Purchasing & Merchandising Coordinator

BRATTLEBORO FOOD COOP; Brattleboro (VT); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

BRATTLEBORO FOOD COOP is seeking a Purchasing & Merchandising Coordinator to support the Purchasing & Merchandising Manager with store presentation, pricing accuracy, and data-driven product management. You will help with department layouts, planograms, and promotional execution to maximize sales and maintain a full, inviting store environment.

The role requires experience with POS systems, spreadsheets, and merchandising best practices, plus the ability to work flexible hours including nights

Qualifications

• 1+ year of service industry experience, ideally in retail.
• Experience with POS systems.
• Basic proficiency with spreadsheets (Excel/Google sheets) for reports and data tracking.
• Meticulous attention to detail, especially regarding pricing, signage and merchandising.
• Reliable, punctual and able to work a flexible schedule including nights and weekends.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for coordinating across departments.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Experience with category management, merchandising or pricing/margin analysis.
• Familiarity with SPINS or similar retail data tools.
• Experience building merchandising planograms and displays.
• Prior experience in a grocery environment.
• Experience training or supporting staff on merchandising standards.
• Basic understanding of cooperative principles and values.

Responsibilities

• Support all departments with following merchandising guidelines set by the Purchasing & Merchandising Manager.
• Keep departments looking full, fresh and well faced throughout the day - fronting and facing, cleanliness, sign quality and shelf-display condition.
• Assist the PMM and Department Managers with department layouts and product placement in every category set to achieve optimal sales volume, aesthetics and shopping behavior.
• Support Department Managers and staff storewide on merchandising best practices and standards.
• Assist retail teams with upkeep of department fullness, fronting and facing, cleanliness, sign quality and shelf/display conditions.
• Ensure that all products always have pricing on them, price sticker, shelf tag, or sale sign, per merchandising guidelines set by the PMM.
• Assist with developing future SOPs and other organizational documents for a more efficient, collaborative and enjoyable workflow storewide.
• Ability to use POS system to support all departments including Retail Technology.
• Installing new items and conduct general POS maintenance as required.
• Movement of backstock product and merchandising fixtures to and from offsite location.
• Using POS data, SPINS, and other tools and publications, work with the PMM to generate reports and identify opportunities in BFC’s product mix, on a regular calendar schedule developed together.
• Assist PMM with pricing strategy, projects and promotional pricing, according to the guidelines set by the PMM.
• Flag pricing or margin issues to the PMM and implement corrections.
• Pull and organize a wide range of sales reports as directed.
• Review the Top Sellers Weekly report to stay current on movers across departments.
• Review and measure promotional results with the PMM, comparing current promotional periods to the same period in the prior year as well as adjacent previous periods.
• Track with PMM the performance and against promotional sales goals set by the PMM (e.g. category-specific share of total store or department sales).
• Facilitate detailed communication with Department Managers regarding deadlines and timing for promotional product orders.
• Assist PMM in building planograms for the store on a regular cadence.
• Ensure promotional signage is up and fits guidelines set by the PMM.
• Build and maintain abundant, organized and aesthetically pleasing off-shelf displays.
• Coordinate with Marketing and Community Relations on in-store signage and promotional materials.
• Restock highmoving products and balance promotional inventory between off shelf displays and in-line (aka regular shelf) placement to maintain a consistently full, abundant store wherever possible.
• Coordinate with clear communication for strong execution of cross-merchandising displays.
• Treat equipment with care and respect. Communicate about any needed repairs or equipment problems to the Manager.
• Keep work area neat and organized.
• Handle hazardous equipment carefully. Aware of the presence of others when using such equipment.
• Use proper lifting techniques. Wear appropriate shoes.
• Mindful of potential hazards to customers and other employees and takes actions to correct hazards.
• Use ergonomic equipment and best practices.
• Always conscientious about co-workers and works with the team for department efficiency.
• Give verbal communication to next shift if necessary.
• Start work on time, finish work on time.
• Take breaks when appropriate and come back from break on time.
• Accept responsibility for your actions. Exemplify honesty, integrity and ethics

Skills

POS systems

Spreadsheets (Excel/Google Sheets)

merchandising

pricing & margin analysis

communication (written and verbal)

team collaboration

flexible scheduling (nights/weekends)

category management

SPINS familiarity

planograms / merchandising displays

grocery environment experience

staff training & support

cooperative principles knowledge

Tools

SPINS

Job description

Description

Purpose: The Purchasing & Merchandising Coordinator role is to assist the Purchasing & Merchandising Manager with optimal store presentation, clear promotional execution, and data-driven product management.

