The Merchandising Manager is responsible for driving the end-to-end financial performance and competitive positioning of assigned product categories. This role involves the development and execution of category strategies, identification and optimization of sourcing opportunities, vendor management, assortment planning, pricing optimization, introduction of new products, and category data analysis and insights. The Merchandising Manager ensures the alignment of omni-channel (i.e., in-store and digital) merchandising initiatives with overall company goals and market trends to maximize store profitability, grow market share, and improve customer satisfaction. The Merchandise Manager operates under limited direction on categories and channels of moderate complexity and scope. \n

Essential Responsibilities\n

Strategy Development & Planning\n

Develop and implement strategic plans for assigned categories to achieve financial objectives.\n

Define category-specific goals, pricing strategies, and promotional plans.\n

Conduct market research to understand trends, customer needs, and competitive landscape.\n

Monitor and analyze sales, tickets, profit margins, inventory turns, and gross margin return on investment (GMROI).\n

Identify and capitalize on growth opportunities within categories.\n

Prepare and manage category budgets, forecasting, and relevant financial reports.\n

Analyze product performance and customer feedback to curate a compelling and profitable product assortment for assigned categories.\n
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Product Merchandising\n

Develop a strong understanding of the overall industry, products, and product applications. \n

Implement strategies for new product introductions and phase-out of underperforming products.\n

Ensure consistency and accuracy of product information, pricing, and promotions across all channels, including in-store planograms, visual merchandising signage, ProSource, and digital product landing pages.\n

Conduct in-depth analysis and create assortment recommendations based on category performance metrics, customer behavior, competition, product innovations, and other market trends.\n

Utilize data-driven insights to make timely and informed decisions that drive category growth.\n

Prepare and deliver regular reports and presentations for senior management on category performance and strategic initiatives.\n

Adhere to business calendar planning deadlines and merchandising, planning, and inventory (MP&I) processes for category strategies, assortment planning, seasonal products, promotional activities, printed materials, and other relevant workstreams. \n

Conduct competitive shops and evaluate competitor assortment, pricing, promotions, and planograms. Develop plans and strategies to assess and operationalize findings. \n

Visit Batteries Plus store locations to gather customer and store associate feedback on category and product-related opportunities.\n

Relationship Management\n

In partnership with sourcing, identify, evaluate, and establish relationships with key vendors and suppliers. \n

Negotiate contracts, terms, and pricing to ensure cost-effective sourcing and strong vendor partnerships.\n

Continuously assess and optimize vendor performance.\n

Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including marketing, sales, sourcing, quality, demand planning, and store operations to ensure product availability and effective promotion.\n

In partnership with the Pricing team, maintain pricing strategies aligned with the category strategy and overall company goals, including analysis of consumer pricing indexes (CPIs), category architecture\/line structures, and other relevant market or competitor analysis. \n

Engage with franchisees and store associates to obtain category feedback and improve program and product adoption by crafting a compelling value proposition.\n

In Partnership with the Ecomm team, develop and execute omnichannel merchandising strategies that align with customer behavior and preferences.\n

Partner with other key internal and external partners, such as training, to achieve category objectives and successfully launch initiatives.\n
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Other Duties\n

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.\n
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Qualifications\n

Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Merchandising, Marketing, or related field required.\n

4 or more years of product management, category management, merchant, buyer, or planner experience.\n

Working knowledge of MS Office and\/or Google Suite. Experience with Microsoft Excel and\/or Google Sheets is strongly preferred. Looker experience is a plus.\n

Up to 10% domestic and\/or international travel with overnight stays possible.\n
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Physical Requirements \/ Work Environment\n

The physical demands required to perform the essential responsibilities of this position are as follows. Reasonable accommodations, if necessary and\/or as required by law, will be made available.\n

The position requires the employee to regularly sit, use hands to handle or touch, talk, hear, and occasionally lift up to twenty pounds.\n

Special vision requirements include close vision and color vision.\n

This position requires regular use of a computer, copier, fax machine, and other standard office equipment.\n

The level of noise in the office-working environment is quiet.\n

Ability to travel on a national level (<10%).\n
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Affirmative Action \/ EEO Statement\n

It is the policy of Batteries Plus to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.