Bring your Hardware knowledge to Gertens! Gertens Family of Businesses is looking for a Hardware expert to join our Purchasing Department as a Buyer. Know your hardware but haven't been in a purchasing role? No problem! If you have strong communication skills, a high attention to detail, and have hardware knowledge, this may be the opportunity for you!

This full-time support position offers competitive pay and benefits, an energetic team environment, and employee discounts! Gertens Family of Businesses is home grown here in Minnesota and is the largest garden center in the Midwest. Come join an industry leader!

As our Hardware Buyer you will coordinate efforts with the other Buyers and management to maintain the appropriate level of inventory to meet sales demands. The Hardware Buyer is proactive in their approach to coordinate the activities involved with procuring goods, will assist the department in reviewing requisitions, and will confer with vendors to obtain product or service information such as price, availability, and delivery schedule. The ideal candidate will also thrive in providing unparalleled customer service to both internal and external clients.

What can you expect as a Hardware Buyer?

• Responsible for procurement and purchasing activities on assigned projects/vendors.
• Develop, analyze, and implement competitive pricing strategies for product lines, using pricing tools.
• Prepare, review and issue purchase orders.
• Set and manage goal for key product categories.
• Implement planning of seasonal product categories, with Return-on-Investment focus.
• Proactively communicate with Sales staff, Project Management, and other departments.
• Maintain manual or computerized procurement records.
• Liaise with Quality Control to report defective or unacceptable goods or services.
• Negotiate and ensure that all contract procedures are followed and executed in a professional manner.
• Maintain records of business transactions and product inventories, reporting data to companies or government agencies, as necessary.
• Proactively follow up with Sales and/or Project Management to confirm purchasing requirements, ensuring timely purchase of good to meet customer demands.
• Develop end of season strategies for sell through.
• Available to travel to buying shows when necessary.

Education and/or Work Experience Requirements:

• Post-secondary diploma &/or an equivalent certification in materials management or business preferred.
• Background in purchasing Hardware, or similar lines preferred.
• Familiar with standard procurement concepts, best practices, and techniques.
• Good understanding of all logistic method and import/customs procedures.

*E-Verify:*

Gertens participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program in all facilities located in the United States. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Gertens Family of Businesses is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer