Category Manager, Hardware & Equipment

Location: 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 in category management, merchandising, buying, product management, retail operations, or related commercial disciplines.
• Experience managing vendor relationships and commercial negotiations.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen with the ability to translate data into business decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• High degree of ownership, accountability, and execution.

Looking to work for the best in the industry?
Since opening its first store in 1975, Pinch A Penny, A POOLCORP Company, has become the largest franchised retail pool, patio and spa company. This first store evolved into a full-time, full-service retail pool supply store offering everything needed to operate and enjoy a swimming pool or spa. With our rapid growth we have been able to hire over 300 employees from Marketing directors, sales associates to machine operators and maintenance mechanics. We are proud to serve our community and be an employer of choice. We believe in recognizing our employees for their hard work and encourage work-life balance.

Why join PINCH A PENNY?
Pinch A Penny, a POOLCORP Company is the premier destination for all your swimming pool and backyard needs. With over 300 stores and expanding, we are the nation's largest swimming pool retail, service, and repair franchise. Our relentless dedication to excellence drives us to bring people together through the joy of pools, spas, and the backyard experience. Join us on this exciting journey as we continue to grow, innovate, and set new standards in the swimming pool industry.

Bilingual, Military, Military Spouses and Veteran applicants are strongly encouraged to apply! We understand the uniqueness of hiring military personnel and veterans and will support him/her in the time of duty or with the transition into new civilian professions. 

All offers to external candidates for employment are contingent upon the successful completion of pre-employment drug testing and background verifications before employment is finalized. This position is considered “safety-sensitive” and includes tasks or duties which could affect the safety and health of the employee performing the tasks or others.

POOLCORP, including all its subsidiaries, is a drug-free company and Equal Opportunity Employer – By Choice. The Company understands, respects, and values diversity – unique styles, experiences, identities, ideas, and opinions – while striving to be inclusive of all people. This commitment is critical to our success as a global company as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. Hiring and promotional decisions are based solely on the qualifications required for the job to be filled.

#PINCH1