Merchandising Specialist

**Staples is business to business **. You’re what binds us together.

Staples Promotional Products is the world's most trusted source for branded merchandise. As an unprecedented 11-time winner of the Distributor of the Year Award and the highest-ranking Canadian distributor on the North American Top 40 list, we are committed to providing outstanding service and exceptional value. That's why companies large and small, all over the world, turn to us for the resources they need to increase brand reach and visibility.

**What you’ll be doing**:
This position is an integral component of the Staples Promotional Products’ digital and marketing eco-system, responsible for enabling budgeted sales and margin through staplespromo.ca. Main responsibilities include executing a customer-centric product strategy in tandem with the eCommerce Manager, Strategic Merchandiser, Digital Marketing, and Merchandising teams in Canada and the United States.
- Work with Strategic Merchandiser to develop and execute the strategic merchandising plan to achieve budgeted goals in sales and margin in a competitive digital eco-system
- Review category and product movement while utilizing the data and retail trends to drive merchandising recommendations.
- Source and recommend merchandise solutions, including decoration/embellishment/custom artwork as required, and provide this merchandise selection within timing of critical path.
- Continually source new and exciting products and imprinting techniques.
- Continually look for opportunities to consolidate spend and increase profitability, including negotiating pricing with suppliers as required.
- Manage the internal spreadsheet containing all product details, category assortment, merchandise collections, and product pricing.
- Control and maintain margins within set guidelines for Staplepromo.ca.
- Utilize Gateway and SPPOne to execute product refreshes, category association, price changes, and product updates.
- Produce accurate and creative copy writing describing products featured on Staplespromo.ca while adhering to consistent copy writing standards.
- Present merchandise selections to Team through data-driven/trend research and analysis - be able to speak to why products were selected and relate to Staplespromo.ca objectives.
- Effectively partner with the Strategic Merchandiser and eCommerce Manager to execute product strategy, category penetration and solve everyday opportunities and challenges with the transactional website.
- Remain current on preferred and industry supplier products and services.

**What you bring to the table**:

- You have an ability to be creative, problem-solve and innovate.
- You are knowledgeable on decoration processes.
- You are detail-oriented, have strong organizational skills and can prioritize, multi-task and work under tight deadlines.
- You are results-driven, always striving to meet/exceed goals.
- You are collaborative in nature, able to participate positively in a team atmosphere.

**What’s needed**:

- Qualifications
- Minimum 2-3 Years relevant work experience in product marketing, merchandising or related field.
- Bi-lingual an asset but not required.
- High level of creativity.
- Strong communication skills.
- Highly organized and strong attention to detail.
- Product development capabilities/experience is an asset.
- Strong PC skills - primarily Excel, PPT, and Word.

**We Offer**:

- Remote work.
- Competitive salary.
- Inclusive culture with associate-led Business Resource Groups and resources such as the Social Justice Resource Centre.
- Flexible PTO and Holiday Schedule (10 observed paid holidays), Online and Retail Discounts, Company Match RRSP, Benefits and Physical and Mental Health Wellness programs.
- Growth & development opportunities.