Merchandise Specialist

Join Staples Merchandising team and help shape the products, promotions, and customer experience seen across our retail stores and digital channels. Our Merchandising team plays a critical role in identifying trends, launching new products, supporting vendor relationships, and driving sales performance across the business.

This is an excellent opportunity for recent graduates and early-career professionals interested in building a career in Merchandising, Buying, Category Management, Marketing, Retail, Analytics, or Supply Chain. You'll gain hands-on experience while collaborating with teams across Merchandising, Marketing, Inventory Planning, Store Operations, eCommerce, Finance, and Vendor Partners.

At Staples, we believe in continuous learning, collaboration, and professional growth. Many members of our merchandising organization began their careers in this role and advanced into broader merchandising and leadership positions.

Role Summary

The Merchandise Specialist supports the day-to-day operations of Staples' Merchandising organization. In this role, you will help drive category performance through product management, promotional support, market research, competitive analysis, vendor coordination, and data analysis.

Working closely with Buyers, Merchandising leadership, and cross-functional business partners, you will assist with product launches, pricing activities, vendor communication, SKU maintenance, and reporting while gaining valuable exposure to the merchandising process from concept to execution.

What You'll Be Doing

• Support Buyers and Merchandising leadership with category management initiatives.
• Attend vendor meetings and collaborate on product plans and business opportunities.
• Conduct market research, competitive shopping, and trend analysis to identify growth opportunities.
• Assist with launching new products and supporting vendor onboarding activities.
• Manage SKU setup, vendor maintenance, and product information updates.
• Review, proof, and coordinate approval processes for digital and print marketing materials.
• Support pricing activities including price changes, markdowns, coupons, rebates, and price protection programs.
• Analyze sales reports and performance trends to support business decisions.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders across Merchandising, Marketing, Inventory Planning, Store Operations, and eCommerce.
• Respond to store inquiries regarding products, promotions, and vendor information.
• Maintain merchandising systems and ensure accuracy of product-related data.
• Participate in special projects and process improvement initiatives.

What You Bring to the Table

• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Interest in merchandising, retail, product management, or category management.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and identify trends.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Collaborative approach and willingness to work across multiple teams.
• Natural curiosity and desire to learn new concepts and business processes.
• Comfortable working with numbers, reports, and spreadsheets.
• Proactive mindset and willingness to take ownership of assignments.

What's Needed – Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree completed within the last 1-2 years or currently pursuing a degree in: 
  • Business
  • Merchandising
  • Marketing
  • Finance
  • Economics
  • Supply Chain
  • Related field
• Strong Microsoft Office experience.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Strong mathematical and analytical skills.
• Excellent organizational and time-management abilities.
• Ability to multitask while maintaining attention to detail.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

What's Needed – Preferred Qualifications

• Internship or work experience in Retail, Merchandising, Marketing, Category Management, eCommerce, Sales, or Business Analysis.
• Experience using Excel functions such as: 
  • Pivot Tables
  • VLOOKUP
  • SUMIF
  • IFERROR
• Interest in consumer products, retail trends, and market analysis.
• Experience working on team-based projects.
• Experience with data analysis or reporting.

Get great perks.

• Generous amount of paid time off, including one Floating Holiday each year
• Flexible work arrangements, including flexible work hours 
• 401(k) plan with company match, medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance with many more optional benefits
• Associate store discount and more perks (discounts on mobile plans, movie tickets, etc.)

The salary range represents the expected compensation for this role at the time of posting. The specific base pay may be influenced by a variety of factors to include the candidate's experience, skill set, education, business considerations, geography, and internal equity. 

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