews, and inventory reports for management. Communicate purchasing needs, vendor issues, product opportunities, and potential risks in a timely manner. Maintain organized purchasing records, product information, vendor contacts, and related documentation. Perform other related duties as assigned. Qualifications Required 2-3 years of experience in retail buying, merchandising, purchasing, procurement, or a related specialty retail environment. Demonstrated ability to identify products with strong customer appeal and commercial potential. Experience negotiating with vendors and managing supplier relationships. Strong understanding of retail math, including cost, markup, margin, sell-through, and inventory turns. Strong organizational and analytical skills with excellent attention to detail. Ability to work independently and manage priorities with limited supervision. Strong communication and interpersonal skills. Proficiency with Microsoft Office, spreadsheets, and retail/POS or inventory management systems. Preferred Experience buying for a museum, historic property, cultural institution, tourist attraction, specialty retailer, gift shop, or destination retail environment. Experience developing custom, private-label, exclusive, or locally sourced merchandise. Experience with licensing, branded merchandise, or product development. Bachelor's degree in Business, Retail Management, Merchandising, Marketing, Art History, Museum Studies, or a related field. Familiarity with the Bay Area retail, artisan, maker, and cultural marketplace. Appreciation for history, architecture, storytelling, and experiential tourism. Success in This Role Success in this position will be measured by the ability to: Build a distinctive merchandise assortment that feels authentically connected to the Winchester Mystery House. Increase sales and profitability through thoughtful product selection and purchasing. Improve inventory productivity and reduce slow-moving or excess merchandise. Develop strong and reliable vendor relationships. Introduce new and exclusive products that give guests a reason to purchase from the Winchester Mystery House. Create a balance between commercially successful merchandise and products that enhance the educational, historical, and experiential aspects of a museum store. Support the Gift Shop team with a well-planned assortment that is appropriate for the property's seasonal and visitor-driven business. Physical & Work Requirements Ability to work in a retail and museum/visitor-attraction environment. Ability to review merchandise samples, displays, catalogs, and vendor presentations. Occasional ability to lift and move merchandise or product samples weighing up to approximately 25 pounds. Ability to work occasional weekends, special events, trade shows, or vendor meetings as needed.

Note:

This position is primarily focused on merchandise buying, purchasing, product development, and inventory strategy. It does not have primary responsibility for daily store operations, staff scheduling, or employee supervision.

Pay:

$38.00 - $45.00 per hour Expected hours: 10.0 - 20.0 per week

Benefits:

401(k) Flexible schedule

Work Location:

Hybrid remote in San Jose, CA 95128