Regional Merchandiser - East Coast VA

Regional Merchandiser – Mid-Atlantic Region

Position Overview

Queen’s Flowers/Kendal Floral, the largest importer and distributor of fresh-cut floral products in the United States, is seeking a motivated, customer-focused Regional Merchandiser to support retail accounts throughout their Mid-Atlantic territory. The territory currently includes Virginia, West Virgina and Eastern Tennessee, with responsibility for approximately 109 retail locations.

The Regional Merchandiser is responsible for strengthening retail partnerships, executing merchandising programs, improving product presentation, and supporting sales growth across assigned territory. The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of retail operations, merchandising standards, and customer service, along with the ability to work independently while maintaining consistent execution.

This position focuses on maintaining and developing existing customer relationships through regular store visits, effective product merchandising, and proactive communication with retail partners. The successful candidate will travel throughout the territory five days per week, visiting supermarkets daily to maximize product sell-through and ensure the quality, freshness, and presentation of Queen’s floral products meet and exceed standards.

The role requires frequent travel between locations, as well as the ability to build productive relationships with the Floral Specialist Store Management, Floral Leads and Produce Department Managers. Additional responsibilities include monitoring sales performance and product shrink, reporting product quality and shipping concerns, and identifying opportunities to improve merchandising effectiveness and operational efficiency.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Territory and Route Management: Develop and manage efficient daily travel routes to support store visits Monday through Friday, ensuring consistent coverage throughout the assigned territory. Weekend work required at peak holidays.

• Store Visits and Communication: Establish contact with the Store Manager and Floral Lead upon arrival, clearly communicate the purpose of each visit, and advise store personnel of any required photographs, documentation, or reporting.

• Customer Relationship Management: Build and maintain productive relationships with retail partners through regular communication, professional engagement, and the collection of feedback regarding product performance, merchandising execution, and customer needs. This includes consistent collaboration, interaction and follow-up with the division’s Floral Subject Matter Expert.

• Issue Identification and Resolution: Identify outstanding concerns during store visits, coordinate appropriate follow-up, and communicate issues promptly to the Account Manager and relevant customer contacts.

• Sales Program Implementation: Communicate and execute sales initiatives, new product introductions, seasonal programs, and special projects in coordination with Floral SME, Store Management and Floral Department leads.

• Merchandising and Product Quality: Evaluate floral displays for compliance with established standards, including product freshness, expiration dates, care and handling procedures, inventory levels, product assortment, and back-stock organization.

• Competitive Market Analysis: Schedule weekly matrix visits to identify competitor products, displays, pricing, and merchandising strategies. Document relevant findings and share supporting photographs through provided reporting template.

• Product Knowledge and Training: Providing product information, coaching on product care and handling, guidance on merchandising standards, schematics and execution, and offering additional training and support as directed by the Account Manager or Division Floral SME.

• Product Quality and Operational Reporting: Communicate to the Account manager any escalated concerns involving product quality, shipping, distribution, or other product, operational or customer-related issues.

• Team Collaboration and Cross-Training: Collaborate with fellow merchandisers and participate in cross-training to support consistent merchandising standards, knowledge sharing, and territory-wide execution.

• Seasonal Performance Analysis: Prepare post-holiday presentations evaluating performance across floral product categories within the division, highlighting results, identifying trends, and recommending opportunities for future improvement.

• Display Installation and Department Resets: Assist with floral display installations, department resets, grand openings, standards walks, and seasonal merchandising sets to ensure alignment with corporate sales plans, optimal representation of our products, and maximize sales opportunities.

• Travel and Expense Reporting: Use a reliable personal vehicle to travel between assigned locations and accurately record business mileage through the designated Car Data application for reimbursement in accordance with company policy. Travel expenses will need to be mitigated using Concur application.

This position does not include supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Three to five years of experience in retail merchandising, retail account support, or retail level customer service. Experience with fresh, perishable, or floral products is strongly preferred. Proficiency in Floral Design is a plus.

• Supermarket or grocery retail experience is highly desirable.

• Proficiency in Floral Design is a plus.

• Excellent customer service, verbal communication, interpersonal, and relationship-management skills.

• Demonstrate ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, take initiative, and manage competing priorities with supervision.

• Strong organizational planning and time-management skills, including the ability to develop efficient travel routes and prioritize store visits based on Division needs.

• Proficiency in using mobile applications and digital tools for reporting, communication, and documentation.

• Reliable personal vehicle, valid driver’s license, clean driving record, and proof of current automobile insurance.

• Ability to travel extensively throughout the assigned territory, including frequent driving that could be in excess of 100 miles per day.

• Willingness to travel overnight approximately 15% of the time, as business needs require.

• Candidate resides within the assigned territory, preferably within the greater Richmond area.

• Availability to work an anticipated schedule of approximately 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with weekend availability required immediately before major floral holidays, including Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day.

Compensation and Additional Benefits

• Annual Salary: $52,000

• Pay Structure: Annual salary

• Earned Wage Access: Same-day access to eligible earned wages through the Tapcheck application, subject to applicable program terms.

• Mileage Reimbursement

• Health/Dental/Vision Insurance Available

• Internet Allowance

Additional Information

The Regional Merchandiser plays an important role in maintaining strong retail partnerships, protecting product quality, executing sales initiatives, and delivering consistent merchandising standards throughout the assigned territory. The successful candidate will demonstrate professionalism, accountability, adaptability, and a commitment to achieving strong relationships across assigned account.

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