Design Center Buyer
The Design Center Category Buyer is responsible for the strategic sourcing, category management, inventory planning, pricing, vendor relationships, and product lifecycle management for assigned Design Center product categories. This role serves as the product expert and business manager for assigned categories, ensuring Builders Warehouse offers compelling product selections, competitive pricing, strong vendor partnerships, and profitable growth.
The Design Center Category Buyer works closely with Brand and Assortment Manager, Design Center Team, Purchasing Team, Marketing, Operations, and Vendor Partners to maximize sales opportunities, improve customer satisfaction, and achieve category sales, gross profit, inventory turn, and market share objectives.
This position combines merchant, analyst, and relationship management responsibilities to ensure assigned product categories remain relevant, profitable, and aligned with customer demand and market trends.
Duties
Category Management
- Own assigned Design Center product categories from product selection through final sale.
- Develop and execute annual category business plans, sales strategies, and growth initiatives.
- Establish and monitor category performance goals including:
- Sales
- Gross Margin
- Gross Profit Dollars
- Inventory Turns
- Market Share
- Vendor Support Programs
- Evaluate product performance and recommend additions, deletions, and assortment changes.
- Identify new products, emerging trends, and opportunities to improve category performance.
Product Selection & Merchandising
- Curate and maintain product assortments that align with customer preferences, market trends, and company objectives.
- Develop showroom merchandising strategies for assigned categories.
- Coordinate new product introductions and product transitions.
- Manage display programs and showroom sample inventories.
- Ensure products remain current, competitive, and differentiated within the marketplace.
Vendor Management
- Establish and maintain strong relationships with manufacturers and supplier partners.
- Negotiate:
- Product costs
- Display, Sample, Showroom Standards
- Rebates
- Marketing funds
- Freight programs
- Cooperative advertising
- Volume discounts
- Display allowances
- Special promotions
- Exclusivity opportunities
- Conduct vendor performance evaluations.
- Monitor supplier service levels, fill rates, lead times, and quality performance.
- Identify opportunities to consolidate purchasing and improve supplier effectiveness.
Builders Warehouse
Bette Spath
