Merchandising Lead
Department: Fulfillment
Location: Middlesex, Vermont
Hours: Full time
Rate: Salaried based on experience
Farmers To You is committed to healthy farms, healthy families, and a healthy planet. We are an online farm-to-table grocer focused on developing lasting partnerships and mutual understanding between our customers and the growers who produce the amazing food we sell. The majority of our sales are currently in the Boston area, with additional sites in Central VT, and the Champlain Valley. The FTY Team is passionate about working collaboratively to change the food system and build strong connections between the families and farmers who feed and support each other.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Merchandising Manager oversees long term retail goals and strategies and supports the Lead Buyer in adjusting vendor commitments to match sales volume. Working closely with the Lead Buyer, this position is responsible for merchandising high quality food for our online farmers market. The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic and knowledgeable about our regional food products, as well as passionate about good food. They will be comfortable negotiating pricing and terms with our partner farmers and food producers, and experienced in merchandising and pricing strategies that will make Farmers To You successful. They will possess good analytical and business skills.
PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Work with the Lead Buyer to project growth, seasonality shifts and current trends to maintain a diverse and enticing mix of products for our families.
- Oversee product merchandising and presentation on the website to maximize overall revenue and Average Order Size.
- Oversee ongoing product pricing structure and product mix to ensure reaching target margins and a competitive market presence and perform regular (weekly & monthly) cost comparison and analysis
- Vendor Relations: Communicate with partner (or potential) partner producers to support relationship building, maximize profitability and maintain commitments
- Compile annual sales data reports to share with farms; support planning for the year ahead
- Provide editorial support for product presentation on the website including product photos & item copy; write copy for new items, new vendors and newsletters
- Work with Marketing and Sales Teams to increase Average Order Size
- Work with Fulfillment and Delivery Teams on product standards, presentation, product training, quality control, product handling
- Coordinate new product introductions internally and externally
- Coordinate product promotion with Marketing Team
- Work with the Controller to build an accurate budget for the Purchasing & Merchandising Team
- Support the Lead Buyer
ESSENTIAL SKILLS, QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
- Experienced merchandising and pricing skills in an on-line and retail environment
- Skillful at managing product mix and pricing to maximize gross margin and revenue
- Excellent writing and communication skills
- Possess an understanding of agriculture and food production; a passion for food and cooking; and an eye for quality
- Highly organized and meticulous attention to detail
- Comfortable negotiating pricing and terms with vendors
- Capacity to think quickly, problem solve, as well as seek and seize opportunities to increase sales
- Ability to clearly set and communicate expectations and be open to giving and receiving feedback
- Strong self-starter, as well as having an ability to work collaboratively in a multi team based structure
- Proficient in Google Suite, Microsoft Excel and an ability to quickly learn how to use our E Commerce platform
- Excellent analytical math and reporting skills
Learn more here: https://farmerstoyou.com/merchandising-lead
