Buyer
Top Benefits
About the role
What makes us so great? We’re a private, Canadian-owned company employing over 3600 Team Members. We’re known for providing our customers with the most unique assortment of products, unrivaled customer service and exceptional value – for nearly 100 years.
We forge relationships that last – this is one of the things we enjoy most about our jobs. We call our employees “Team Members” and our managers “Leaders”. We are resourceful and authentic. We build trust by staying true to our word and providing Royal Service every chance we get. You won’t find our unique combination of products and people anywhere else.
Our Home Office matches our personality - welcoming, a little quirky and full of energy. With access to free parking, an on-site gym & salon, bottomless coffee at the grill, and a games facility – work feels a little bit more like home.
So what’s this role all about? Reporting to the Category Leader, the Buyer is accountable for category portfolios that drive smaller gross margins and sales through effective category management. Plans and selects the range of products, services and programs in one or more departments within a category that will be sold in all Princess Auto retail channels, considering customer trends, buying patterns and market trends, and store foot-print/layout.
Here Are Some Key Accountabilities
- Manages, researches, sources and recommends potential new products and Vendors that satisfy Princess Auto’s strategic requirements specific to assortment and price / value
- Manages and optimizes existing products and services
- Ensures all products meet corporate standards of image, brand integrity and profitability
- Negotiates and creates buying / marketing plan for products for review by senior leaders
- Maintains the relationships with Vendors and Home Office Team Members through regular communication
- Takes a fair and equitable approach to Vendors which may include rewarding successful plans via Line Review Process and manages poor performance issues
- Selects products to feature in promotions; establishes quantities for sale and retail pricing
- Ensures promotional projections per sales quarter are at the level required to see company growth objectives
- Reviews sales numbers after events and promotions for future planning
- Maintains up to date information on competitors strategy; understands market trends and consumer preferences including pricing, quantity and availability
- Manages inventory and reviews product sales and decides whether to discontinue slow moving items or revise retail prices
- Considers tactics such as bundling items, pricing and product features to optimize inventory turns
- Identifies top selling products and works with Supply Chain to ensure inventory is sufficient
- Maintains regular and seasonal items
- Responds to emails and telephone calls from store Team Members on related issues such as product labeling, inventory, bulk pricing, product information, and parts. May communicate new product details and item updates to stores through Field Merchandising
- May participate in Product Knowledge Sessions and Royal Service Schools
- Updates database with product information, ensuring appropriate and accurate information is available for Sales Team Members and National Call Centre Team Members
- Participates in various special project as required, such as implementation of new software, e-Commerce, report building, business planning, branding initiatives and so on
- Travels to current and potential Vendors and trade shows to examine hundreds of products for immediate purchase keeping in mind Buying Teams programs and overall direction of Princess Auto; if required, new store openings
- May maintain the Line Review schedule and achieves all Milestone dates; educate Vendors on Line Review Process; work with multiple departments to implement the Line Review Process
- Assesses Vendor performance using Scorecard
- Requests and reviews Request for Proposals (RFP) and Requests for Quotes (RFQ)
- Provides training and coaching to Team Members on daily tasks and performance; supports and promotes a team environment
- Builds and maintains strong relationships with internal and external key stakeholders
A Few Other Things We’re Looking For
- Post-secondary education in a related field
- Minimum 1-2 years' experience as a Buyer with a national or regional retail chain
- Excellent written and verbal communication
- Ability to negotiate effectively
- Strong analytical skills
- Strong judgment and decision making skills
- Ability to leverage consumer information and effectively monitor competitive activities
- Toastmasters, Certified Toastmaster (CTM) is an asset
- Ability to travel & in possession of or can acquire a valid passport
What’s in it for you? We’ll offer you a competitive salary and top-notch company paid benefits. You’ll also participate in annual profit sharing, a variety of savings plan options, and we’ll match contributions to your pension as soon as you’re eligible. You’ll get a Team Member store discount on your first day, and other great perks too.
Ready to join us? We’re actively hiring to fill this open role—apply today, we’re ready to meet you! Voted one of Canada’s Best Employers 2025 by Forbes. Accessibility Princess Auto Ltd. will consult with all applicants requesting accommodation during the recruitment process to ensure that the accommodation provided takes into account the applicant’s individual accessibility needs.
#HP
About Princess Auto
We provide hard-working Canadians with a unique assortment of tools and equipment through more than 50 stores coast-to-coast, a National Call Centre, and our online store.
We serve the tradespeople, farmers, inventors and industrial workers that keep our country going. We aim to provide the tools and equipment you need at an exceptional value, and offer an unrivalled experience backed by our Royal Service Promise: "No sale is final until you’re satisfied". That means we will gladly repair, replace, or refund any product to your satisfaction. We mean it.
We call employees Team Members, to remind us all that we’re in this together. Yes, we’re here to work — but that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun along the way. So, if you’re the type who wants to get to know the people you work with and become part of a team that’s committed to providing second-to-none service, you’ll probably fit in around here.
We don’t have a lot of rule books at Princess Auto — in fact, there’s really only one rule: always try to do the right thing. For our customers and for each other. So, if you’re good at figuring things out on your own, but aren’t afraid to ask for help when you can’t, and most importantly — you have a can-do attitude — you’re the type of person we want to welcome to our team.
