Merchandise Manager - Lawn & Garden Location: Fort Wayne, IN Level: Mid-Level Division / Department: Merchandising Reporting to position: Divisional Merchandise Manager Travel: Approx. 10% About the Role: The Lawn & Garden Merchandise Manager position locates and purchases products to be sold to our members and retail service centers. This includes developing, implementing and communicating retail service center and direct shipment programs, developing and maintaining departmental planograms, and profitably growing a business segment for Do it Best Corp. Ultimately, the position of Hardware Merchant/Buyer has a focus on vendors, products, promotions, and pricing. If you have any prior experience working in any of the following positions, we strongly encourage you to apply: Merchandise Associate, Department Manager, Sourcing Assistant/Manager, Pricing Analyst, Sales Manager/Representative, Category Management, Retail Associate, Buyer, Product Manager, Inventory Management, Assistant Store Manager, Merchandise Manager, Merchandise Buyer. Responsibilities include: + Develop and submit promotional offers and programs based on sales data and strategies + Negotiate with vendors to obtain most favorable prices, terms, programs, promotions and volume and growth rebates + Analyze, implement and maintain landed costs, member costs, and suggested retail price in accordance with the company’s established best practices + Evaluate and introduce new products and product lines to members + Review and implement warehouse and direct shipment product offerings to create the best product mix and overall offer for our member that will help them be competitive and profitable + Setting goals to achieve targets on sales, margins, turns, and service levels + Develop strategic and competitive promotions for the annual Market convention + Evaluate vendor product performance for stocking purposes and direct shipment to our members to determine opportunities to grow and develop product mix + Monitor competitor tactics and trends to capitalize on opportunities in the marketplace + Collaborate with other Departments (e.g., Finance, Logistics, Marketing & Advertising, Market Planning, Retail Performance, etc.) to troubleshoot and resolve member or vendor issues; as well as to effectively execute Department projects + Travel for Markets twice per year; as well as any member visits, vendor visits, and trade shows as needed + Set goals and key performance initiatives (KPIs) for the Associate Merchandise Manager(s) + Manage and monitor inventory of the Department to meet both acceptable turns and service level Education and Experience: + Four year degree in Marketing, Sales, or other business related field or strong background/experience in Retail, Sales, or Hardware + Great technology skills including Excel, and Google Suite + Prior buying experience (preferred) Skills and Abilities: + Excellent oral and written communication skills + Team player + Creative problem solving + Ability to work with little supervision + Must possess a high level of accuracy + Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions + Service oriented + Self-motivated + Objective and analytical skills + Relationship building and cross-functional collaboration Benefits available to you: + Full insurance benefits package including Medical, Dental, & Vision with a premium free plan available + Paid time off to foster work/life balance + Profit sharing + Bonus Pay opportunities + Retirement funding opportunities + Education reimbursement + Health club reimbursement + Career advancement opportunities Please note that for this role, relocation assistance is not available. Candidates should be willing and able to work in Fort Wayne, IN without the need for relocation support. We encourage local candidates or those already planning to move to the area to apply. About Do it Best: We’re the only US-based, member-owned hardware, lumber, and building materials co-op in the home improvement industry. We proudly serve thousands of locations in over 50 countries, offering exceptional merchandise and services driving us to nearly $5 billion in annual sales. Our goal is to help our members grow and achieve their dreams. Culture: Each team member is valued as an individual - with their intrinsic value at the forefront. We prioritize your career growth through one-on-one training, conferences, tuition assistance, mentoring and more. We encourage authentic relationships by hosting social events and fostering a culture where lasting friendships are made. In fact, the three most valued aspects of being a part of the Do it Best team are the culture, the compensation, and the level of fulfillment that each team member experiences from their role. Our Philosophy : Serving others as we would like to be served Our Mission : Making the best even better Our Goal: Helping members grow and achieve their dreams