Assistant Merchant

Description At Northern Tool + Equipment we get up every day to serve the tradespeople who keep our country running strong and the weekend warriors who want to work like them. It’s our mission to make sure they have the right tools for the job, and an easy, hassle-free experience at our store so they can get in, get out and get on with the job at hand. Your top priority as an Assistant Merchant is to drive sales and maximize profitability of assigned categories through all sales channels through the execution of Merchant’s strategic vision. Your positive, professional, roll-up-your-sleeves-to-help attitude contributes to our winning culture and makes sure we leave a lasting impression. Achieve the work-life balance you deserve with our hybrid work schedule that allows you to work both remotely 1 day and in the office in Burnsville, Minnesota 4 days, Monday - Friday. Key Responsibilities: Category Support & Business Analysis Support the Merchant in achieving sales, margin, inventory turn, and profitability objectives for assigned categories. Analyze sales performance, inventory trends, pricing, customer demand, and competitive activity to identify risks and growth opportunities. Prepare category reviews, business analyses, and performance summaries. Monitor key category metrics and provide recommendations to improve category performance. Assortment Planning & Product Management Assist the Merchant with product assortment planning, line reviews, SKU setup, and category maintenance. Coordinate new item creation, product updates, and supplier information to ensure accurate system setup. Support the introduction of new products and category initiatives according to established project timelines. Research industry trends, customer preferences, and competitive offerings to support assortment decisions. Promotions & Merchandising Execution Assist in developing and executing promotional plans, seasonal programs and digital marketing activities. Partner with Merchandising Analysts to evaluate promotional pricing, power buys, featured products, and special offers. Monitor promotional performance and provide analysis and recommendations for future improvements. Support merchandising execution across stores, ecommerce, email, and other sales channels. Cross-Functional and Supplier Partnerships Coordinate with key internal and external partners to support category initiatives. Help manage project timelines and communicate requirements for product launches, promotions, and assortment changes. Ensure marketing assets, product content, images, videos, and merchandising materials are complete, accurate, and delivered on schedule. Maintain regular communication with suppliers regarding products, costs, promotions, inventory, and operational needs. Conduct and assist in vendor meetings, business reviews, and negotiation materials. Manage and support the management of vendor marketing funds, promotional opportunities along with monitoring supplier performance and provide recommendations for improvement. Operational Support & Excellence Partner with inventory planning to support inventory productivity and product availability and increase profitability. Support forecasting, open-to-buy activities, and inventory planning efforts. Identify opportunities to improve merchandising processes, reporting, tools, and workflows. Leverage data and business insights to recommend efficiencies and cost-saving opportunities. Assist the Merchant in developing annual business plans and long-term category growth strategies. Stay informed on customer trends, market developments, and competitive activity. Perform other duties and special projects as assigned. What you will bring to the table: Bachelor's degree in Business, Merchandising, Marketing, Finance, Economics, Supply Chain, or a related field preferred. 1-3 years of experience in merchandising, category management, buying, retail, inventory planning, marketing, supply chain, or a related business f…

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