Merchandising Manager

GreenStar offers excellent time off benefits & flexible and affordable health care options!

Purpose: To ensure visual merchandising, pricing, and promotion of products and to implement pricing strategies and product displays in order to effectively market and promote them. To manage relationships with vendors by negotiating pricing, delivery, and payment terms. To create a hospitable environment that welcomes coworkers, customers, owners, and members of the community.

Commitment: GreenStar Co-op is committed to being an organization free from discrimination. We seek out, welcome and celebrate people with diverse identities to participate in our community-owned cooperative business structure.

Status: Level V, Management Staff, Supervised by Store Manager

Responsibilities:

MERCHANDISING

• Plan and design displays across multiple departments.
• Coordinate large scale cross merchandising using internal and partner guidelines.
• Communicate promotion plans thoroughly with Marketing and attend marketing meetings as needed.
• Ensure all end-caps are planned and merchandised for all promotional periods, and help facilitate the stocking and filling of said end-caps.
• Coordinate special sales and promotions with reps, distributors, vendors through regular communication.
• Communicate sales plans thoroughly with other departments, stores, and partner organizations as needed.
• Communicate directly with NCG, UNFI and other large scale vendors concerning action items.
• Attend off site meetings and conferences as needed.

CATEGORY MANAGEMENT

• Implement margin and pricing strategies for co-op wide categories.
•  Develop and implement a rotating schedule for category clean up and new item additions using SPINS, sales data, NCG programs, rep meetings, and natural foods trend following.
•  Ensure product selection is on trend and in demand for all categories.
•  Ensure all Promotions Liaison deadlines and requirements are completed in a timely manner.
•  Serve as co-op’s primary contact for category management programs.
•  Effectively communicate changes in product selection and promotions with other departments as well as take feedback from department employees about customer requests and responses to product selection
•  Track sales, margins, and performance for all items in order to effectively control bottom line
•  Respond to customer and lender inquires promptly with great service.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

• Assist customers with product questions in a prompt, and courteous manner, referring them to other staff when necessary.
•  Work as part of a team to develop a hospitable co-op that is welcoming to all.
•  Grow knowledge about all products 
•  Help customers place special orders.

DEPARTMENT MAINTENANCE

•  See that unsaleable items are properly disposed of. 
•  Ensure that work environments are clean, orderly, and meet health standards.
•   Ensure maintenance of department equipment and notify Store Manager in a timely manner if equipment breaks.

SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Be conscientious of and train staff in proper lifting and physical safety techniques.
• Identify potential hazards to customers and employees and correct hazards when noted, escalate issues to be corrected.
• Follow GreenStar’s safety rules.
• Assist other employees in safety needs.
• Report unsafe equipment and conditions immediately. 
• Participate in safety training programs, assist with accident investigations as needed. 
• Perform other tasks as assigned to ensure a safe and healthy work environment.

STOREWIDE AND OTHER DUTIES

•  Attend trainings, meetings, and huddles to stay informed.
•  Read GreenStar publications to stay informed.
•  Be knowledgeable, respect and comply with storewide personnel policies.
•  Describe membership benefits, and how membership investment is made.
•  Participate in training new colleagues as assigned.
•  Perform other duties as assigned.

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

•  Achieves sales and margin for sub departments
•  Keeps supplies within budget
•  Participates in setting sales and margin goals for sub department

PERSONNEL 

• Ensure clear communication to include expectations, accountability, and follow through are clear.
• Be receptive and respond to the ongoing needs and concerns of the team
• Lead training, coaching, and development of members of the team
• Plan, schedule and utilize team huddles and department meetings as needed to support the role of the Merchandising position.
• Manage a positive culture where employees feel their contributions are valued

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• Communication – effective interpersonal communication with staff and vendors.
•  Experience negotiating with vendors.
•  Experience with retail categories and merchandising.
•  Demonstrated ability to follow through on commitments.
•  Open to input/feedback on work performance.
•  Self-Driven/Motivated throughout shift.
•  Knowledge or interest in learning about natural foods, produce, local vendors.
•  Demonstrated ability to handle multiple demands, stay calm, and prioritize.
•  Ability to lift 50 pounds.