Category Buyer - Fencing, Farm And Ag

Summary:

Purchases and determines merchandise or commodities for resale by performing the following duties.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Research product and pricing and enter into negotiations with vendors.
• Discover, select and certify vendors and their merchandise programs.
• Maintain relationships with existing suppliers; source new suppliers.
• Analyze consumer buying patterns to predict future trends.
• Write reports and forecast sales levels reacting to changes in demand. Report to upper management any change in direction and appropriate plans.
• Negotiate vendor programs and pricing to maximize sales, margin and profitability within each department.
• Increase sales, turns and GMROI through proper inventory management.
• Increase sales through the utilization of all available marketing and advertizing channels.
• Collaborate with vendors to maximize all available advertising/marketing funds to allow company to increase media presence while decreasing advertising expenditures.
• Schedule, and conduct timely category line reviews to identify sales trends and opportunities for growth or inventory reduction within each category.
• Create internal and external marketing and advertising for assigned product lines.
• Set-up new vendor accounts.
• Maintain vendor price files and vendor relationships.
• Establish and maintain budgets including financial planning, sales, inventory, turns and margins.
• Maintain communications with Vice President of Purchasing & Marketing regarding vendor performance and order status.
• Attend trade shows as needed throughout the year.
• Perform comparative analysis of products. Evaluate sales and inventory.
• Reinforce relationships with the stores through scheduled visits through the year; focusing on inventory levels and merchandising within the store, as well as market conditions in the area. ????
• Occasionally work a store sales floor and sell merchandise to become familiar with customer attitudes, preferences, purchasing preferences and assist with merchandising.
• Travel long distances and work on the road for up to a week at a time.
• Conduct product knowledge seminars with store personnel and vendors.
• Search for close outs and special buys.
• Work with analysts to optimize inventory mix and levels.
• Authorizes payment of invoices or return merchandise.
• Approves advertising copy for media outlets.
• Determines financial information such as price mark-ups or mark-downs, manufacturer number, season code, and style number to print on price tickets.
• Conducts training meetings with sales personnel to introduce new merchandise.
• Prices items for resale.
• Must be physically present at the C-A-L Ranch Support Center.
• Regular and predictable attendance is required.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Directly supervises one or two employees. Monitors supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS degree in business or equivalent work experience
• 4 years merchandising work experience at the Assistant Buyer or Replenishment Manager level
• Ability to multitask and prioritize work assignments
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Proficient with Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Power Point, and especially Excel)
• Excellent analytical skills, able to create, understand and effect business through spreadsheets
• Strong retail merchandising skills
• Understanding of retail math, price point analysis, inventory turns and margin

Preferred Qualifications:

• BS or Master’s degree in business management
• 3-5 years retail buying experience
• 2-4 years retail operations or merchandising experience
• Strong analytical math skills
• Passion for merchandise and ability to select successful and profitable items
• Able to build assortments through line reviews
• Creative thinker with an open mind who leverages collaboration
• Category line review experience
• Efficient team player with a strong work ethic

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus and work with computer systems as a primary job function. Physical presence at the worksite is required.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.