Retail Sales Champion

Apply for the Retail Sales Champion role at Mead Lumber
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Mead Lumber Company is a leading provider of products for professional contractors, builders, and remodelers. With 50+ operating locations across nine Midwestern states, we pride ourselves on being 100% employee-owned and ranked as the 12th largest building material supplier to professional builders in the U.S. At Mead Lumber, we strive to create a team that works and succeeds together every day in an authentic, team-oriented setting.

• Employee Ownership:
  As a 100% employee-owned company, you will have a stake in our shared success.
• Work-Life Balance:
  Enjoy flexible scheduling options that support your lifestyle.
• Career Growth:
  We are committed to your professional development, providing ongoing learning and advancement opportunities.

The Retail Sales Champion is responsible for driving sales performance, merchandising excellence, and category expertise across key hardware departments of all locations. This position plays a vital role in growing retail and contractor sales through strong product knowledge, vendor relationships, and continuous training of associates. The Retail Sales Champion will also collaborate with outside sales, purchasing, and marketing teams to maximize profitability and promote Mead Lumber’s core product categories.

Pay for this role: $21.00 - $25.00 an hour depending on experience.

• Lead merchandising of aisles, endcaps, and displays to enhance sales and visual appeal.
• Order and receive weekly hardware replenishment from the warehouse.
• Work collaboratively with other Retail Sales Champions, the corporate hardware purchasing team, and Orgill to plan and participate in show buys and promotional opportunities that maximize company-wide margin gains and buying power.
• Maintain accurate inventory counts; identify and resolve UPC, pricing, and quantity-on-hand issues.
• Update pricing through vendor communication and assist in maintaining competitive price points.
• Perform regular category walk-throughs to ensure planogram compliance and signage accuracy.
• Support consistent buying practices across branches by participating in coordinated purchasing efforts and leveraging company-level reporting to identify collective buying opportunities.

• Promote and grow sales of key categories such as paint, plumbing, tools, and electrical supplies to contractors and retail customers.
• Dedicate 2–3 hours per week to direct sales calls or visits with key and target customers in assigned categories.
• Collaborate with outside sales staff, other Retail Sales Champions, and regional teams to identify opportunities for cross-selling, inventory alignment, and shared customer growth strategies.
• Develop and maintain strong vendor relationships in alignment with company purchasing strategies to ensure consistent pricing, shared promotional opportunities, and effective communication through approved channels.
• Track and analyze sales trends to identify growth opportunities and improve category performance.

• Conduct ongoing training for store associates on hardware-related items and sales techniques.
• Participate in monthly continuing education sessions focused on category updates, vendor programs, and new product introductions.
• Serve as the in-store subject matter expert for assigned categories (e.g., Milwaukee Tools, Paint, Plumbing).
• Mentor and support new retail associates in developing product knowledge and customer service skills.

• Manage e-commerce transactions and ensure accurate online listings and pricing.
• Partner closely with corporate hardware purchasing, Orgill, and marketing teams to coordinate promotions, group show buys, and best practices across all locations.
• Support store-level execution of marketing campaigns, vendor promotions, and seasonal resets.

• Work with other Retail Sales Champions regionally to share ideas and strategies that improve performance.
• Communicate regularly with vendors, purchasing, and branch management regarding category trends and…