Location: Westbury,NY, USA
Hicks Nurseries is a $40 million revenue, single-location retail, and wholesale garden center in Westbury, NY. We are the largest garden center on Long Island!
We are seeking a seeking a Buyer with horticulture knowledge and experience. This is an exciting opportunity for the right candidate to bring their horticulture expertise to Hicks Nurseries!
Objective: Develop programs, source material, and buy items in assigned categories to maximize sales and profitability; analyze results.
Key Responsibilities:
* Identify, create, and source a mix of products in line with the company's position in the marketplace.
* Keep abreast of trends to best select product and programs. Identify vendors and products that communicate the look, feel, and value the company is seeking to achieve.
* Manage Open to Buy. Develop and monitor financial plans for merchandise mix, sales, and gross margin.
* Purchase merchandise. Plan merchandise promotions and sales. Plan sales goals, manage tie in sales and front-end item execution.
* Research and source new products. Plan and implement a schedule to visit other retail locations and industry events to gather information and ideas on trends, products, pricing, and vendors.
* Work with the Inventory team to resolve issues and problems discovered as shipments arrive.
* Develop and maintain a cross-functional partnership with Retail, Commercial Sales, Landscapes, and marketing to gain understanding of customer needs and communicate effectively. Support and partner with retail, commercial sales, and landscapes on sales, promotions, fulfilling inventory needs, and addressing inventory issues.
* Participate in industry events, tours, buying trips, and/or other professional development courses as directed and required. Understand competition in stores and online. Complete regular competitive shopping trips to assess pricing, category, and vendor opportunities.
* Provide customer service.
* Participate in sales and product knowledge training.
* 5-10 years of experience in managing a retail buying program.
* Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
* A demonstrated knowledge of horticulture industry.
* Computer literate, including Microsoft Office products.
* Ability to learn computer systems that are new to you.
* Effective and articulate fluency in English, written and oral, including face-to-face, on the phone, in formal letters, texting, and via email.
* Strong analytical and math skills.
* Able to work effectively and efficiently independently.
* Possess critical thinking and troubleshooting abilities.
* Able to maintain cooperative professional relationships with customers, peers, managers, vendors, and the community in general, while projecting a professional image through in-person, electronic, and telephone interactions.
* Able to multi-task and prioritize projects/activities in a fast-paced atmosphere.
Additional Requirements
* Must be able to sit for extended periods of time.
* Must be able to walk for extended periods of time, for example on showroom floors.
* Must be able to travel multiple weeks of the year.
* Physical activity required, including standing, walking, reaching, bending, lifting, crouching, climbing, pushing, pulling, squeezing, and grasping.
* Fine motor skills requirements include keyboarding, using a computer mouse, and writing.
* Must be able to consistently lift 10 lbs. independently and occasionally lift more.