Marketing Strategy Internship

Do it Best; Fort Wayne (IN); On-site; USD 21,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentoring from business leaders

Lunch and learns with Executives

HR development sessions

College credit

Job summary

Do it Best in Fort Wayne, IN invites a Marketing Strategy Intern for Summer 2027 to support the development of a comprehensive 2028 marketing plan. This hands-on role focuses on strengthening retailer understanding and participation in the True Value brand.

The internship, May 17–August 13, 2027, is paid hourly with local candidates encouraged to apply. A college credit option may be available, and no relocation assistance is provided.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, Public Relations, or related field.
• Coursework or projects related to marketing strategy, market research, branding, or communications.
• Experience creating presentations, marketing content, or research through coursework, internships, student organizations, or personal projects preferred.

Responsibilities

• Create strategic recommendations that demonstrate the value proposition of True Value and Do it Best Group.
• Develop creative communications for the brand program (sizzle reels, one pagers, podcasts, email marketing, paid social ads targeted at retailers).
• Conduct market and competitor research across independent home improvement and retail cooperative landscape.
• Evaluate competitor positioning, messaging, retailer support programs, marketing investments, and recruitment strategies.
• Provide differentiation and competitive advantage recommendations.
• Gather insights from marketing materials, retailer feedback, and industry trends.
• Analyze opportunities to enhance brand awareness and perceptions.
• Present findings and recommendations to marketing leadership.

Skills

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Research and analysis

Team collaboration

Curiosity and learning

PowerPoint

Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree in Marketing or related field (pursuing)

Tools

PowerPoint

Excel

Job description

Summer 2027 - May 17th through August 13th

Location: Fort Wayne, IN

Level:Intern

Division / Department: Marketing / Brand Management

Reporting to position: Brand and Marketing Manager

About the Role:

The Marketing Strategy Intern will play a key role in developing a comprehensive 2028 marketing plan designed to strengthen retailer understanding, engagement, and participation in the True Value brand. This internship offers a unique opportunity to work on a high-impact strategic initiative that will help communicate the advantages of being part of the True Value network and the broader Do it Best organization.

This is a temporary position beginning in May 2027 and ending in August 2027. This internship is paid on an hourly basis.

No relocation is offered, candidates must be local to the Fort Wayne, Indiana area for the Summer 2027 timeframe.

The Intern may also be able to use this opportunity towards university/college credit.

Responsibilities include:

• Create strategic recommendations that demonstrate the value proposition of the True Value and Do it Best Group.
• Build out creative ways to communicate the value of the brand program (sizzle reels, one pagers , podcasts, email marketing, paid social ads targe te d towards retailers, etc.)
• Conduct market and competitor research across the independent home improvement, hardware, and retail cooperative landscape
• Evaluate competitor positioning, messaging, retailer support programs, marketing investments, and recruitment strategies
• Provide recommendations for differentiation and competitive advantage
• Gather insights from existing marketing materials, retailer feedback, and industry trends
• Analyze opportunities to enhance awareness and perception of the True Value brand
• Present findings and recommendations to marketing leadership

Education and Experience:

• Pursuing a bachelor's degree in Marketing , Communications, Busines s, Public Relations, or a related field
• Prior coursework or projects related to marketing strategy, market research, consumer behavior, branding, or communications
• Experience creating presentations, marketing content, or conducting research through coursework, internships, student organizations, or personal projects preferred
• Interest in retail, consumer marketing, branding, or business strategy

Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Interest in learning how to support content development, video concepts, email marketing, and social media messaging
• Curiosity and enthusiasm for asking questions, exploring new ideas , and learning through research
• A creative mindset and willingness to contribute ideas while learning how marketing recommendations are developed
• Interest in building research and analytical skills , including identifying trends, reviewing competitors, and summarizing findings
• Comfort working with basic data, feedback, and market information
• Basic familiarity with Microsoft Office applications, especially PowerPoint and Excel
• Ability to complete assigned tasks with guidance and collaborate positively with team members
• Dependability, organization, and attention to detail
• Willingness to share ideas, ask for feedback, and build confidence presenting to others

Benefits available to you:

• Helpful mentoring from business leaders within Marketing and other departments
• Lunch and learns with Executives
• Development sessions with HR
• College credit

About Do it Best:

Headquartered in Fort Wayne, IN, the Do it Best Group is the world's largest hardware, lumber, and building materials buying cooperative in the home improvement industry. With nearly $6 billion in annual sales, we support thousands of independently owned locations across the United States and in more than 60 countries worldwide. Partners in the company have the flexibility to operate under the Do it Best, True Value, or their own local store identities, offering a diverse range of branding options to best serve their communities.

Culture:

Each team member is valued as an individual - with their intrinsic value at the forefront. We prioritize your career growth through one-on-one training, conferences, tuition assistance, mentoring and more. We encourage authentic relationships by hosting social events and fostering a culture where lasting friendships are made. In fact, the three most valued aspects of being a part of the Do it Best team are the culture, the compensation, and the level of fulfillment that each team member experiences from their role.

Our Philosophy:

Serving others as we would like to be served

Our Mission:

Making the best even better

Our Goal:

Helping members grow and achieve their dreams