About Ace Retail Holdings

Ace Retail Holdings (ARH), the division of Ace Hardware Corporation that owns and operates the Great Lakes and Westlake Ace Hardware chains, is one of the largest hardware retailers in the United States.  ARH has been in operation for over a century and operates over 220 neighborhood stores located throughout the United States.  Great people make ARH stand out in our industry, and we are looking for individuals who strive for personal and professional growth, and who want to work with a company dedicated to serving our customers and communities.

Service, Passion, Respect, Integrity, Teamwork and Excellence

Job Title:    Associate Category Manager
Department:    Merchandising
Reports To:    Senior Category Manager, Merchandising
Exemption Status:    Exempt (Salaried)

About Westlake Ace Hardware
Ace Retail Holdings, the division of Ace Hardware Corporation that owns and operates the Westlake Ace Hardware chain, is one of the largest hardware retailers in the United States.  Headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas, Westlake Ace Hardware has been in operation for over a century and operates over 150 neighborhood stores located throughout the United States.  Great people make Westlake stand out in our industry, and we are looking for individuals who strive for personal and professional growth, and who want to work with a company founded on (and still led by) our solid Core Values of: 
Service, Passion, Respect, Integrity, Teamwork and Excellence
General Job Summary                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The Associate Category Manager is responsible for developing merchandising strategies and delivering profitable sales results that support the identified business segments, working closely with cross-functional partners throughout the organization. Position will directly manage Dept 30A: Flashlights/Lighting & Supplies and will support Midwest Nursery planning in conjunction with Nursery Category Manager.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
Assortment Strategy and Management
•    Leads the category development for Dept 30A: Flashlights/Lighting and Supplies (includes batteries, light bulbs, solar lighting, etc.)
o    Develop quality product assortments that drive sales and profitable growth in the key categories, leveraging Ace planograms, assortments, and fixtures presentations where possible.
o    Provide strategic direction for the development of advertising and marketing initiatives to drive sales and transaction growth.
o    Identify localized opportunities to ensure a merchandise assortment that meets the needs of the varied consumer base where appropriate (B2B, DIY, Rural, Urban, etc.).
•    Supports Midwest Nursery assortment planning, pre-season ordering, and vendor management in conjunction with Nursery Category Manager. 
•    Analyze and monitor sales, trends, and economic conditions within a specific category to anticipate consumer buying patterns.
•    Maintain strong understanding of the competition, the marketplace and industry. Monitor competitors’ sales activities, product assortments, and pricing by reviewing daily/weekly print and electronic advertisements, as well as store visits.
Financial Accountability
•    Accountability and management of financial Key Performance Indicators for Dept 30A, Flashlights/Lighting & Supplies, including sales, net margin, sell-through and GMROI (gross margin return on investment) including development of semiannual forecasts to support Sr. Management planning activities.
•    Negotiate costs, discounts, rebates, VPP (Vendor Partnership Program) and freight terms for assigned categories.
•    Support Midwest Nursery Department by evaluating Key Performance Indicators.

Sourcing and Procurement
•    Establish and maintain strategic supplier relationships, aligning suppliers, products, and services to meet the needs of the business.
•    Work in collaboration with inventory management to determine demand forecasts for everyday and promotional opportunities.
•    Attend trade shows to identify product opportunities and enhance business relationships.
•    Support Nursery Category Manager in the identification of new nursery partners in the development and execution of plant orders and grower relationships.

Leadership and Management
•    Define and implement departmental strategic objectives with both short and long-term plans developed.
•    Strategic and tactical ownership, accountability, and execution for the assigned product category Line Review process.
•    Demonstrate effective presentation skills of merchandising strategies to ensure buy-in and engagement across the entire organization.
•    Serve as project manager for merchandising-driven initiatives in support of key categories. 

Partnership and Collaboration with Cross-Functional Teams including
•    Store Operations on the understanding of market and customer needs.
•    Inventory management to ensure optimal in-stock levels and exit strategies.
•    Marketing/Visual Merchandising to deliver improved in-store presentation, Point-of-Purchase materials, and marketing strategies.
•    Develop strong working relationships with Ace counterparts to fully leverage available product assortments, customer research and partner on strategic initiatives to further category performance.
•    Support the Nursery Category Manager position in a collaborative environment.  

Other Essential Requirements
Ability to exhibit and incorporate our Core Values into daily decisions and interactions with others:
o    SERVICE – Amaze our customers, our associates and our communities by delivering on our helpful promise.
o    PASSION – Showing our love for the work we do, our customers, and our associates.
o    RESPECT – A humble appreciation that a diverse and inclusive workplace makes us a stronger and better company and that every person is unique and valued.
o    INTEGRITY – An authentic commitment to moral and ethical behavior.
o    TEAMWORK – Together we can achieve extraordinary things.
o    EXCELLENCE– A disciplined approach to achieve outstanding results through continuous improvement.

Minimum Skills, Requirements and Qualifications
•    BS/BA Degree in Business Management preferred, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
•    Interest or past work in Merchandising or Buying.
•    Solid understanding of retail operations, relationship sales skills, business fundamentals, merchandising strategies and assortment planning.
•    Knowledge of the neighborhood hardware store B2B and DIY customer.
•    Preferred background in Nursery industry.
•    Refined interpersonal skills to engage with others both written and verbal.
•    Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic business environment.
•    Demonstrated organizational skills and attention to detail.
•    Ability to work independently, be highly self-motivated.
•    Familiarity with modern marketing techniques in electronic, digital, and social media platforms.
•    Proven ability to successfully lead teams backed with strong project management skills.
•    Analytical thinker, team player, customer-focused, business minded.
•    Understanding of Microsoft 365 programs; Excel, Word, Teams, Power Point
•    Strong working knowledge of Excel (charts, VLOOKUP’s, data manipulation and macro execution). 
•    Travel as required.
•    Standing, walking, lifting (up to 25lbs) and climbing.
 

Compensation Details

$45000 - $75000

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Equal Opportunity Employer
Westlake Ace Hardware is committed to a policy of promoting equal employment opportunities. The company recognizes the importance of diversity and leveraging the skills and talents of all people to the mutual advantage of each individual and the organization. The company is committed to the prevention of employment discrimination related to race, religion, color, sex (including sexual harassment), gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, disability and military discharge, or any other action covered by federal or state laws.