2025: Merchandising Lead (Herkimer, NY)

As a Merchandising Lead at Simply Set, your primary responsibilities will include supervising a team of seasonal merchandisers in Walmart garden centers, overseeing daily operations across your territory, and ensuring that stores are well-merchandised with our high-quality plants. You’ll recruit, hire, and train new team members, allowing you to shape your team and ensure that they meet our standards of exceptional service and presentation.

To apply for the Merchandising Lead position at Simply Set, candidates should possess exceptional communication skills, the ability to multitask and prioritize effectively, and a clean driving record. While a background in plant knowledge is a plus, it is not strictly required. What is essential is your enthusiasm for working outdoors and leading a team!

Yes, travel is a key aspect of the Merchandising Lead position at Simply Set. You will be responsible for overseeing multiple stores in your territory, which involves traveling between 5-10 Walmart garden centers. Having reliable transportation is crucial for this role to manage your responsibilities effectively.

As a Merchandising Lead at Simply Set, you can expect to work in a variety of retail environments, predominantly in outdoor garden centers. This means being tolerant of various weather conditions throughout the seasons. You’ll work closely with your team and interact with customers, vendors, and store personnel, creating a lively and dynamic workplace.

Simply Set offers a competitive benefits package for the Merchandising Lead role, including health and dental insurance. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to work with a supportive team while promoting high-quality plants and exceptional customer service, which fosters a fulfilling work environment.

To effectively prioritize tasks as a Merchandising Lead, I first assess the immediate needs of the stores I oversee. I focus on ensuring that live plants are well presented and address any urgent issues my team faces. I maintain open communication with my merchandisers to gauge their support needs, allowing me to allocate resources efficiently and keep operations running smoothly.

In recruiting seasonal merchandisers, I utilize a structured approach that includes detailed job descriptions and targeted outreach efforts. During training, I emphasize hands-on demonstrations of merchandising techniques and provide opportunities for shadowing experienced team members. I also incorporate ongoing feedback and support to help my recruits develop their skills and confidence.

My experience with merchandising live plants includes a strong understanding of plant care needs and optimal presentation techniques. I focus on creating visually appealing displays that entice customers, while also ensuring plants are healthy and accessible. This not only enhances the store's appearance but also boosts sales and customer satisfaction.

When faced with conflict between team members, I believe it's crucial to address the issue directly but sensitively. I would facilitate a private discussion to understand each person's perspective and encourage open communication. Together, we would explore solutions that maintain team harmony and ensure a collaborative work environment.

To enhance customer relationships in a retail setting, I prioritize friendly and approachable communication. I believe that listening to customer needs and promptly addressing their questions helps build trust. I also encourage team members to engage with customers, as personalized service can significantly impact customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Staying organized while overseeing multiple stores involves effective planning and using tools like checklists and scheduling software. I set clear daily objectives for each store visit, allowing me to focus on key tasks while tracking my progress. Additionally, regular communication with my team members helps me stay aligned with each store's needs.

My approach to providing feedback is rooted in positivity and growth. I believe it’s essential to balance constructive criticism with recognition of strong performance. I schedule regular one-on-one meetings with my team members to discuss their achievements and areas for improvement, fostering a supportive culture that encourages development.

In a previous role, I encountered an unexpected issue where a shipment of plants was delayed. I quickly assessed alternative suppliers to source similar products temporarily. This required quick decision-making and communication with my team to reallocate resources for a successful display, ultimately minimizing disruption and maintaining customer satisfaction.

One of the most challenging aspects of being a Merchandising Lead is managing the diverse needs of multiple stores and a team. Balancing priorities while ensuring everyone is on track can be complex, especially in peak seasons. However, I view these challenges as opportunities to enhance my leadership and problem-solving skills, ensuring continued success in the role.

I want to work for Simply Set because I genuinely admire your commitment to quality plants and outstanding customer service. As a family-owned business, I appreciate the values that resonate with my own, and I am excited about the opportunity to be part of a team that prioritizes excellence and collaboration in everything they do.