Job Information
Franz Witte Landscape Contracting, Inc. Garden Center - Buyer - Green Goods in Nampa, Idaho
About Us
Welcome to Franz Witte, a unique and enchanting destination garden center nestled on a historic cattle ranch with charming barns and original silos. We are three-department company with divisions in landscape construction, commercial landscape maintenance, and garden center retail. With nearly 170 employees, we have been building and maintaining distinctive, reputable, and exceptional landscapes in Idaho since 1971. With our iconic pink flamingo logo symbolizing fun and creativity, we take pride in offering a diverse selection of high-quality plants and garden products as well. Join our dynamic team and contribute to a vibrant community of garden enthusiasts!
Job Description
We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Plant Buyer to join our team. The Plant Buyer will be responsible for sourcing, prebooking, purchasing, and managing inventory of plants, ensuring our garden center offers a diverse and high-quality selection that meets the needs and preferences of our customers, internal and external alike. This role requires a keen eye for detail, strong negotiation skills, and a passion for horticulture.
Key Responsibilities
Supplier Relationship Management: Develop and nurture relationships with local, regional, and national plant suppliers and growers. Negotiate terms, pricing, and contracts to ensure the best possible deals for plant material purchases. In addition, build and maintain a strong relationship with shipping companies finding the best pricing, terms, and delivery logistics to ensure optimal cost efficiency and quality.
Product Sourcing: Source, prebook and procure a wide variety of high-quality plants, including annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, and specialty plants that cater to our local climate conditions. Conduct thorough market research to identify the latest plant and landscaping trends, new species, and innovative products. Track sales performance and customer preference to ensure a balanced assortment of products to meet customer demand, in-house needs, and seasonal trends.
Inventory Management: Maintain an accurate inventory of all plant material, tracking stocking levels, analyze year over year inventory buying trends and stay within a pre-planned budget.
Quality Control: Inspect incoming shipments for plant quality, health, and accuracy. Ensure that all products meet our standards of excellence and are free from pests and disease. Stay informed about horticultural best practices, plant care techniques, and new industry developments.
Pricing and Analysis: Regularly analyze pricing trends, competitive offerings, and market fluctuations. Adjust purchasing strategies to ensure competitive pricing while maintaining profitability. Conduct pre-pricing, seasonal repricing and examine shipments upon arrival to verify accuracy of pricing from the vendor and make adjustments accordingly.
Collaboration: Work closely in the Garden Center with the retail team daily to understand customer needs/wants, anticipate demand, and tailor product offerings accordingly. Collaborate with retail and marketing teams to develop promotional strategies for new and seasonal plant arrivals. Longer days and some weekends required during peak seasons.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in horticulture, agriculture, business, or a related field is preferred.
Minimum of 3 years of experience in plant buying or a related role within the horticulture industry.
Strong knowledge of plant varieties, growth requirements, and seasonal availability.
Excellent negotiation and communication skills.
Strong computer knowledge with experience in POS systems
Proficient in inventory management and purchasing software.
Ability to work independently and make informed decisions.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Passion for plants and commitment to providing an exceptional customer experience.
Compensation & Benefits
Wage DOE:
Full-time and part-time availability
Benefits include Health, Life, STD, Accident, Dental, Vision, 401K with company match, PTO, Holiday Pay, Phone Reimbursement Allowance, and company discounts.
How to Apply
If you are passionate about plants and eager to contribute to a growing and vibrant garden center, we would love to hear from you! Please send your resume and a cover letter detailing your relevant experience and why you would be a great fit for this role to HR@franzwitte.com or apply online at www.franzwitte.com
Join us at Franz Witte and help us bring the joy of gardening and landscaping to our community!
All employees are subject to pre-employment and random drug testing.