Buyer
Top Benefits
About the role
What makes us so great? We’re a private, Canadian-owned company employing over 3600 Team Members. We’re known for providing our customers with the most unique assortment of products, unrivaled customer service and exceptional value – for nearly 100 years.
We forge relationships that last – this is one of the things we enjoy most about our jobs. We call our employees “Team Members” and our managers “Leaders”. We are resourceful and authentic. We build trust by staying true to our word and providing Royal Service every chance we get. You won’t find our unique combination of products and people anywhere else.
Our Home Office matches our personality - welcoming, a little quirky and full of energy. With access to free parking, an on-site gym & salon, bottomless coffee at the grill, and a games facility – work feels a little bit more like home.
So what’s this role all about? Reporting to the Category Leader, the Buyer is accountable for category portfolios that drive smaller gross margins and sales through effective category management. Plans and selects the range of products, services and programs in one or more departments within a category that will be sold in all Princess Auto retail channels, considering customer trends, buying patterns and market trends, and store foot-print/layout.
Here Are Some Key Accountabilities
- Manages, researches, sources and recommends potential new products and Vendors that satisfy Princess Auto’s strategic requirements specific to assortment and price / value
- Manages and optimizes existing products and services
- Ensures all products meet corporate standards of image, brand integrity and profitability
- Negotiates and creates buying / marketing plan for products for review by senior leaders
- Maintains the relationships with Vendors and Home Office Team Members through regular communication
- Takes a fair and equitable approach to Vendors which may include rewarding successful plans via Line Review Process and manages poor performance issues
- Selects products to feature in promotions; establishes quantities for sale and retail pricing
- Ensures promotional projections per sales quarter are at the level required to see company growth objectives
- Reviews sales numbers after events and promotions for future planning
- Maintains up to date information on competitors strategy; understands market trends and consumer preferences including pricing, quantity and availability
- Manages inventory and reviews product sales and decides whether to discontinue slow moving items or revise retail prices
- Considers tactics such as bundling items, pricing and product features to optimize inventory turns
- Identifies top selling products and works with Supply Chain to ensure inventory is sufficient
- Maintains regular and seasonal items
- Responds to emails and telephone calls from store Team Members on related issues such as product labeling, inventory, bulk pricing, product information, and parts. May communicate new product details and item updates to stores through Field Merchandising
- May participate in Product Knowledge Sessions and Royal Service Schools
- Updates database with product information, ensuring appropriate and accurate information is available for Sales Team Members and National Call Centre Team Members
- Participates in various special project as required, such as implementation of new software, e-Commerce, report building, business planning, branding initiatives and so on
- Travels to current and potential Vendors and trade shows to examine hundreds of products for immediate purchase keeping in mind Buying Teams programs and overall direction of Princess Auto; if required, new store openings
- May maintain the Line Review schedule and achieves all Milestone dates; educate Vendors on Line Review Process; work with multiple departments to implement the Line Review Process
- Assesses Vendor performance using Scorecard
- Requests and reviews Request for Proposals (RFP) and Requests for Quotes (RFQ)
- Provides training and coaching to Team Members on daily tasks and performance; supports and promotes a team environment
- Builds and maintains strong relationships with internal and external key stakeholders
A Few Other Things We’re Looking For
- Post-secondary education in a related field
- Minimum 1-2 years' experience as a Buyer with a national or regional retail chain
- Excellent written and verbal communication
- Ability to negotiate effectively
- Strong analytical skills
- Strong judgment and decision making skills
- Ability to leverage consumer information and effectively monitor competitive activities
- Toastmasters, Certified Toastmaster (CTM) is an asset
- Ability to travel & in possession of or can acquire a valid passport
What’s in it for you? We’ll offer you a competitive salary and top-notch company paid benefits. You’ll also participate in annual profit sharing, a variety of savings plan options, and we’ll match contributions to your pension as soon as you’re eligible. You’ll get a Team Member store discount on your first day, and other great perks too.
Ready to join us? We’re actively hiring to fill this open role—apply today, we’re ready to meet you! Voted one of Canada’s Best Employers 2025 by Forbes. Accessibility Princess Auto Ltd. will consult with all applicants requesting accommodation during the recruitment process to ensure that the accommodation provided takes into account the applicant’s individual accessibility needs.
#HP
About Princess Auto
We provide hard-working Canadians with a unique assortment of tools and equipment through more than 50 stores coast-to-coast, a National Call Centre, and our online store.
We serve the tradespeople, farmers, inventors and industrial workers that keep our country going. We aim to provide the tools and equipment you need at an exceptional value, and offer an unrivalled experience backed by our Royal Service Promise: "No sale is final until you’re satisfied". That means we will gladly repair, replace, or refund any product to your satisfaction. We mean it.
We call employees Team Members, to remind us all that we’re in this together. Yes, we’re here to work — but that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun along the way. So, if you’re the type who wants to get to know the people you work with and become part of a team that’s committed to providing second-to-none service, you’ll probably fit in around here.
We don’t have a lot of rule books at Princess Auto — in fact, there’s really only one rule: always try to do the right thing. For our customers and for each other. So, if you’re good at figuring things out on your own, but aren’t afraid to ask for help when you can’t, and most importantly — you have a can-do attitude — you’re the type of person we want to welcome to our team.