Assistant Merchant

Northern Tool + Equipment; Burnsville (MN); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Competitive pay 59,600–85,000 with 401

Benefits package

Job summary

Northern Tool + Equipment is seeking an Assistant Merchant to drive sales and profitability across assigned categories, collaborating with cross-functional teams in a hybrid work model. Your top priority will be to support category management, assortment planning, and promotional execution while leveraging data to optimize performance across stores and ecommerce channels.

Ideal candidates have 1-3 years in merchandising or related fields, strong Excel and Power BI skills, and the ability to

Qualifications

• 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, or a related business function preferred.
• Experience analyzing business performance, inventory, pricing, promotions, or customer trends.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret data and make business recommendations.
• Strong organizational and communication skills with the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Skills

Merchandising

Category management

Data analysis

Price optimization

Forecasting

Power BI

Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Merchandising, Marketing, Finance, Economics, Supply Chain, or related field

Tools

Power BI

Excel

Job 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 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 function preferred.
• Experience analyzing business performance, inventory, pricing, promotions, or customer trends.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret data and make business recommendations.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships and work effectively across cross-functional teams.
• Detail-oriented with strong project management and follow-through skills.
• Ability to adapt quickly to changing business priorities and market conditions.
• Strong customer focus and understanding of the retail customer experience.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including data analysis, reporting, and financial modeling.
• Experience with Power BI, reporting tools, or merchandising systems preferred.
• Ability to travel occasionally as business needs require.
• Demonstrates Northern Tool + Equipment’s 12 Core Competencies

About Us

Northern Tool + Equipment is a family business with roots stretching back three generations to Minnesota’s Iron Range, where our blue-collar work ethic and commitment to serving the people who do the tough jobs was born. Our mission is to be the best in the world at serving the professional tradespeople and those who want to work like them. With over 130 retail stores across 24 states, top national brands and global manufacturing operations designed to create our own specialized tools and equipment, we are busting our knuckles to deliver the products, prices and advice our customers need to succeed. We’re looking for people who share our blue-collar work ethic. If you’re the kind of person who likes to put your nose to the grindstone to help your customers and company succeed, we’d love to talk to you about becoming a member of our team. Northern Tool + Equipment is proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Top Midsize Employer in 2023. We are committed to creating a workplace where your contributions are valued, and your professional growth is encouraged. When you join our team, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive and competitive compensation package that includes:

• Competitive Pay: Earn $59,600 to $85,000 annually, with your exact compensation personalized based on your skills, experience, and location. We believe in rewarding top talent with pay that reflects your value.
• Variable Pay: Variable pay is a component of compensation that can fluctuate based on performance, results, or specific metrics, rather than being a fixed amount like a salary. Annual bonus tied to company performance are paid annually. Incentive plans tied to an achievement-based outcome are generally paid monthly to quarterly.
  • The NTE AIP plan pay ranges from 5% to 100% of base salary. Eligibility is based on grade and roles that manage performance. Eligibility and payouts are outlined in the NTE AIP policy.
• Flexible Work Schedule: 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 4 days, Monday - Friday.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package: Your health and well-being are our priority. We offer a variety of health plans, so you can choose what best fits your needs. Employees working 30+ hours per week enjoy a robust benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, and a 401(k) plan with an enhanced company match to support your financial future.
• Generous Employee Discount: Love our products? So do we! Enjoy a significant discount on the quality tools and equipment we offer, helping you save on the items you love to use.
• Paid Holidays: Take time to relax and recharge with 7 paid federal holidays, because we know how important it is to have time for yourself and your loved ones.
  • Get Paid on Your Terms: With our Daily Pay option, you don’t have to wait for payday—access your earnings whenever you need them for added financial flexibility.

When you join Northern Tool + Equipment, you're not just starting a job—you're joining a community that supports your success. Come be a part of a team where your skills, dedication, and passion are recognized and celebrated. Your future starts here!