Strategic Merchandiser, Branded Merchandise - Staples Promotional Products (SPP)

Strategic Merchandiser, Branded Merchandise - Staples Promotional Products (SPP)

While you may know Staples as the world’s leading office supply company, Staples Promotional Products – a division of Staples – is a national leader in the promotional products industry. At Staples Promotional Products, we help customers build love for their brands with customized merchandise solutions. Whatever story they want to tell, connection they want to make, or goal they need to deliver, Staples Promo makes it easy to design promo experiences that create lasting impact. Join our winning team!

As a Strategic Merchandiser, Branded Merchandise, you’ll turn customer needs and brand objectives into creative merchandise strategies and compelling product collections. You’ll support some of our largest strategic corporate accounts, curating merchandise for branded e-commerce stores, seasonal campaigns, activations and special projects.

This is a highly collaborative and customer-facing role for someone who loves discovering great products but also understands that the why behind the product matters. You’ll research trends, source merchandise, build recommendations and present your ideas, explaining how each collection supports the customer’s brand, audience and business goals.

You’ll partner closely with Sales, Account Services, Business Development and vendor partners while using insights from past performance, industry trends and customer needs to influence what comes next.

What you’ll be doing:

• Develop and execute strategic merchandising plans and product assortments that support program revenue, margin and customer-retention goals.
• Curate creative, on-brand merchandise collections for strategic accounts, special orders, seasonal campaigns, activations and branded e-commerce stores.
• Present merchandise concepts and recommendations to customers and internal partners, clearly articulating the product story, sourcing rationale and connection to the customer's brand and goals.
• Source complex quote requests for high-profile customers, events and opportunities that require elevated creativity or present brand risk.
• Support international and export sourcing for eligible customer orders and provide guidance on licensing requirements, including professional sports licensing.
• Partner with Account Services, Business Development and Sales to clarify customer needs, develop creative recommendations and deliver merchandise within established timelines.
• Collaborate with vendor partners to communicate opportunity briefs, identify product solutions, secure pricing and proofs, and support vendor-placement KPIs.
• Use data and analytics to define assortments, establish pricing, evaluate performance and inform customer and vertical merchandising strategies.
• Monitor retail, promotional product and industry trends, then translate insights into trend reports, customer presentations and idea-generating collateral.
• Attend strategy meetings, trade shows and customer meetings to present merchandise assortments and provide product direction.
• Contribute to account reviews, product forecasting and new product introductions, ensuring ideas are delivered on time and on brand.
• Mentor and onboard Merchandising Specialists on account nuances, brand standards, trends and key industry events.
• Identify process improvements and help develop training, tools and presentation approaches that strengthen the customer and associate experience.

What you bring to the table:

• A customer-focused, strategic mindset with the ability to connect product recommendations to business goals and brand objectives.
• Strong written, verbal and presentation skills, with confidence communicating across internal teams, customers and vendor partners.
• Product curiosity and a passion for merchandise, retail trends and creative problem-solving.
• Sound judgment, professional acumen and the ability to navigate competing priorities and challenging stakeholder relationships.
• A collaborative, self-motivated approach and the flexibility to succeed in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Strong organization, attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects against business priorities and timelines.
• The ability to use internal resources and relationships to independently move work from concept through completion.

What’s needed- Basic Qualifications:

• 3+ years of relevant experience in product marketing, merchandising or a related field.
• 3+ Experience planning, managing and executing successful product ideas that support measurable business goals.
• Demonstrated ability to develop product recommendations that support an overarching business or customer strategy.
• Strong knowledge of product merchandising and industry trends, with the ability to learn and apply relevant product, sourcing and licensing requirements.
• Demonstrated project management and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize under pressure and meet established timelines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

What’s needed- Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Experience in promotional products merchandising, sourcing or purchasing.
• Knowledge of trends across industries that influence the promotional products business.
• Advanced strategic business acumen and strong math aptitude.
• Strong problem-solving skills and comfort using data and analytics to guide assortment and pricing decisions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook in addition to Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Experience mentoring, training or onboarding merchandising team members.
• Bilingual English/French communication skills.

We Offer:

• Inclusive culture with associate-led Business Resource Groups
• Vacation Allotment and Holiday Schedule
• Online and Retail Discounts, Company Match RRSP, Physical and Mental Health Wellness programs, and more!