- Bonus based on performance
- Employee discounts
- Opportunity for advancement
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.
These include:
- Food, Confectionary, Natural Products, niche brands, National Brands and Beverages
- Health, Beauty Vitamins, oral care, baby categories, and Wellness
- House, Hardware, and toys, games, fitness, collectables and home furnishing
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. These shows may include ISM, Expo West, IHS, NACDS, ECRM, Fancy food show, SPOGA, Canton Fair, Ambiente as well as other beauty and health shows.
- 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 to 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 organizations to ensure projects are completed.
- 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 of inventory management
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.
We offer advancement opportunities through our promote-from-within policies, as well as the following comprehensive benefits program:
- Comprehensive medical, dental, prescription drug and vision coverage for you and your family (Ensuring you and your family are taken care of)
- Employee Discount Program (Sharing our success)
- Employee Recognition Program (Tangible rewards for great work!)
- Company matched RRSPs (Helping you plan for your future)
- Ongoing In-House Training & Education Courses (Lifelong learning)
- Employee Family Assistance Program (Free confidential counseling)
- Community Involvement (Giving back to our communities)
London Drugs is 100% Canadian owned and is focused on local customers' satisfaction. Across Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and British Columbia, London Drugs' 79 stores employ more than 8,000 staff dedicated to providing our customers with a superior shopping experience.
We are committed to making a positive impact on the world and the communities we operate in. From responsible sourcing, packaging take-back and in-store recycling centres, we invest in making our practices more environmentally sound and continue to look for better, greener ways to do business.
We believe our employees are our greatest asset, and we are committed to fostering a vibrant and inclusive workplace where every team member can thrive. Our supportive culture encourages creativity and collaboration, allowing you to make a meaningful impact on our customers' experiences. Together, we celebrate diversity, innovation, and a shared passion for delivering exceptional service, making London Drugs not just a place to work, but a place to grow and succeed.
(if you already have a resume on Indeed)