Merchandiser/Retail Buyer-Pro Shop Operations

Job Description

Job Description

Merchandiser / Retail Buyer – Pro Shop Operations Position Summary

The Merchandiser / Retail Buyer is responsible for selecting, purchasing, pricing, managing, and analyzing merchandise across eight pro shop locations. This position oversees the merchandise lifecycle from product selection and vendor purchasing through inventory management, pricing, sales analysis, transfers, markdowns, and replenishment.

The role analyzes customer demand, sales trends, inventory performance, and market trends to ensure each pro shop maintains an appealing and profitable merchandise assortment. The Merchandiser / Retail Buyer also develops supplier relationships, negotiates pricing and purchasing terms, monitors merchandise budgets, and provides reporting to support strategic retail decisions.

• Select and purchase merchandise for all eight pro shop locations based on customer demand, sales history, market trends, seasonal needs, and established budgets.
• Research and identify new products, brands, vendors, and merchandise opportunities.
• Analyze golf, apparel, lifestyle, and retail trends to maintain a relevant and competitive product assortment.
• Attend vendor meetings, buying events, trade shows, or product presentations as appropriate.
• Develop merchandise assortments based on the needs and customer demographics of individual pro shop locations.
• Determine appropriate product quantities, size runs, styles, colors, and product mixes when placing orders.
• Make replenishment and reorder decisions based on inventory levels and sales performance.
• Coordinate seasonal buying strategies and merchandise launches.

• Develop and maintain relationships with merchandise vendors, manufacturers, and sales representatives.
• Negotiate product costs, purchasing terms, minimum order quantities, shipping arrangements, discounts, and other vendor terms when appropriate.
• Compare vendors and product options to identify opportunities for improved pricing, margins, quality, and customer value.
• Communicate with suppliers regarding product availability, backorders, substitutions, shipping delays, returns, credits, and order discrepancies.
• Review vendor performance and recommend changes when needed.
• Maintain organized vendor records, catalogs, pricing information, agreements, and contact information.

• Maintain accurate merchandise inventory records across all eight pro shops.
• Monitor inventory levels by location, product category, brand, size, style, season, and other relevant classifications.
• Establish appropriate inventory levels and identify purchasing or replenishment needs.
• Coordinate inventory transfers between pro shops to meet customer demand and reduce unnecessary purchasing.
• Identify excess, aging, slow-moving, or obsolete inventory and develop recommendations for addressing it.
• Assist with receiving merchandise and ensure products are accurately entered into the inventory/POS system.
• Investigate inventory discrepancies and coordinate corrections with pro shop staff.
• Coordinate and assist with physical inventories and periodic cycle counts.
• Develop standardized inventory procedures across all eight locations.

• Establish and maintain retail pricing based on product costs, target margins, vendor recommendations, market conditions, and organizational goals.
• Calculate and monitor gross margins and markup percentages.
• Review vendor cost changes and adjust retail pricing when appropriate.
• Maintain accurate and consistent pricing within the POS and inventory systems.
• Develop and coordinate markdowns, clearance pricing, promotional pricing, and seasonal sales.
• Monitor the financial performance of merchandise categories and recommend pricing adjustments to improve profitability or inventory turnover.
• Ensure discounts, markdowns, and promotions are properly documented and reflected in inventory systems.

• Prepare regular merchandise, inventory, purchasing, and sales reports for management.
• Track sales performance by location, product category, brand, vendor, and individual product.
• Monitor key retail metrics including sales, cost of goods sold, gross margin, inventory turnover, sell-through rates, average inventory, and aging inventory.
• Identify top-selling and underperforming merchandise.
• Analyze sales trends to forecast future merchandise needs.
• Compare merchandise performance across the eight pro shops to identify opportunities and areas of concern.
• Provide recommendations regarding future purchasing, product assortment, pricing, markdowns, and inventory allocation.
• Monitor purchasing against established merchandise budgets.
• Assist management with annual merchandise budgeting and sales forecasting.
• Maintain historical purchasing and sales information to improve future buying decisions.

• Create and maintain purchase orders for merchandise purchases.
• Monitor purchase orders from initial order through delivery.
• Verify quantities, costs, discounts, shipping charges, and other order information.
• Track outstanding and backordered merchandise.
• Coordinate with vendors and individual pro shops regarding expected delivery dates.
• Reconcile purchase orders with merchandise received and communicate discrepancies.
• Maintain organized purchasing documentation and records.

• Serve as the primary point of coordination for merchandise and retail inventory across all eight pro shops.
• Communicate regularly with pro shop staff regarding merchandise needs, customer requests, inventory levels, and product performance.
• Visit pro shop locations as needed to evaluate inventory, product assortment, pricing, and merchandise needs.
• Determine when merchandise should be transferred between locations based on demand and sales performance.
• Help ensure a consistent retail strategy while allowing individual locations to carry merchandise appropriate for their customers.
• Develop standardized procedures for purchasing, receiving, pricing, transferring, counting, and reporting merchandise.

• Experience in retail buying, merchandising, purchasing, inventory management, retail operations, or a related field preferred.
• Strong analytical and mathematical skills with an understanding of retail pricing, margins, markup, inventory turnover, and profitability.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Experience using POS systems, inventory management systems, spreadsheets, and reporting tools.
• Ability to analyze sales and inventory data and translate findings into purchasing and merchandising decisions.
• Strong negotiation and vendor relationship skills.
• Ability to manage merchandise and purchasing activities across multiple locations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating with pro shop staff, management, finance, and vendors.

Experience in golf retail, sporting goods, apparel, resort retail, or multi-location retail operations is preferred. Familiarity with golf apparel, accessories, footwear, gifts, branded merchandise, and related products would be beneficial.

Performance in this position may be evaluated based on:

• Inventory accuracy and inventory turnover
• Merchandise sales and gross margin
• Sell-through performance
• Purchasing within established budgets
• Reduction of excess and aging inventory
• Pricing accuracy
• Vendor performance and purchasing terms
• Product availability and appropriate stock levels
• Accuracy and timeliness of merchandise reporting
• Effectiveness of inventory transfers between locations
• Success of seasonal merchandise and promotional strategies
• Overall profitability of retail merchandise operations