Associate Merchant – Millwork

McCoy’s Building Supply•San Marcos, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This is a full-time role where the Associate Merchant will learn all aspects of Category Management, including strategies and tactics, assortment planning and development, pricing, costing, payment terms, and promotions. The goal is to gain knowledge to impact the financial performance of assigned categories: Inventory Turnover, Gross Margin, and Sales. The role also involves assisting with the development and execution of Marketing and Advertising programs to support store sales efforts and learning negotiation and Vendor Relations skills through meetings, factory visits, and trade shows.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree (B. A.) from two-year college or university; or one to three years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.
Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Basic computer skills including experience with word processing, spreadsheets, and point-of-sale systems.
Experience with BI Tools (Cognos Analytics, BI10+ or related tools)
Must maintain regular and acceptable attendance at such level as is determined by management.
Must be regularly available and willing to work at least 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week or such other hours per day or hours per week as the employer determines are necessary or desirable to meet business needs.
Must meet driver’s license requirements as required by the Company.
Must be able to legally obtain a rental vehicle in all states in which the company does business.
Must have current auto liability insurance.

Nice To Haves

Occasional travel with overnight stays

Responsibilities

Supports Merchants and store operations within assigned categories.
Solicits Regional and Store Manager input regarding assigned categories while listening to problems, complaints, and compliments.
Acts to resolve problems and build on successes.
Responsible for learning categories as they become assigned and managing these assigned categories with oversight from the Senior Merchant and/or the Merchandising Manager once learned.
Provides data for Mac21 SKU creation in McCoy’s system as directed.
Understands, at the store level, competitive cost and retail situations.
Understands, at the national, regional and local levels competitive supplier costs.
Acts to lower incoming costs wherever possible.
Works interdependently with Merchandising Services and Accounting Departments to ensure SKU and invoice accuracy.
Helps resolve invoice discrepancies by providing detailed research for assigned Merchants.
Researches and provides information to keep McCoy’s system vendor cost, shipping, and company information synchronized.
Provides research and regular reporting for vendor co-op and volume rebates.
Works interdependently with Inventory Management Replenishment Buyers and Store Associates to ensure inventory levels are appropriate for each store and season in assigned product categories based on knowledge of McCoy’s replenishment program and factors.
Contribute ideas or suggestions of changes to replenishment factors that need to be considered.
Assists in keeping McCoy’s system information and vendor information synchronized.
Submits appropriate documentation to Merchandise Services for assigned vendors/categories.
Acts on store requested items in a timely manner.
Works interdependently with store personnel to gather information to support good financial and assortment decisions.
Helps prepare, analyze, and present Program Financial Reviews and analyses for Stock and Special Order Sales in assigned categories. Includes discussion and analyses of program performance, specifically Turnover, Gross Margin and Sales. Also includes vendor performance analyses regarding lead time, error rates, quality and customer service.
Helps prepare, analyze, and present Program Line Reviews for Stock and Special Order Sales in assigned categories. Line Reviews include all areas of Program Financial Reviews and comparison of existing vendor to competitors in the category.
Assists with preparation for and during negotiations during the Line Review.
Helps develop and implement Marketing and Advertising programs to promote assigned product categories.
Helps negotiate and collect co-op advertising funds to support marketing and advertising expense.
Reviews and reports on each campaign’s results for effectiveness and efficiency.
Meets, with assigned Merchant(s), periodically with existing vendors to plan and review existing programs.
Communicates McCoy’s program requirements, program performance, store requests, assortment changes, etc.
Reviews pending changes in vendor product mix.
Participates in meetings with potential vendors of existing and new products.
Helps develop and implement new products/programs as needed to support stores’ sales efforts. Includes establishing performance goals, displays, set-up or resets, negotiated minimums, payment terms, negotiating costs, researching and establishing competitive retails, etc.
Communicates complete program, schedules, etc. to stores by working interdependently with Integration Specialist and all other involved departments.
Visits McCoy’s Stores, competitors’ stores, and factories with Merchants to gain understanding of assigned categories.
Follows Standard Operating Procedures while carrying out the responsibilities of position.
Attends all team meetings and company training sessions as required.