Merchandising and Inventory Manager

Benefits: 401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Employee discounts Health insurance Opportunity for advancement Paid time off Vision insurance Home Appliance is a family-owned business that has grown from a small service company into Northeast Ohio's premier appliance retailer, operating locations in Brunswick, Avon, and Twinsburg. We proudly represent over 70 appliance brands and are known for our exceptional customer experience, beautiful showrooms, and a culture built around accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement. We are seeking an experienced, analytical, and results-driven Merchandising and Inventory Manager to lead our merchandising, purchasing, and inventory strategies across all showroom locations. This highly visible leadership role directly impacts profitability, inventory investment, and the customer experience by ensuring we have the right products, at the right prices, in the right locations. This is a full-time hybrid position, working Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The role requires regular travel and on-site presence at all Home Appliance locations in Brunswick, Avon, and Twinsburg to support merchandising initiatives, inventory management, purchasing activities, and cross-functional collaboration. The ideal candidate is a proactive leader who takes ownership, embraces change, and uses data to make informed business decisions. They are equally comfortable analyzing reports, negotiating purchasing opportunities, managing vendor relationships, providing direction to the Purchasing Coordinator, and collaborating with sales across our locations and the leadership team. What You'll Do Merchandising & Product Management Ensure showroom floors feature the right products and current models across all locations. Manage the lifecycle of displayed products, including replacing obsolete and discontinued items. Analyze sales and profitability trends to ensure displays prioritize best-selling and highest-margin products. Coordinate new product introductions, floor resets, and display transitions with manufacturers and internal teams. Partner with sales and leadership teams to continuously improve product assortment and showroom presentation. Inventory Management Oversee inventory investment and monitor inventory health across the organization. Identify slow-moving, aged, and excess inventory and develop strategies to improve inventory turns.Monitor inventory metrics and make recommendations that improve efficiency and profitability. Purchasing & Vendor Management Oversee the Purchasing Coordinator and provide leadership and direction to ensure purchasing processes are executed accurately and efficiently. Lead strategic purchasing decisions, including truckload opportunities and special buys that maximize profitability. Monitor manufacturer price increases and buying opportunities to minimize cost exposure and maintain competitive pricing. Communicate pricing changes, manufacturer programs, and promotional opportunities clearly and effectively to the sales team. Build and maintain strong relationships with manufacturer partners and vendors. Reporting & Analytics Utilize advanced Excel skills to analyze sales, inventory, pricing, and profitability data. Develop and maintain reports that support inventory planning, purchasing decisions, and merchandising strategies. Use data and analytics to identify trends, uncover opportunities, and recommend solutions that improve business performance. Key Performance Measures Improve inventory turns by category, brand, and showroom location while maintaining appropriate product availability. Reduce aged, obsolete, discontinued, and slow-moving inventory through proactive merchandising, pricing, and purchasing strategies. Monitor and improve gross margin dollars and gross margin percentage across key product categories and vendor programs. Maintain inventory investment within approved targets while supporting sales demand and showroom needs. Track sell-through performance for promotional buys, truckload opportunities, special buys, and new product introductions. Improve showroom productivity by evaluating sales, margin, and turn performance of displayed products by location. Maximize vendor program value, including incentives, rebates, promotional allowances, and buying opportunities. Provide timely reporting and dashboards that highlight sales trends, inventory health, margin performance, and purchasing opportunities. What Success Looks Like Make decisions using data rather than assumptions. Take ownership and accountability for business results. Build trusted relationships with manufacturers and internal stakeholders. Balance strategic planning with day-to-day execution. Continuously identify opportunities to improve processes and profitability. Communicate effectively across all levels of the organization. Thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment. Qualifications Five or more years of experience in merchandising, purchasing, inventory management, category management, or a similar retail leadership role. Appliance industry experience is preferred. Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including Pivot Tables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, data analysis, and reporting. Demonstrated success managing inventory investment and product assortments. Strong analytical, financial, and problem-solving abilities. Experience purchasing inventory and negotiating vendor programs and opportunities. Prior supervisory or team leadership experience preferred. Exceptional organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills. Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment while balancing multiple priorities and adapting to changing business needs. Why Home Appliance? At Home Appliance, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on our business while working alongside a team that values integrity, accountability, collaboration, and exceptional service. We believe great ideas can come from anyone, and we look for people who are willing to take initiative, support their teammates, and continuously seek ways to improve. If you enjoy using data to drive decisions, taking ownership of outcomes, and influencing the products and brands that shape our customer experience, we'd love to meet you. Make Life Exceptional. Join the Home Appliance team. Equal Opportunity Employer Home Appliance is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a respectful and inclusive workplace and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. Flexible work from home options available. #J-18808-Ljbffr Home Appliance