Category Manager, Hardware & Equipment
Pinch A PennyLocation: Pinch A Penny Administration ; 6385 150th Ave N. Clearwater, FL 33760 You want Benefits? You’ve got it! Our generous benefits package includes: Medical, Dental, Vision, and Prescription Drug coverage with Flexible Spending Accounts and Wellness Programs 401 (k) with generous company match Eligible for Paid Time Off and 8 paid holidays (NOTE: PTO increases with tenure!) 100% employer paid Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Insurance Paid Parental Leave Fully Funded Tuition Education Programs Employee Stock Purchase Plan Excellent career advancement and training opportunities to support your career growth Employee Discounts and much more! What to Expect? The Category Manager, Hardware & Equipment is responsible for the commercial success of the Hardware & Equipment business across the Pinch A Penny system. This role owns category strategy, assortment, pricing, promotions, vendor partnerships, inventory performance, and financial results for one of the company's largest merchandise categories. Working closely with Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, Operations, and franchisees, the Category Manager develops strategies that improve sales, gross margin, inventory productivity, and franchisee profitability. This position directly leads the Buyer responsible for day-to-day purchasing and replenishment execution. The Category Manager owns the strategy. The Buyer executes the plan. On a daily basis our Category Manager, Hardware & Equipment : Category Strategy Develops and execute the long-term strategy for the Hardware & Equipment categories. Builds annual category plans aligned to company growth objectives. Identifies opportunities to grow sales, improve gross margin, and increase market share. Monitors competitive assortment, pricing, promotional activity, and emerging industry trends. Evaluates new products, product rationalization opportunities, and private label expansion. Financial Performance Owns the financial performance of the category, including: Sales, Gross Margin, Inventory Investment, Inventory Turns, Promotional ROI, Forecast Accuracy, and Category Profitability Vendor Management Builds strategic partnerships with key manufacturers and supplier partners. Leads vendor negotiations related to pricing, programs, rebates, promotional funding, and product introductions. Conducts regular business reviews with key vendors. Holds vendors accountable to service levels, product availability, innovation, and commercial performance. Pricing & Promotions Develops pricing strategies that balance competitiveness, value perception, and profitability. Partners with Marketing to develop promotional calendars and seasonal merchandising programs. Evaluates promotional effectiveness and adjust future strategies based on results. Recommends bundled solutions and merchandising opportunities that increase average transaction value. Assortment & Inventory Strategy Defines category assortment by store format, geography, and customer demand. Partners with Supply Chain and Purchasing to optimize inventory investment and product availability. Improves inventory productivity, turns, and overall category health. Evaluates lifecycle management for new products, discontinued items, and assortment optimization. Team Leadership Directly manages the Buyer supporting the Hardware & Equipment category. Establish priorities for purchasing, replenishment, and vendor execution Develops team capabilities while fostering accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement. Ensures purchasing activities support overall category objectives. Franchisee Support Partners with franchisees to improve category performance and profitability. Gathers franchisee feedback to inform merchandising strategies. Presents category initiatives at Franchise Advisory Council meetings, Expo, and regional meetings. Supports franchisee education around new products, pricing, promotions, and merchandising best practices. What You Will Need: 5+ years of experience i…