Wholesale Center Manager

Description

About Rocket Farms:

Rocket Farms is a leading grower and marketer of premium potted plants, specialty floral products, foliage, and fresh culinary herbs. Our Half Moon Bay Wholesale Center brings together Rocket Farms-grown products and a curated assortment of plants and pottery sourced from growers and suppliers throughout the industry, serving wholesale customers across California as well as local customers who shop directly from our floor.

With an ever-changing product mix, statewide delivery program, walk-in business, and strong customer relationships, the Wholesale Center is a fast-moving, hands-on part of the Rocket Farms business.

Job Summary

The Wholesale Center Manager is responsible for the overall performance, day-to-day leadership, and continued growth of Rocket Farms’ Half Moon Bay Wholesale Center. This highly hands-on role combines people management, purchasing, sales, merchandising, inventory management, logistics, customer service, and business operations.

The Manager leads a team of sales associates, designers, and operational support staff while overseeing the business from product selection through sell-through. With a strong pulse on horticulture trends and evolving customer preferences, this person will help identify the right plants, pottery, designs, and seasonal products while balancing sales performance, margins, and inventory.

The ideal candidate is a natural leader with strong commercial instincts who enjoys plants, products, people, and customers. They are equally comfortable developing a team, working with customers, spotting the next product opportunity, negotiating with growers, reviewing sales and margins, or jumping in to solve an operational challenge.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day Wholesale Center operations to achieve sales, margin, inventory, customer service, and overall business performance goals, including developing annual budgets, forecasts, and key performance indicators and taking corrective action when needed.

• Lead, coach, and develop the Wholesale Center team across sales, customer service, design, stocking, shipping, and receiving; hire and train employees as needed and address employee matters appropriately and in a timely manner.

• Manage the purchasing of plants, pottery, and other merchandise, including product selection, vendor relationships, pricing, margins, and coordination of product pickup and inbound logistics.

• Stay current on horticulture, plant, pottery, and design trends and evolving customer preferences to identify new products and merchandising opportunities.

• Forecast and preorder inventory in appropriate quantities and timing based on sell-through, historical sales, seasonal demand, trends, and anticipated customer needs.

• Create and manage purchase orders, obtain required approvals, reconcile purchases upon arrival, and maintain accurate item setup for incoming and in-stock merchandise.

• Manage inventory from arrival through sell-through, ensuring appropriate pricing and margins and making promotional, markdown, and clearance decisions when necessary.

• Manage prebooks, special orders, and seasonal purchasing programs throughout the year, particularly during key holiday periods.

• Oversee the Wholesale Center’s in-house design program and team to support customer needs and seasonal sales opportunities.

• Directly sell to and manage corporate shipping accounts, including coordinating the packing and fulfillment of customer orders.

• Manage and support outside sales representatives who handle designated accounts on a commission basis, including preparation of monthly commission reports.

• Oversee the daily shipping and fulfillment program for accuracy and efficiency, including Rocket Farms Express Delivery and other Wholesale Center shipping programs.

• Produce and maintain the weekly sell sheet and current product availability information for the sales team and customers.

• Provide weekly product information and content for the Rocket Farms Shop newsletter and social media.

• Manage the Point of Sale system and related processes to maintain sales and inventory accuracy.

• Maintain a clean, safe, organized, and inviting environment for employees and customers, ensuring interior and exterior areas are maintained to company standards.

• Oversee the care and presentation of live plant inventory, including watering, trimming, grooming, and appropriate pesticide and pest management activities.

• Address customer concerns promptly, professionally, and positively while maintaining a strong customer-service culture and positive working environment.

• Execute and monitor inventory control, loss prevention, and shrink programs.

• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Requirements

Qualifications & Experience

Bachelor’s degree preferred, or 5+ years of relevant sales and management experience, preferably within the horticulture, nursery, floral, garden center, or live-goods industry.

Demonstrated success managing and growing sales while leading a team in a hands-on operating environment.

Strong plant and product knowledge, with an understanding of industry trends, merchandising, and evolving customer preferences.

Experience with purchasing, inventory management, pricing, and margins.

Strong leadership, organizational, communication, negotiation, and customer service skills.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Navision, or the ability to quickly learn applicable business systems.

Valid driver’s license and ability to maintain eligibility under the Company’s vehicle insurance requirements.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to communicate with employees, customers, vendors, and business partners and to work in both office and Wholesale Center environments. The position requires regular movement throughout the facility and occasional standing, walking, bending, reaching, stooping, kneeling, or crouching.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required include close, distance, and color vision.

 Compensation:  $80K - $100K depending on experience