Merchandiser

<div class="content-intro"><p>For over 80 years, <strong>Ernest </strong>has been committed to the success of our extended family, our customers, our employees, and the packaging industry itself. When you work with Ernest, you’ll enjoy the advantages of learning proven methods of success, a proactive approach, and having fun while earning what you’re worth with a lot of really awesome people.</p></div><div><strong>Merchandiser </strong>(Buyer)</div> <div><strong>Location</strong>: San Luis Obispo, CA<strong>&nbsp;</strong>| Full-Time | On-Site<br>Competitive Base | Benefits | Growth-Oriented Culture</div> <div><strong>Pay range</strong>: 69 - 78k DOE</div> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Be the Buyer Behind the Brand</strong></p> <p>At Ernest, our merchandisers (we call them merchandisers because, well, they do <em>a lot</em> more than just purchase) help shape the partnerships, pricing, and performance that drive our business forward. We’re looking for a <strong>Merchandiser</strong> to join our team, <strong>&nbsp;</strong>where you’ll play a vital role in ensuring our customers receive quality solutions, competitive pricing, and exceptional service.</p> <p>This is a full-time, on-site position for someone who’s skilled at <strong>building vendor relationships</strong>, identifying <strong>cost-saving opportunities</strong>, and managing product lines with a high degree of ownership and attention to detail. If you're organized, collaborative, and enjoy working cross-functionally to deliver results — this could be your next step.</p> <p><strong>What You’ll Do</strong></p> <ul> <li>Source and evaluate new products based on quality, cost, and market trends</li> <li>Build and maintain strong, professional relationships with vendors to negotiate pricing, lead times, and product availability</li> <li>Monitor market conditions, price fluctuations, and product changes to ensure optimal buying decisions</li> <li>Manage inventory across Stock and Just-in-Time (JIT) categories, aligning with company targets and supply needs</li> <li>Establish target selling prices for made-to-order and non-stock merchandise in coordination with internal stakeholders</li> <li>Set and update part numbers, costs, and pricing using SAP (or ERP platform) with accuracy</li> <li>Ensure all reporting and part number data is accurate, current, and aligned with purchasing activity</li> <li>Maintain and update product costing after vendor verification</li> <li>Collaborate closely with internal teams including Sales, Operations, and Accounting</li> <li>Process merchandise control re