Job Title: Merchandising Buyer, Relax The Back Location: Long Beach, CA (Hybrid Remote) Reports To: Chief Operating Officer, Relax The Back FLSA Status: Exempt About Relax The Back: Relax The Back is a premier wellness franchise focused on helping customers live healthier, more comfortable lives through ergonomic solutions and pain-relief products. With retail stores nationwide and a strong online presence, we offer carefully curated products that promote posture health, spinal alignment, and overall wellness. Our product range includes ergonomic chairs, mattresses, massage tools, recliners, and accessories designed to improve quality of life. Position Summary: We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Buyer to join our purchasing team. This individual will be responsible for sourcing, purchasing, and managing inventory for a diverse catalog of wellness and ergonomic products. You will work closely with vendors, franchisees, and internal teams to ensure that our stores carry innovative, high-quality products that meet customer needs and reflect our wellness-focused mission. Franchisees do not select their own products or vendors; the buyer ensures that the approved assortment is optimized for performance, clearly communicated to the field, and supported by the vendor community in alignment with RTB standards. Core Responsibilities Product Assortment & Vendor Management · Source and evaluate new products that align with the Relax The Back brand and customer promise. · Act as the primary contact for the vendor community during onboarding, program updates, and compliance oversight. · Analyze vendor submissions for pricing, margins, freight terms, and program fit; summarize and present findings for internal review. · Manage the lifecycle of products in the assortment (additions, deletions, replacements, end-of-life notices). · Maintain all vendor-related files, program documentation, and sales materials on the RTB Intranet for franchisee use. Franchisee Support · Develop clear communication packages to support product launches, promotions, and changes to the assortment. · Prepare and maintain Initial Inventory Assortments (IIA) and Core Product Assortment (CPA) lists for new and existing stores. · Collaborate with operations and training to ensure successful franchisee execution of the merchandising strategy. Merchandising Analytics · Run and summarize sales and product performance reports to support decision-making and assortment optimization. · Support open-to-buy planning for franchisee and corporate store locations and forecast needs based on sell-through, inventory turns, and ROI analysis. · Identify underperforming products and make recommendations for phase-out or promotional action. Trade Shows & Events · Attend key industry and vendor trade shows to identify trends and new product opportunities. · Assist with planning and execution of the RTB Annual Convention | New Product Expo, including vendor coordination and financial participation, booth planning, and product information packets. · Collect and summarize franchisee feedback on Products Under Consideration (PUC). Cross-Functional Collaboration · Partner with the Marketing team to ensure product content (images, specs, pricing) is accurate across catalogs and ecommerce platforms. · Coordinate with the ecommerce team to align digital and in-store merchandising execution. · Provide support for new store openings and franchisee training events (e.g., Discovery Day, RTBU). Qualifications: • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Merchandising, or related field • 3+ years of buying or procurement experience in wellness, ergonomic, or specialty retail • Proven ability to manage multiple vendor relationships and negotiate effectively • Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel and inventory management software • Detail-oriented, organized, and able to work independently and cross-functionally • Genuine interest in wellness, ergonomic design, and customer well-being • Merchandise planning and assortment strategy • Sales analytics and margin/turnover/ROI analysis • Strong communication and vendor negotiation skills • High attention to detail and project follow-through • Self-motivated, collaborative, and solution-oriented • 3–5 years in consumer goods retail merchandising, buying, or product management • Experience supporting franchise or multi-unit operations strongly preferred • Health and wellness or specialty retail (ie. home furnishings, sleep, high ticket) experience is a plus Technical Proficiency: • Microsoft Excel (intermediate to advanced), Google Docs • Familiarity with POS and inventory platforms (e.g., AllPoint, Shopify, NetSuite a plus) • Adobe Creative Suite (for merchandising collateral) Other Requirements: • Must be based in Southern California (Long Beach HQ) • Up to 15% travel (trade shows, franchise support) • Ability to unpack, assemble, and lift product samples (~50 lbs) What We Offer: • Competitive salary, benefits and bonus potential • Employee discounts and access to wellness products • Opportunity to impact the product direction of a respected wellness brand • A collaborative and supportive team environment