Trade Show Specialist II

Carhartt, Inc.; Dearborn (MI); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Carhartt, Inc. in Dearborn, MI is seeking a Trade Show Specialist II to lead planning and execution of trade shows and brand experiences across North America.

You will own event roadmaps, product assortment planning, and visual merchandising, collaborating with Marketing, Merchandising, Product Marketing, and agencies to deliver engaging brand experiences.

The role requires managing budgets, coordinating agencies, and traveling up to 20% as needed; a hybrid on-site presence is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, Merchandising, Retail Marketing, Event Management, or related field required.
• Equivalent experience may be considered in lieu of degree.

Responsibilities

• Own the execution roadmap for 70+ annual trade shows and events across North America.
• Lead cross-functional event planning from kickoff to completion.
• Own product assortment planning and presentation strategy with Merchandising and Product Marketing.
• Develop and execute visual merchandising strategies that bring campaigns to life.
• Serve as the primary day-to-day lead for experiential agencies and production partners.
• Create and manage event briefs with objectives, audience targets, product priorities, and creative expectations.
• Lead floorplan development, product placement, and environmental design reviews.
• Manage event budgets, POs, invoices, and cost optimization opportunities.
• Partner with Project Management to ensure plans, schedules, and deliverables stay on track.
• Oversee onsite event setup and ensure merchandising standards and brand assets are implemented.
• Develop post-event evaluations, insights, and recommendations to improve future events.
• Build strong partnerships across Marketing, Sales, Merchandising, Product Marketing, Visual Merchandising, and agencies.

Skills

Experiential marketing

Trade show management

Event planning

Visual merchandising

Vendor management

Project management

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Marketing/related field

Job description

Position Details:

Title: Trade Show Specialist II

Department: Marketing

Reports to: Manager of Trade Shows

Location: Dearborn, MI

Job Classification: Hybrid

Job Summary

The Trade Show & Brand Experience Specialist II is responsible for leading the planning and execution of trade show and event experiences that bring the Carhartt brand to life across North America. This role owns event execution roadmaps, product assortment planning, visual merchandising implementation, and agency execution across a portfolio of trade shows, customer events, and brand activations.

Associate Responsibilities

• Own the execution roadmap for 70+ annual trade shows, customer events, industry activations, and brand experiences across North America.
• Lead cross-functional event planning and execution from seasonal kickoff through event completion.
• Own product assortment planning and presentation strategy for events in partnership with Merchandising, Product Marketing, Sales, and Marketing teams.
• Develop and execute visual merchandising strategies that bring seasonal campaigns and product stories to life.
• Serve as the primary day-to-day lead for experiential agencies and production partners.
• Create and manage event briefs communicating objectives, audience targets, product priorities, and creative expectations.
• Lead floorplan development, product placement, environmental design reviews, and event experience planning.
• Manage event budgets and expenses, including purchase orders, invoice reconciliation, and cost optimization opportunities.
• Partner with Project Management to ensure project plans, schedules, and deliverables remain on track.
• Oversee onsite event setup and execution ensuring approved merchandising standards and brand assets are implemented.
• Develop post-event evaluations, insights, and recommendations to improve future event effectiveness.
• Build strong partnerships across Marketing, Sales, Merchandising, Product Marketing, Visual Merchandising, and agencies.

Required Education

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, Merchandising, Retail Marketing, Event Management, or related field required. Equivalent experience may be considered in lieu of degree.

Required Skills & Experience

• 5+ years of experience in experiential marketing, trade show management, event marketing, visual merchandising, retail marketing, or related fields.
• Experience leading end-to-end execution of trade shows and branded environments.
• Strong visual merchandising expertise including product presentation, styling, fixture planning, and storytelling.
• Experience developing product assortments and translating business objectives into physical brand experiences.
• Experience managing agencies, vendors, budgets, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Strong project management, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to travel up to 20%.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Office environment.
• Travel up to 20%, including trade shows and customer events.
• Ability to stand for extended periods during events and participate in setup and teardown activities as needed.
• This position has a Hybrid location: Associate will work on-site regularly as needed for work activities.
• Carhartt is a tobacco free workplace.

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