Retail Merchandise Specialist

Merchandising & Space Planning Specialist

Position Summary:

Seeking a Merchandising Planogram Specialist to join the Marketing Research team. This position plays a key role in designing effective merchandising layouts, evaluating performance data, and supporting strategic merchandising initiatives that enhance product visibility and drive sales growth across retail locations.

Key Responsibilities

Planogram Design & Management

• Develop, update, and maintain planograms using merchandising platforms such as Spaceman (NIQ).
• Optimize shelf configurations, product placement, facings, and assortment strategies to improve product visibility and maximize sales potential.
• Ensure planograms align with category objectives, retailer requirements, and merchandising standards.

Data Analysis & Category Optimization

• Evaluate sales performance, shopper insights, demographic information, and market trends to support merchandising decisions.
• Identify opportunities to improve assortment productivity, shelf efficiency, and category performance.
• Generate data-driven recommendations to increase sales and profitability.

Merchandising Strategy Support

• Utilize market research findings and business intelligence to support assortment planning and merchandising initiatives.
• Contribute to the development and execution of merchandising strategies that align with company goals and market demands.
• Monitor industry trends and competitive activity to identify growth opportunities.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Sales, Key Account Managers, and Sales Leadership to improve merchandising execution and retail performance.
• Establish and maintain productive relationships with retail buyers and merchandising teams.
• Provide planogram and merchandising support for customer presentations and business reviews.

Retail Store Evaluation

• Conduct regular store visits to assess merchandising compliance and gather marketplace insights.
• Evaluate shelf conditions, product placement, promotional execution, and reset activities.
• Identify opportunities to enhance the shopper experience and improve merchandising effectiveness.

Merchandising Operations & Project Support

• Partner with merchandising administration teams to coordinate merchandising projects from planning through execution and analysis.
• Assist with reporting, tracking, and measuring merchandising program results.

Systems & Process Improvement

• Utilize merchandising and retail execution software to monitor performance and compliance.
• Recommend process improvements and contribute to the development of merchandising best practices.
• Support continuous enhancements to merchandising tools, reporting, and operational workflows.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrated experience in planogram creation, category management, and merchandising analysis.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Proficiency with merchandising software platforms, including Spaceman; experience with JDA/Blue Yonder is highly desirable.
• Excellent organizational skills with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Effective communication and relationship-building skills.
• Collaborative team player with flexibility and adaptability to changing business needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in merchandising, including planogram development and assortment planning.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish is preferred.