Buyer

Reports to:

Purchasing Manager

Overview

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Northern Nurseries, a network of Horticultural Wholesale Distribution centers is seeking a full time Buyer for a career with the largest landscape supply company in the Northeast. The ideal candidate will have purchasing experience in a Landscape or Garden Center environment.

Summary: Plan, procure, and assure the availability of all landscape plants – shrubs, trees, and other perennials, for our 8 wholesale distribution centers in the Northeast. To be successful in this position, you will possess a solid background in nursery stock with an aptitude for high volume data analysis as you routinely track orders for multi-site locations using Excel on a regular basis.

Responsibilities

Searches out, evaluates, selects, and maintains sources of
Purchases a broad selection of nursery stock meeting the following criteria: quality, excellent value, at a cost sufficient to sell competitively.
Provides information to distribution center managers and sales personnel regarding the pricing, product assortment and availability from
Resolves all credit claims with
Monitors the entire company’s greengoods inventory levels ensuring that inventory does not exceed company
In order to keep abreast of availability of items from our parent company, primarily for summer/fall purchasing, the buyer should personally visit the Connecticut operations bi-weekly during May, June, July, August, and
Visits seasonally to each Northern Nurseries distribution center to monitor quality of suppliers (especially new) materials, as well as receiving input from managers regarding supplier comparisons, service, problems,
Consistently searches out additional sources of nursery stock in accordance with established standards of quality, value, and pricing. This search will consist of personal visits to potential suppliers, attendance at major trade shows, and keeping abreast of purchasing “opportunities” and trends in the trade, through ongoing communications with
Quotes – upon request, provide competitive pricing and accurate availability to Northern’s managers,
Participates, when required, in all advertising projects for
Submits all vendor or trade show reports in the time frame set by the Purchasing
Searches for new purchasing opportunities such as growers with excess inventory
When necessary, processes the day-to-day purchases of greengoods for all locations including negotiating price and sourcing the
Creates “Spring Master Greengoods” purchase orders; while analyzing costs to assure that Company established margins are obtained; and produces various purchasing & sales reports.
Arranges & schedules shipments of the product from the vendor to our locations including negotiating freight rates & selection of the freight company to be
Spreads initial nursery stock to all locations while analyzing suppliers, costs, and logistics to maximize

Requirements

Experience in a Landscape or Garden Center environment.
Willingness to travel 8 to 12 weeks throughout the year.
Excellent communication skills.
Attention to detail.
Excellent data analysis
Very knowledgeable of nursery stock, especially landscape plant
Must be a good negotiator with an understanding of the importance of the relationship of cost to gross margins and selling at competitive
A team player, who functions in a way that looks out for the best interest of Northern Nurseries & the Baker Company. The volume of the buyer’s job will increase with the company’s
Must be able to recognize “purchasing opportunities” that can result in profitable sales for Northern
Well organized, with the ability to work within and/or develop appropriate office procedures regarding purchasing and

Buyer

Reports to:

Purchasing Manager

Overview

Responsibilities

Requirements

Wholesale Distribution Centers, featuring the largest selection of nursery stock and horticultural supplies in the Northeast.