Buyer, General Merchandise

Buyer – General Merchandise

This position will report directly to the Senior Vice President, Merchandising.

At London Drugs, sourcing new and unique products is a key element of the magic which makes London Drugs the most beloved Brand throughout Western Canada. Our successful team works within our Brand Framework to travel the world and source the items our customer’s desire. In many cases we are sourcing products before our customers are aware of an item, which allows London Drugs to be first to market in many categories.

We are excited to hire an experienced buyer to add to our General Merchandise team and further build our leadership and management potential for anticipated future growth. We place a high focus on supporting our team members' development and look to reward the high performers. There is great potential for advancement opportunities for those individuals who excel in this role and are looking to grow their career.

We are looking to add aggressive entrepreneurial merchants, individuals who can work creatively with speed, ingenuity, and discipline to source unique and often eclectic categories. We are looking for someone with retail buying experience within one of our three main divisions in General merchandise.

Categories Include:

• Food, Confectionary, Natural Products, niche brands, National Brands, and Beverages
• Health, Beauty, Vitamins, oral care, baby categories, and Wellness
• House, Hardware, toys, games, fitness, collectibles, and home furnishings

Responsibilities

The Buyer's function encompasses all aspects of the buying cycle. Disciplined category management is the key to our success. We alter Planograms as required in order to remain nimble and relevant. Key skills include: product selection, inventory management, advertising, training, and any other function required to increase sales, revenues, and results for the company, such as:

• Travel throughout Canada, the United States, Europe, or Asia on business as required.
• Attend local and International tradeshows to select and assemble a new collection of products, and to stay abreast of industry standards.
• Meet with vendors and negotiate contracts and promotions.
• Maintain relationships with existing vendors and source new vendors for future products.
• Enhance profit opportunities through areas such as rebates, cash discounts, and promotional allowances.
• Review and evaluate performance indicators, such as sales and discount levels.
• Be cognizant of all relevant product trends, the significance of such trends and their possible impact on London Drugs.
• Track and analyze trends in consumer buying patterns to determine which products should be sold.
• Maintain vendor lists, company reports, assessments of achieved results, inventory turns, gross margins achieved, and return on investments.
• Test sample products, and report the results of such tests.
• Oversee management of minimal defective returns.
• Review all product records and correct any errors or omissions as they occur.
• Ensure stock levels can support all store inventory requirements and promotions by liaising with store personnel to ensure supply meets demand.
• Liaise with other departments within the organization to ensure projects are completed.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will have the following:

• Good communication skills, both written and verbal
• Adapts easily to change.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.
• Sound judgment and ability to effectively problem solve as required.
• Ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure.
• Highly organized and able to multitask effectively and work under changing priorities.
• Ability to relate to all levels of personnel.
• Ability to exercise professional judgment, delegate and follow-up.
• The ability to conceptualize, analyze, organize, and plan.
• Ability to maintain the confidentiality of London Drugs as well as a corporate image.
• Proven abilities in inventory management.

Starting pay will fall within the salary range indicated and may vary based on job-related experience, knowledge, and education. We offer the potential to earn significant bonuses based on your ability to meet sales, margin, inventory, and contribution goals as well as other performance metrics.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, prescription drug, and vision coverage for you and your family.
• Employee Discount Program.
• Employee Recognition Program.
• Company matched RRSPs.
• Ongoing In-House Training & Education Courses.
• Employee Family Assistance Program.
• Community Involvement.

If you possess the necessary skills and expertise and would like to join an exciting team of professionals, Apply Now!

London Drugs is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. We are committed to building a company that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

We will provide accommodations during the recruitment process upon request.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work applicable to this position and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Be advised, London Drugs DOES NOT use third-party recruitment services.

London Drugs may collect, use, and/or disclose your personal information (including the information in this application) where it is reasonable for establishing, managing, or terminating an employment relationship.

To protect yourself, do not respond to unsolicited job offers from individuals or e-mail addresses, and never disclose any sensitive details about your identity (including personal or financial) to anyone you do not know or trust or on any unverified website, or website you do not trust.