Wholesale Center Manager

Description About Rocket Farms:

Rocket Farms is a leading grower and marketer of premium potted plants, specialty floral products, foliage, and fresh culinary herbs. Our Half Moon Bay Wholesale Center brings together Rocket Farms-grown products and a curated assortment of plants and pottery sourced from growers and suppliers throughout the industry, serving wholesale customers across California as well as local customers who shop directly from our floor.

With an ever-changing product mix, statewide delivery program, walk-in business, and strong customer relationships, the Wholesale Center is a fast-moving, hands-on part of the Rocket Farms business.

The Wholesale Center Manager is responsible for the overall performance, day-to-day leadership, and continued growth of Rocket Farms’ Half Moon Bay Wholesale Center. This highly hands‑on role combines people management, purchasing, sales, merchandising, inventory management, logistics, customer service, and business operations.

The Manager leads a team of sales associates, designers, and operational support staff while overseeing the business from product selection through sell‑through. With a strong pulse on horticulture trends and evolving customer preferences, this person will help identify the right plants, pottery, designs, and seasonal products while balancing sales performance, margins, and inventory.

The ideal candidate is a natural leader with strong commercial instincts who enjoys plants, products, people, and customers. They are equally comfortable developing a team, working with customers, spotting the next product opportunity, negotiating with growers, reviewing sales and margins, or jumping in to solve an operational challenge.

• Manage day-to-day Wholesale Center operations to achieve sales, margin, inventory, customer service, and overall business performance goals, including developing annual budgets, forecasts, and key performance indicators and taking corrective action when needed.
• Lead, coach, and develop the Wholesale Center team across sales, customer service, design, stocking, shipping, and receiving; hire and train employees as needed and address employee matters appropriately and in a timely manner.
• Manage the purchasing of plants, pottery, and other merchandise, including product selection, vendor relationships, pricing, margins, and coordination of product pickup and inbound logistics.
• Stay current on horticulture, plant, pottery, and design trends and evolving customer preferences to identify new products and merchandising opportunities.
• Forecast and preorder inventory in appropriate quantities and timing based on sell‑through, historical sales, seasonal demand, trends, and anticipated customer needs.
• Create and manage purchase orders, obtain required approvals, reconcile purchases upon arrival, and maintain accurate item setup for incoming and in‑stock merchandise.
• Manage inventory from arrival through sell‑through, ensuring appropriate pricing and margins and making promotional, markdown, and clearance decisions when necessary.
• Manage prebooks, special orders, and seasonal purchasing programs throughout the year, particularly during key holiday periods.
• Oversee the Wholesale Center’s in‑house design program and team to support customer needs and seasonal sales opportunities.
• Directly sell to and manage corporate shipping accounts, including coordinating the packing and fulfillment of customer orders.
• Manage and support outside sales representatives who handle designated accounts on a commission basis, including preparation of monthly commission reports.
• Oversee the daily shipping and fulfillment program for accuracy and efficiency, including Rocket Farms Express Delivery and other…