Corporate Merchant –Lawn & Garden / Nursery & Landscape Material

Corporate Merchant – Lawn & Garden / Nursery & Landscape Materials

Reports to: Director of Purchasing

Tired of being a small fish in a big pond?


Is your creativity and out of the box thinking being suffocated by the big corporate machine?

Has your family forgotten what you look like because you are working too many hours at the office?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then Westlake Hardware may be the place for you. We are regional chain of 85 hardware stores that’s been serving the Midwest for over 100 years. Our corporate culture encourages individuals to be creative and empowers them to make decisions on their own. We understand our associates have responsibilities outside of work and have created a working environment that allows for a balance between work and family. Our office is located in the Kansas City area which was recently rated in the top ten places to live and raise a family by Money magazine.

Westlake Hardware is currently seeking a Corporate Merchant who will be responsible for our largest and fastest growing category of Lawn and Garden. Responsibilities include:
Developing and maintaining category assortments and pricing for Lawn and Garden including Nursery, Landscape Materials and Decorative L&G Accessories.
Analyzing day to day business and writing purchase orders
Developing 35+ promotional circulars in order to maximize sales and profits.

Live Goods program and marketing development processes include managing multiple geographic regions and multiple regional Live Goods vendors. In addition, the candidate should provide a focused and strategic direction for their categories in order to achieve/exceed the annual sales, margin and turnover goals of assigned categories.
REQUIREMENTS
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree from four-year college or university
3-5 years experience as a retail live goods buyer.
Knowledge of central and southern Midwest horticultural products
Experience in retail store operations
Experience managing multiple categories and vendors.
Strong analytical, communication, organization, time management and negotiating skills.
Ability to meet critical deadlines.
Ability to work independently as well as demonstrate initiative to recommend or start projects without immediate supervisor direction.
Advanced retail math and analytical skills required.
Experience with MS Excel, Word, and Outlook.
Systems utilized include JDA/MMS, Connect3 Promotion Manager, and Info Manager Data Warehouse, experience with one or more of these systems helpful but not necessary.
Knowledge of direct importing processes and program development helpful.