Our Ends, as articulated by our Board of Directors are:

1. An open, inclusive and welcoming marketplace
2. Access to and education about goods and nutritious food that are ecologically sound and responsibly sourced
3. An organization that contributes to a just and resilient local economy
4. An enterprise that engages in sustainable and regenerative environmental practices

The Cooperative Principles are:

• Open and Voluntary Membership.
• Democratic Member Control.
• Members' Economic Participation.
• Autonomy and Independence.
• Education, Training, and Information.
• Cooperation Among Cooperatives.
• Concern for Community

The BFC believes in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others. Cooperative Values are:

• Self-help
• Self-responsibility
• Democracy
• Equality
• Equity
• Solidarity

Duties & Responsibilities:

Everyday Merchandising

• Support all departments with following merchandising guidelines set by the Purchasing & Merchandising Manager
• Keep departments looking full, fresh and well faced throughout the day - fronting and facing, cleanliness, sign quality and shelf-display condition
• Assist the PMM and Department Managers with department layouts and product placement in every category set to achieve optimal sales volume, aesthetics and shopping behavior.
• Support Department Managers and staff storewide on merchandising best practices and standards
• Assist retail teams with upkeep of department fullness, fronting and facing, cleanliness, sign quality and shelf/display conditions.
• Ensure that all products always have pricing on them, price sticker, shelf tag, or sale sign, per merchandising guidelines set by the PMM
• Assist with developing future SOPs and other organizational documents for a more efficient, collaborative and enjoyable workflow storewide
• Ability to use POS system to support all departments including Retail Technology
• Installing new items and conduct general POS maintenance as required
• Movement of backstock product and merchandising fixtures to and from offsite location

Category Management & Pricing

• Using POS data, SPINS, and other tools and publications, work with the PMM to generate reports and identify opportunities in BFC’s product mix, on a regular calendar schedule developed together.
• Assist PMM with pricing strategy, projects and promotional pricing, according to the guidelines set by the PMM.
• Flag pricing or margin issues to the PMM and implement corrections
• Pull and organize a wide range of sales reports as directed
• Review the Top Sellers Weekly report to stay current on movers across departments
• Review and measure promotional results with the PMM, comparing current promotional periods to the same period in the prior year as well as adjacent previous periods.
• Track with PMM the performance and against promotional sales goals set by the PMM (e.g. category-specific share of total store or department sales)

Promotional Merchandising

• Facilitate detailed communication with Department Managers regarding deadlines and timing for promotional product orders
• Assist PMM in building planograms for the store on a regular cadence
• Ensure promotional signage is up and fits guidelines set by the PMM
• Build and maintain abundant, organized and aesthetically pleasing off-shelf displays
• Coordinate with Marketing and Community Relations on in-store signage and promotional materials
• Restock highmoving products and balance promotional inventory between off shelf displays and in-line (aka regular shelf) placement to maintain a consistently full, abundant store wherever possible.
• Coordinate with clear communication for strong execution of cross-merchandising displays.

Maintenance and Conditioning:

• Treat equipment with care and respect. Communicate about any needed repairs or equipment problems to the Manager
• Keep work area neat and organized

Safety:

• Handle hazardous equipment carefully. Aware of the presence of others when using such equipment.
• Use proper lifting techniques. Wear appropriate shoes.
• Mindful of potential hazards to customers and other employees and takes actions to correct hazards.
• Use ergonomic equipment and best practices

Teamwork:

• Always conscientious about co-workers and works with the team for department efficiency.
• Give verbal communication to next shift if necessary
• Start work on time, finish work on time.
• Take breaks when appropriate and come back from break on time.

Accountability:

• Accept responsibility for your actions. Exemplify honesty, integrity and ethics

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• 1+ Year of service industry experience, ideally in retail
• Experience with POS systems
• Basic proficiency with spreadsheets (Excel/Google sheets) for reports and data tracking
• Meticulous attention to detail, especially regarding pricing, signage and merchandising
• -Reliable, punctual and able to work a flexible schedule including nights and weekends
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for coordinating across departments
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with category management, merchandising or pricing/margin analysis
• Familiarity with SPINS or similar retail/category data tools
• Experience building merchandising planograms and displays
• Prior experience in a grocery environment
• Experience training or supporting staff on merchandising standards
• Basic understanding of cooperative principles and values