Assistant Buyer

Who We Are

At Tillys , we're a leading specialty retailer offering casual apparel, footwear, and accessories for young men, women, boys, and girls. Our extensive collection features iconic global brands, emerging labels, and proprietary lines, all rooted in an active and social lifestyle.

Based in sunny Southern California, our Retail Support Center (RSC ) is the heart of our corporate operations, dedicated to supporting both our retail and online stores. The RSC is where strategy meets execution. From trend forecasting to tech innovation, our teams work together to bring the Tillys experience to life — both in-store and online.

Position Summary

An Assistant Buyer will support the Buyer in daily operations, including purchase order management, sample coordination, markdown creation, trend research, reporting and order tracking. Collaborates with internal teams and vendors while maintaining strong communication and relationships to support timely and accurate assortment execution.

Key Responsibilities

A typical day may include :

• Support Buyer on all day-to-day functions of the department.
• Generates, maintains, and follows through on all Purchase Orders. Some examples include vendor delivery, tickets, samples, and warehouse issues etc. Ensure that communication (written / verbal) is complete and thorough with vendor and internal partners. Set and agree upon dates for completion of projects with buyer and communicate progress.
• Organization with files, samples, and photos. Work in an efficient manner that maximizes time management. Update files so that they are up to date. Purge files / samples / photos as needed to keep area current. Perform regular maintenance on picture boards so that assortments are represented accurately.
• Creates and re-caps all weekly markdowns.
• Monitors on-order and manages weekly receipt flow into DC.
• Assists in management of OTB.
• Partners with Allocation, Marketing, and Visual teams to ensure correct execution of assortments in store.
• Requests and manages samples for fittings, photo shoots, and meetings.
• Ensures quality control of all orders.
• Creates recaps and reports as needed.
• Maintains positive working relationships with vendors and internal partners.

Qualifications

Your experience brings :

Education & Experience

Work Environment & Physical Demands

Leadership & Team Development

Non-Management :

While this is not a leadership role, we value team players who embody proactive collaboration, curiosity, accountability, and a growth mindset. Opportunities to grow and develop within the company are strongly supported.

Compensation

Hourly Range : $26.50 – $28 / hr

Final offer will be based on experience, skills, and qualifications.

What to Expect

Schedule : Full-time role with weekday office hours; occasional evening or weekend work may be required during peak retail seasons.

Work Location : Irvine, CA — minimum of 4 days per week in-office.

Why Join Tillys?

At Tillys, we thrive in a creative, collaborative, and high-energy environment where individuality is not just accepted — it's celebrated. Whether you're brainstorming bold new campaigns or fine-tuning behind-the-scenes processes, your work makes a real impact. We foster a culture of inclusion, innovation, and recognition, where professional growth is supported, wins are celebrated, and having fun is part of the process. Join a team that values authenticity, teamwork, and always strives for excellence.

Perks & Benefits

Equal Opportunity Employer & Fair Chance Hiring

Tillys is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Fair Chance Hiring : In compliance with California law, Tillys will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the California Fair Chance Act.

Other Considerations

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time, with or without notice. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform essential job functions.