Hardlines Purchasing Assistant – Inventory & Vendor Support

Ganahl Lumber Company; Anaheim, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Ganahl Lumber is seeking a detailed and organized Purchasing Assistant – Hardlines to support the Hardlines Purchasing team. This role focuses on maintaining inventory availability, supporting purchasing activities, and ensuring accurate product and pricing information across multiple locations.

The ideal candidate will be comfortable with data and spreadsheets, communicate effectively, and adapt in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; college coursework or degree preferred.
• Previous purchasing, inventory, retail, distribution, administrative, or building-materials experience preferred.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Comfortable working with numbers and large amounts of product information.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong computer skills, particularly Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and related business applications.
• Ability to learn purchasing, inventory, and ERP systems.
• Hardware, tools, fasteners, building materials, or construction-product knowledge is a plus.
• Ability to work effectively with vendors, store personnel, purchasing staff, and other departments.

Responsibilities

• Assist Hardlines Buyers and Product Managers with daily purchasing activities.
• Prepare, enter, review, and track purchase orders.
• Monitor open purchase orders and follow up on late or incomplete shipments.
• Assist with maintaining appropriate inventory levels across multiple Ganahl Lumber locations.
• Review inventory availability, usage, sales trends, and replenishment needs.
• Identify potential stock-outs, overstocks, duplicate inventory, and slow-moving products.
• Assist with inventory transfers between locations when appropriate.
• Help coordinate seasonal, promotional, and new-product inventory requirements.
• Communicate with manufacturers, distributors, and vendor representatives regarding orders, availability, pricing, lead times, and shipping.
• Follow up with vendors regarding backorders and delivery issues.
• Maintain vendor contact information, price lists, catalogs, and purchasing documentation.
• Assist buyers with vendor quotations and product comparisons.
• Help resolve discrepancies involving pricing, quantities, freight, damaged products, and invoices.
• Support vendor meetings, product reviews, and purchasing programs.
• Assist with new-item setup and maintenance of existing product information.
• Maintain accurate descriptions, costs, retail pricing, vendor information, pack quantities, and purchasing units.
• Review vendor price changes and assist with updating internal pricing.
• Help maintain product category and vendor information within company systems.
• Assist with promotional pricing, rebates, special buys, and vendor programs.
• Review product information for accuracy and communicate corrections when necessary.
• Serve as a purchasing resource for Ganahl Lumber locations regarding product availability, purchasing questions, and vendor information.
• Assist locations in resolving inventory and product issues.
• Research product availability and alternative products when requested.
• Coordinate with stores, distribution, receiving, accounting, merchandising, and purchasing personnel.
• Help communicate new products, discontinued items, substitutions, price changes, and vendor programs to locations.

Skills

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Excel proficiency

Vendor coordination

Education

High school diploma

College coursework preferred

Tools

Microsoft Excel

ERP systems

Outlook

Job description

Ganahl Lumber is seeking a detailed and organized Purchasing Assistant – Hardlines to support the Hardlines Purchasing team. This role focuses on maintaining inventory availability, supporting purchasing activities, and ensuring accurate product and pricing information across multiple locations.

The ideal candidate will be comfortable with data and spreadsheets, communicate effectively, and adapt in a fast-paced environment.