About Ace Retail Group

Ace Retail Group (ARG), is a division of Ace Hardware Corporation that owns and operates several Ace brands, including Westlake Ace, Great Lakes Ace, Buikema’s Ace, Outer Banks Ace, Dennis Company, and Breed & Company. ARG is one of the largest hardware retailers in the United States and has two headquarters located in Lenexa, KS and Farmington Hills, MI. ARG’s origins date back over a century and operates over 250 neighborhood stores located throughout the United States. Great people make ARG stand out in our industry, and we are looking for individuals who strive for personal and professional growth, and who want to work with a company founded on (and still led by) our solid Core Values of: Winning, Excellence, Love, Integrity, Gratitude, Humility and Teamwork.

Job Title:    Associate Merchandising Manager
Department:    Merchandising
Reports To:    Senior Merchandising Manager
Exemption Status:    Exempt (Salaried)

About Ace Retail Group
Ace Retail Group (ARG) is a division of Ace Hardware Corporation that owns and operates several well-known Ace brands, including Westlake Ace, Great Lakes Ace, Buikema’s Ace, Outer Banks Ace, Dennis Company, and Breed & Company. As one of the largest hardware retailers in the United States, ARG operates more than 250 neighborhood stores nationwide and maintains its headquarters in Overland Park, Kansas.
With roots dating back over a century, ARG’s success is driven by its people. What truly sets us apart in the industry is our commitment to hiring and developing individuals who are passionate about personal and professional growth and who want to be part of a company built on strong, enduring Core Values:
Winning, Excellence, Love, Integrity, Gratitude, Humility and Teamwork
General Job Summary                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The Associate Merchandising Manager is responsible for developing merchandising strategies and delivering profitable sales results that support the identified business segments, Impulse, Consumables, Toys ,Stationary and Holiday working closely with cross-functional partners throughout the organization. 
Essential Duties and Responsibilities                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
Assortment Strategy and Management
•    Leads the category development for: Impulse, Consumables, Toys, Stationery and Holiday
o    Develop quality product assortments that drive sales and profitable growth in the key categories, leveraging Ace planograms, assortments, and fixtures presentations where possible.
o    Provide strategic direction for the development of advertising and marketing initiatives to drive sales and transaction growth.
o    Identify localized opportunities to ensure a merchandise assortment that meets the needs of the varied consumer base where appropriate (B2B, DIY, Rural, Urban, etc.).
•    Supports assortment planning, pre-season ordering, and vendor management in conjunction Merchandising Manager. 
•    Analyze and monitor sales, trends, and economic conditions within a specific category to anticipate consumer buying patterns.
•    Maintain strong understanding of the competition, the marketplace and industry. Monitor competitors’ sales activities, product assortments, and pricing by reviewing daily/weekly print and electronic advertisements, as well as store visits.
Financial Accountability
•    Accountability and management of financial Key Performance Indicators for Impulse, Consumables, Toys, Stationary and Holiday, including sales, net margin, sell-through and GMROI (gross margin return on investment) including development of semiannual forecasts to support Sr. Management planning activities.
•    Negotiate costs, discounts, rebates, VPP (Vendor Partnership Program) and freight terms for assigned categories.

Sourcing and Procurement
•    Establish and maintain strategic supplier relationships, aligning suppliers, products, and services to meet the needs of the business.
•    Work in collaboration with inventory management to determine demand forecasts for everyday and promotional opportunities.
•    Attend trade shows to identify product opportunities and enhance business relationships.

Leadership and Management
•    Define and implement departmental strategic objectives with both short and long-term plans developed.
•    Strategic and tactical ownership, accountability, and execution for the assigned product category Line Review process.
•    Demonstrate effective presentation skills of merchandising strategies to ensure buy-in and engagement across the entire organization.
•    Serve as project manager for merchandising-driven initiatives in support of key categories. 

Partnership and Collaboration with Cross-Functional Teams including
•    Store Operations on the understanding of market and customer needs.
•    Inventory management to ensure optimal in-stock levels and exit strategies.
•    Marketing/Visual Merchandising to deliver improved in-store presentation, Point-of-Purchase materials, and marketing strategies.
•    Develop strong working relationships with Ace counterparts to fully leverage available product assortments, customer research and partner on strategic initiatives to further category performance.

Other Essential Requirements
Ability to exhibit and incorporate our Core Values into daily decisions and interactions with others:
o    WINNING – In business, money is the score. To win, we must perform, compete, and have fun. At Ace, we win through people- our strength is being helpful.
o    EXCELLENCE – Excellence honors God and inspires people. We aspire to be the best, to continuously improve and to inspire others by giving the team our very best.
o    LOVE – Love the people, love the work and love the results.
o    INTEGRITY – For Ace to win, we need to be able to trust each other. And trust will require us to be honest, reliable, caring, of high character and of unquestioned ethics.
o    GRATITUDE – We recognize that we are blessed to be in the business of serving others.
o    HUMILITY – We strive for greatness with a humble, modest and respectful attitude.
o    TEAMWORK – We will fight the natural tendency for control and credit in favor of collaboration and mutual success, recognizing that…Together, we are Ace. 

Minimum Skills, Requirements and Qualifications
•    BS/BA Degree in Business Management preferred, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
•    Interest or past work in Merchandising or Buying.
•    Solid understanding of retail operations, relationship sales skills, business fundamentals, merchandising strategies and assortment planning.
•    Knowledge of the neighborhood hardware store B2B and DIY customer.
•    Refined interpersonal skills to engage with others both written and verbal.
•    Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic business environment.
•    Demonstrated organizational skills and attention to detail.
•    Ability to work independently, be highly self-motivated.
•    Familiarity with modern marketing techniques in electronic, digital, and social media platforms.
•    Proven ability to successfully lead teams backed with strong project management skills.
•    Analytical thinker, team player, customer-focused, business minded.
•    Understanding of Microsoft 365 programs; Excel, Word, Teams, Power Point
•    Strong working knowledge of Excel (charts, VLOOKUP’s, data manipulation and macro execution). 
•    Travel as required.
•    Standing, walking, lifting (up to 25lbs) and climbing. 
 

Compensation Details

$60000 - $75000 per year

For a full list of benefits and open positions, please visit us at: https://acehardware.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/ARG_External

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Equal Opportunity Employer
Ace Retail Group is committed to a policy of promoting equal employment opportunities. The company recognizes the importance of diversity and leveraging the skills and talents of all people to the mutual advantage of each individual and the organization. The company is committed to the prevention of employment discrimination related to race, religion, color, sex (including sexual harassment), gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, disability and military discharge, or any other action covered by federal or state laws.