Assistant Merchant

The Job

As an Assistant Merchant, you are responsible for all aspects of support for a product category, including but not limited to category review support, promotional planning, show prep, retailer communication, SKU on-boarding, and maintenance and special projects as assigned.

The position is designed as a support role, as well as development step in all aspects of the buying department to prepare a candidate for full category responsibility as a Merchant I.

The Assistant Merchant:

• Executes the current year plan that has been laid out by the Merchant

• Is responsible for all aspects of support for a product category

• Assists with teams responsibilities and projects, including category reviews, promotional planning processes, show preparation, retailer communication, SKU onboarding and maintenance, and special projects as assigned.

• Is expected to consider enterprise (retail, EJD, international) impact with all decisions.

What youll do:

Category Review Support

• Support merchant in all phases of category review process

• Request and prepare all category analytics

• Participate in all aspects of vendor meeting prep, meetings, item selection, plan-o-gram build, marketing and execution to retailers

Promotional Planning Support

• Support in organizing and securing all vendor marketing assessments

• Assist in solicitation of monthly promotional items from vendors

• Assist with promotional item submission forms, target pricing, correction notices and AD proofing

Retailer Communication

• Support with daily retailer customer service

• Assist with communication via ACENET to relay new programs, changes or issues

• Assist with Merch CARE to prep Ace Care Center for calls and e-mails related to respective category

Convention Planning Support

• Assist in selecting and inviting vendors to attend semi-annual convention

• Lead prep of show materials including drop ship forms, as well as submission for Power Buys, Saving Showcase and New Arrivals

• Assist in planning merchant area theme and execution for respective category

Inventory/Supply Chain Support

• Assist in diagnosing and resolving vendor service issues

• Assist in inventory planning for promotional items

Systems Support

• Lead SKU on-boarding for department with respective merchandising SYSTEMS coordinator

• Lead processing of department SAP price changes with respective merchandising SYSTEMS coordinator

• Lead all item master data changes with article content team

Special Projects

• Lead department and cross-functional projects as assigned by DMM and merchant

What you will need:

Knowledge, Experience, and Competencies:

Ace Assistant Merchant Competencies

• Product passion Natural and fanatical curiosity around product and retail marketplace, demonstrated and put into action.

• Strategic thinking has advanced business acumen to draw insights from gathered data.

• Relationship Builder Builds and leverages internal / external network (vendors, retailers, cross functional team members, etc.) to drive results and improve processes.

• Results-oriented Ability to drive results to and above plan with full accountability, proactively shifting efforts as trends and business variables change

• Presentation skills Ability to plan, assemble and present with excellence strategy, execution and updates to leadership, across the organization, vendors and retailers

Experience and Technical Requirements:

• 2+ years of business experience

• Retail experience preferred

• Strong problem-solving skills

• Strong interpersonal skills

• Understand financial measures that impacts corporation

• Demonstrate strong decision-making skills

• Highly creative, flexible and adaptable with good follow-through

• Proven ability to multi-task projects and meet deadlines

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

• Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Access, Power Point,

• Knowledge of PCM, SAP and guided Ad-hoc reporting tools

• Ability to travel 15%

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