Future Merchandising Buyer — Strategic Growth Path

Rural King; Mattoon (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Healthcare plans

Virtual doctor visits

Centers of Excellence with Barnes-Jewh

15% Associate Discount

SmartDollar Program

Chaplaincy Services

YMCA Membership

Job summary

Rural King, America's Farm and Home Store, invites you to join our Buyer in Training program in Mattoon, IL. This 12–18 month pathway builds core buying skills in category management, assortment planning, vendor partnerships, and margin optimization.

You will work cross-functionally with marketing, operations, and stores to learn and grow into a merchandising leadership role. You will gain hands-on experience in pricing, planning, and product flow, with guided mentorship and real impact on store

Qualifications

• 2–3 years of in-store retail, merchandising, or a related field.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Oracle systems.
• Interest in growth and ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Integrity and alignment with company values.

Responsibilities

• Lead merchandising projects and drive sales and inventory.
• Collaborate with stores, planning and marketing to execute promotions.
• Analyze data to inform product assortments and pricing.
• Develop seasonal merchandise plans and manage vendor relationships.
• Monitor inventory and manage lifecycle to meet budget targets.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to optimize assortment flow.

Skills

Analytical skills

Strategic thinking

Business acumen

Communication

Negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Attention to detail

Integrity

Professionalism

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Office Suite

Oracle systems

Job description

Rural King, America's Farm and Home Store, invites you to join our Buyer in Training program in Mattoon, IL. This 12–18 month pathway builds core buying skills in category management, assortment planning, vendor partnerships, and margin optimization.

You will work cross-functionally with marketing, operations, and stores to learn and grow into a merchandising leadership role. You will gain hands-on experience in pricing, planning, and product flow, with guided mentorship and real impact on store