Assistant Category Manager, Seasonal Plants

Sheridan Nurseries•Head Office, ON

3d•CA$50,000 - CA$70,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Category Manager is accountable for achieving sales and profit objectives for the Seasonal Plant categories, under the direction of the Green Goods Category Manager. Responsibilities include the development and successful implementation of buying strategies, merchandise programs and marketing plans as well as incorporating competitive intelligence based on customer insights, analyze category performance and provide strategies to improve performance. The Assistant Category Manager will be taking the lead on the Tropical and Flowering Houseplants categories under the supervision of the Category Manager.

Requirements

University or College degree
Experience in strategic analysis, knowledge of margin planning, open to buy, inventory productivity measures, assortment planning and elements of markup.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to negotiate
Ability to communicate with various levels of management.
Ability to adapt and prioritize multiple tasks and situations.
Ability to travel to trade shows

Nice To Haves

Horticultural experience is preferred
Product knowledge an asset

Responsibilities

Manages vendor selection, negotiates vendor allowance, and develops vendor partnerships.
Monitors industry trends, evaluates competition, and attends vendor meetings.
Supports the Category Manager to develop the merchandise strategy, including product selection and key item sourcing and development across all Green Goods categories as required.
Ensure that new items are set up properly in the item database.
Develops and reviews sales unit performance analysis for opportunities.
Assists in conducting the monthly/quarterly reviews.
Responsible for logistics management, both internal and external.
Participate in garden centre and competition store visits.
Provides information and assists in floor space strategies and opportunities with the Retail Merchandiser.
Assists in analyzing category performance and provides recommendations for category success to the Category Manager.
Manages the timely placement and maintenance of purchase orders.
Develop a plan and work back schedules for all seasons
Responsible for inventory flow through in the Tropical Facility
Ensures assortment planning best practices and allocation strategies.
Provides information for, reviews, and assists in the development of the assortment and buy plan.
Monitors and provide feedback for order flow recommendations.
Provides information for the identification of distribution and vendor logistics opportunities.
Inspects and resolves issues with data integrity (reporting systems).
Manages the setting up of items designated for Ecommerce uploads.
Develops and regularly reassesses replenishment assortment, financial plans and open to buy with Inventory Manager and replenishment analyst.
Monitors inventory productivity and analyze vendor profitability.
Reviews departmental sales and inventory level, providing recommendations.
Manages and assists in building department plans/budgets by month.
Develops, presents and gains buy in on category strategy and business planning.
Participates in the monthly business reviews of departmental financial results.
Supports product selection for all advertising and marketing.
Develops and executes aged inventory exit strategies
Develop market price retail price strategy for assigned categories and provide target markup analysis and guidelines which are applied to buying decisions; recommending and approving item price changes; ensuring that price changes are input in a timely manner; evaluating financial impact of price changes.
Manages in-stock on promotional items and ensures the communication of in-stock issues to stores.
Owns online presence
Oversee appropriate in-store signage
Participates in skills training and development.
Participates in the team's activities and helps to support and develop a teamwork atmosphere.
Provides leadership and guidance to Seasonal Plant Supervisors and Assistant Store Managers with regards to purchasing decisions, seasonal assortment, and inventory levels.
Leads the management and development of the Tropical Facility team