Product Manager

House-Hasson Hardware Company•Knoxville, TN

11d

About The Position

House-Hasson Hardware is seeking a Product Manager to develop, manage, and grow its Animal Health, Farm & Agriculture category. The role combines product management, purchasing, merchandising, supplier development, and new business development. The Product Manager identifies product opportunities, builds supplier partnerships, negotiates commercial programs, and leads products from initial evaluation through launch and ongoing performance management. Working with sales, marketing, purchasing, operations, and branch teams, the Product Manager creates a differentiated product portfolio for independent hardware retailers, farm and ranch stores, agricultural dealers, and other distribution customers. The role calls for proactive, entrepreneurial ownership of opportunities from initial idea through execution and sustained growth, supported by supplier development, knowledge of hardware and farm distribution, and sound financial judgment.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, supply chain management, agriculture, animal science, or a related field preferred; equivalent industry experience will be considered.
Five or more years of experience in product management, purchasing, merchandising, category management, or supplier development.
Demonstrated success identifying and developing supplier partnerships and negotiating favorable commercial terms.
Experience bringing new products, product lines, or supplier programs to market.
Strong understanding of product costing, pricing, gross margin management, inventory planning, and sales performance analysis.
Strong negotiation, relationship-building, analytical, organizational, and project management skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and experience using ERP, inventory management, purchasing, or product information systems.
Willingness to travel periodically for supplier visits, trade shows, customer meetings, and industry events.

Nice To Haves

Experience in hardware distribution, farm and ranch, agricultural distribution, animal health, or a related wholesale environment.

Responsibilities

Evaluate potential suppliers based on product quality, market demand, pricing, profitability, reliability, service capabilities, and long-term growth potential.
Negotiate pricing, margins, payment terms, freight programs, rebates, promotional support, exclusivity, and other business arrangements.
Build collaborative relationships with key suppliers to support long-term growth, product innovation, and mutual business objectives.
Develop supplier programs, including exclusive offerings, bundled assortments, seasonal programs, and promotional initiatives.
Manage product introductions, including market research, supplier selection, product evaluation, cost analysis, pricing, assortment planning, forecasting, and launch execution.
Develop go-to-market plans for new products and programs with sales, marketing, and operations.
Create product assortments and programs tailored to independent hardware stores, farm and ranch retailers, and agricultural customers.
Manage purchasing activities, supplier negotiations, product costs, and inventory planning to support sales growth and profitability.
Establish pricing strategies that balance market competitiveness, customer value, and gross margin objectives.
Collaborate with demand planning and operations teams to improve forecasting, inventory availability, replenishment, and product turns.
Monitor supplier lead times, fill rates, minimum order requirements, and service levels to minimize supply disruptions.
Evaluate slow-moving and obsolete inventory and implement corrective actions to improve working capital and inventory productivity.
Ensure product assortment and purchasing decisions align with company financial objectives and customer demand.