Plant Buyer

Since our launch in April 2000, we've grown into one of the biggest gardening websites in the UK and the only one able to supply a significant range of plants.

We pride ourselves in being able to offer the biggest choice of plants in the UK. For example, a good garden centre can give you around 400 plant varieties to choose from. We can offer over 4,000
We first entered the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in our inaugural year in 2000. We have since gone on to work with over 20 leading garden designers, winning 11 'Best in Show' awards. A feat we are extremely proud of.

We are recruiting an experienced PLANT BUYER to join our expert team of people passionate about plants

**Main Purpose of the job**:
To manage plant categories across Crocus, affiliate sites and Crocus at Dorney Court in terms of range offering, pricing, promotional activity and supplier management in conjunction with the wider plant buying team.

**Key tasks**:

- To work closely with Senior stake-holders and the wider plant buying team to ensure that all plant ranges offered are compelling, appropriate, available and customer focused across all sites and at Crocus at Dorney Court.
- Take responsibility for buying and delivering designated categories managing the end-to-end processes from range planning and supplier sourcing through to annual range launch delivery and working closely with the plant nursery and warehouse logistics.
- To track all KPI and continually monitor and evaluate sales and profit figures on a weekly/monthly basis to ensure budgets are being met. Work with the Plant Buying team to propose action where necessary to ensure financial targets of the business are achieved.
- In conjunction with the wider plant buying team, manage and develop supplier relationships across each designated category to ensure the effective sourcing of plants and ensure strong promotional plans for key seasonal events.
- To provide clear and accurate communication to other Crocus team stake-holders to ensure success in delivery of range reviews, promotional plans and other category initiatives.
Take responsibility for managing stock for defined plant categories, ensuring optimum availability of key lines, and timely availability of seasonal lines. Develop the end to end supply chain plan from supplier through to nursery and warehouse to ensure optimum effectiveness with minimised wastage.
- Maximise plant range stock availability through working closely with the wider plant team. Working collaboratively, propose solutions, liaise with suppliers & deal with issues as and when they arrive as required, to ensure customers’ needs and expectations are being met, and sales and profit targets are achieved.
- Provide on-going web-site and competitor analysis, ensuring appropriate pricing, margin and quality of plants on all sites and identifying gaps and opportunities for Crocus to drive sales and profitability.
- Consistently demonstrate insight of competitors, target customers and market dynamics ensuring a good level of specific category and market knowledge.
- Attendance at trade shows and supplier visits, taking the lead where required
- Any other reasonable duties/requests as required.

**Key experience, Knowledge and skills**
- Good knowledge of Plant buying, ideally with 3 years’ experience
- Ideally holds ND qualification in Hardy Nursery stock
- Good Communication skills
- Computer Literate (Excel & Word)
- Good planning and organisational skills
- Ability to work to time pressures in a fast moving and rapidly changing market
- Basic Level financial awareness and ability to interpret data
- Good interpersonal skills - A team player
- Driving Licence

INDMANAGE