Inventory & Buying Associate

Inventory & Buying Associate (Social Media Support)

Once Upon a Child Mankato | Mankato, MN

Job Type: Part-time
Schedule: Weekdays, daytime hours, and every other weekend
Work Location: In person

About the Position

Once Upon a Child Mankato is looking for a dependable, organized, and motivated Inventory & Buying Associate to join our team!

This is a hands-on retail position primarily focused on sorting, evaluating, buying, processing, and organizing gently used children's clothing, shoes, toys, and baby gear.

We're also looking for someone with a creative side who enjoys social media and can occasionally assist with product photography, short videos, and promotional content.

Our ideal candidate is detail-oriented, efficient, willing to learn, and takes initiative without needing constant supervision.

Key Responsibilities

Inventory, Sorting & Buying — Primary Responsibilities

Sort and evaluate incoming children's clothing, shoes, toys, and baby gear.Inspect merchandise for quality, condition, style, brand, and overall resale value.Assist with purchasing gently used merchandise from customers following company buying guidelines.Learn to recognize popular brands, current children's fashion trends, and seasonal merchandise.Make informed buying decisions based on store standards and current inventory needs.Process, price, tag, and organize accepted merchandise accurately and efficiently.Maintain organized inventory areas, merchandise racks, and sales floor displays.Assist with stocking, restocking, and merchandising products.Help identify inventory shortages, overstock, and merchandise that needs attention.Prepare inventory for seasonal launches, promotional events, and special sales.Maintain a clean, organized, and efficient work environment.Social Media & Content Creation — Secondary Responsibilities

Assist with creating engaging content for Facebook and Instagram.Take appealing photos and short videos of merchandise, new arrivals, and store displays.Help create Instagram Reels and other short-form promotional videos.Help showcase new arrivals, sales, and special events.Contribute creative ideas for social media and store promotions.Support management with marketing projects as needed.Additional Store Responsibilities

Provide friendly and professional customer service.Assist customers during the buying and selling process.Work collaboratively with management and team members.Maintain a clean and organized store environment.Complete assigned tasks accurately and on time.Assist with other daily retail operations as needed.Qualifications

Strong organizational skills and excellent attention to detail.Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced retail environment.Dependable, self-motivated, and willing to learn.Comfortable sorting and evaluating gently used merchandise.Ability to follow buying guidelines and make consistent decisions.Good judgment when evaluating merchandise for condition and style.Strong time-management and multitasking skills.Comfortable using computers and learning new software.Basic familiarity with Facebook and Instagram.Interest in photography and video creation is a plus.Previous retail, inventory, merchandising, or buying experience is preferred but not required.Our Ideal Candidate

We're looking for someone who:

Takes initiative and notices what needs to be done.Enjoys staying busy and working with merchandise.Has a good eye for quality, fashion, and current trends.Pays close attention to details and takes pride in their work.Can stay focused and organized while handling multiple tasks.Works well independently and as part of a team.Is creative and willing to help with social media when needed.Brings a positive attitude and strong work ethic.Schedule

Employment: Part-timeSchedule: Weekdays, daytime hours, and every other weekendLocation: Once Upon a Child Mankato, MNHow to Apply

Please submit your application through ZipRecruiter.

Tell us about your experience with retail, inventory, merchandising, or buying. If you also enjoy social media or content creation, we'd love to hear about that!

We're looking for someone excited to learn, stay organized, and contribute to a hardworking retail team.

Join our team and help us give gently used children's items a second life!

Once Upon a Child Mankato is an equal opportunity employer.

Company DescriptionOnce Upon A Child offers customers a fun and convenient way to buy and sell gently used kids stuff, which makes saving money on children's clothes, toys, baby furniture and equipment a reality every day. We focus on quality, safety, and value – the same things you feel important for your own families.