Category Buyer

Category Buyer
- Home Decor, Seasonal & Patio
Join Our Team

• Location: Corporate Support Center, Glendora CA;
  Hybrid/Travel Nationally/Travel Internationally (~20-30% travel)
• Status: Full Time / Salary Exempt
• Reporting Relationships: Vice President of Marketing & Purchasing
• Work Schedule: Hours will vary by season. This position will require occasional weekend work.

Armstrong Garden Centers and Pike Nurseries are seeking a strategic, trend‑driven

Category Buyer to own the end‑to‑end merchandising and procurement strategy forHome Décor, Holiday/Seasonal Items, and Patio Furniture. This role leads category vision, vendor strategy, and financial performance across 46 retail locations in a multi‑region footprint, balancing creativity with disciplinedexecution.

• Identify and forecast consumer trends in home décor, seasonal merchandise, and outdoor living categories
• Develop compelling, regionally relevant assortments aligned with brand positioning and customer preferences
• Anticipate and mitigate inventory and demand risk inherent in seasonal and trend‑driven categories
• Source products from domestic and international vendors, negotiating terms including lead times, exclusivity,payment terms, freight, and margin structure
• Establish, manage, and strengthen vendor relationships to drive collaboration, innovation, and long‑term value
• Lead vendor performance reviews, ensuring accountability for quality, pricing, service levels, and on‑time delivery
• Identify and onboard new vendors to enhance product assortment and competitive positioning
• Attend trade shows and market events to discover new products and suppliers

Inventory & Allocation

• Manage the flow of goods and replenishment across 46 retail locations in multiple states, ensuring optimal inventory levels
• Collaborate with store, operation and visual merchandising teams on product arrival, pricing, merchandising plan, and replenishment plan
• Balance inventory investment with sales performance to minimize markdowns and excess stock
• Own full category P&L, including sales growth, gross margin, markdown risk, and inventory investment
• Develop annual and seasonal category strategies aligned to business objectives and regional customer needs
• Monitor KPIs and adjust strategies to meet or exceed financial targets

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner with marketing, store operations, and visual merchandising teams to support product launches and promotions
• Ensure alignment between product assortment, seasonal campaigns, and in‑store execution

• Strong understanding of merchandising, pricing strategies, and gross margin management
• Experience sourcing products both domestically and internationally
• Proven experience managing vendor relationships and negotiating favorable terms
• Proven ability to analyze sales data and translate insights into actionable strategies
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and relationship management skills
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple categories and deadlines simultaneously
• Proficiency in retail systems, forecasting tools, and Microsoft Excel

• Strong, differentiated product assortments that drive customer engagement and sales
• Consistent achievement of sales, margin, and inventory turn goals
• Effective product flow and inventory management across all store locations
• High-performing vendor partnerships and innovative product sourcing
• Seasonal programs become more disciplined, differentiated, and profitable

• Passion for home décor, seasonal merchandising, and outdoor living trends
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a strong sense of ownership and accountability
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, multi‑location retail environment

Armstrong Garden Centers offers a comprehensive total rewards package designed to attract and retain exceptional leadership talent.

Employee Ownership

• Armstrong is a 100% employee‑owned company through our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Leaders directly contribute to the long-term financial success of the company
• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience
• Performance‑based bonus opportunities
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) plan with company match (in addition to the ESOP)
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick time
• The opportunity to lead in a scenic, outdoor‑oriented retail environment with aculture of independence and agility