Intern - Merchandising Leadership Development Program

Harbor Freight Tools; Calabasas (CA); On-site; USD 54,000 - 73,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentorship

Hands-on experience

Paid sick time

Paid holiday time

Job summary

Harbor Freight Tools offers a Merchandising Internship Program for college students and recent graduates to gain hands-on experience shaping products, assortments, and in-store experiences. The 10-week program provides exposure to multiple disciplines across retail and meaningful work from day one.

Interns work alongside Merchandising leaders and cross-functional partners, tackling projects in assortment, pricing, promotions, space, and product presentation while receiving coaching and

Qualifications

• College student or recent graduate seeking hands-on retail experience.
• Interest in merchandising, product presentation, and promotions.
• Willingness to work in a fast-paced retail environment with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Partner with category owners to analyze the business using data, customer insights, and competitive research to identify opportunities across assortment, pricing, promotions, space, and product presentation
• Support product and assortment strategy by evaluating market opportunities, customer needs, new products, and category performance
• Elevate the store experience through stronger product and brand storytelling, intuitive navigation, promotional presentation, and customer‑focused store design
• Optimize space and planogram performance using data and testing to improve SKU placement, adjacencies, space productivity, and execution
• Support new initiatives by helping move projects from concept through development, implementation, and in‑store execution
• Collaborate across the business with Merchandising, Store Environment, Store Operations, Inventory, Sourcing, Forecasting, Marketing, Quality Assurance, Product Experts, and other key partners
• Develop and present a capstone project to senior leadership focused on a real business opportunity identified with your direct leadership team
• Other duties as assigned

Job description

Merchandising is the lifeblood of all great retail companies – and Harbor Freight is no exception. The Merchandising department determines what products are sold, how they are priced and how they are promoted in-store, in print and in digital. We’re looking for the next generation of great leaders to join our Merchandising team and gain hands on experience to learn the retail business.

Harbor Freight’s Merchandising Internship Program gives college students and recent graduates hands‑on experience helping shape the products, assortments, and in‑store experiences that serve our customers. During this 10‑week program, interns work alongside Merchandising leaders and cross‑functional partners to take ownership over projects where you will tackle some of the most critical questions facing our business. Depending on the assignment, you may help optimize a product category, support new product and assortment strategies, improve how products are presented and navigated in our stores, or identify new opportunities to drive sales and improve the customer experience. This internship provides exposure to multiple disciplines across retail and gives you the opportunity to contribute meaningful work from day one.

Merchandising Interns will experience a fast paced, dynamic work environment. We live our core principles daily and value an organization of diverse individuals and backgrounds. As an intern, you will receive continuous coaching & mentorship – we are passionate about our work and we will make sure you receive both formal guidance as well as regular mentorship from your manager and others.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Partner with category owners to analyze the business using data, customer insights, and competitive research to identify opportunities across assortment, pricing, promotions, space, and product presentation
• Support product and assortment strategy by evaluating market opportunities, customer needs, new products, and category performance
• Elevate the store experience through stronger product and brand storytelling, intuitive navigation, promotional presentation, and customer‑focused store design
• Optimize space and planogram performance using data and testing to improve SKU placement, adjacencies, space productivity, and execution
• Support new initiatives by helping move projects from concept through development, implementation, and in‑store execution
• Collaborate across the business with Merchandising, Store Environment, Store Operations, Inventory, Sourcing, Forecasting, Marketing, Quality Assurance, Product Experts, and other key partners
• Develop and present a capstone project to senior leadership focused on a real business opportunity identified with your direct leadership team
• Other duties as assigned

Scope

• Staff supervision and development: No
• Decision making:
  • Limited
• Travel: Up to 5%
• Flex Designation: Anywhere
  

The anticipated rate for this position is $45.70 per hour depending on location, knowledge, skills, education and experience. Associates can accrue paid sick time up to 64 hours per year unless otherwise required by law. The Company observes 100 hours of paid holiday time.