MARKETING - MERCHANDISING POSITIONS AT WALLACE

EASY START / ENDCAP COORDINATOR

The Easy Start / Endcap Coordinator is responsible for the planning, coordination, execution, and ongoing management of Wallace Distribution Company's EasyStart programs, dealer endcap promotions, promotional assortments, and related merchandising initiatives.

This position serves as a key link between Purchasing, Vendors, Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Wallace dealers to ensure promotional programs are properly developed, communicated, executed, and measured.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, comfortable working with vendors and internal departments, and understands that successful merchandising is more than putting products on a list - it is putting the right products, at the right price, in the right location, with the right promotion, at the right time.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

EasyStart Program Management

• Coordinate the development and maintenance of Wallace EasyStart programs and assortments.
• Work with buyers to identify appropriate products for EasyStart programs based on sales history, margin, inventory availability, dealer demand, vendor support, and strategic importance.
• Maintain accurate product information, pricing, programs, UPC's. descriptions, images, vendor information, and promotional details.
• Coordinate vendor participation, pricing, programs, rebates, dating, freight allowances, and other promotional support.
• Ensure all EasyStart products meet established program requirements and deadlines.
• Monitor program performance and make recommendations for additions, deletions, substitutions, or changes.
• Work with Purchasing and IT to ensure programs information is accurately reflected in the ERP system, website, dealer materials, and other applicable systems.

Endcap & Promotional Coordination

• Coordinate Wallace endcap promotions from initial concept through completion.
• Work with buyers and vendors to develop compelling endcap assortments that provide dealers with profitable, saleable merchandise.
• Obtain and maintain vendor pricing, promotional allowances, images, product information, displays, and other materials required for each promotion.
• Develop and maintain endcap product lists and supporting information.
• Coordinate promotional pricing and verify that all pricing and product information is accurate before release.
• Monitor inventory levels and availability to help prevent promoting products that cannot be adequately supplied.
• Coordinate with vendors regarding replenishment, special buys, displays, point-of-sale materials, and promotional support.
• Maintain a calendar of upcoming endcaps and promotional programs and communicate deadlines to all involved parties.
• Assist with creating promotional materials, digital content, show materials, dealer communications, and other marketing support.

Vendor Coordination

• Serve as a primary day-to-day contact for vendors participating in EasyStart and endcap programs.
• Request promotional pricing, rebates, co-op funds, displays, samples, images, product information, and other vendor support.
• Follow up with vendors to ensure commitments and deadlines are met.
• Develop professional relationships with vendor representatives while protecting Wallace's pricing, margin, and promotional objectives.
• Identify opportunities for additional vendor participation and promotional support.
• Escalate pricing, inventory, service, or vendor issues to the appropriate buyer or manager.

Sales & Dealer Support:

• Provide the Wallace sales team with accurate and timely information regarding EasyStart and endcap programs.
• Prepare program information for sales meetings, dealer markets, roadshows, and other sales events.
• Assist sales representatives with questions regarding promotional products, pricing, availability, displays, and program requirements.
• Help develop dealer-facing materials that clearly communicate the value and profitability of promotional programs.
• Monitor dealer feedback and communicate opportunities or problems to Purchasing and Merchandising.

• Assist in identifying products and promotions that can help independent dealers increase sales and improve merchandise representation.

Data & Performance Management

• Track sales performance of EasyStart programs and endcap promotions.
• Monitor sales, gross margin, inventory levels, sell-through, vendor participation, and other appropriate performance metrics.
• Prepare periodic reports showing program performance.
• Identify slow-moving or underperforming promotional items and make recommendations for corrective action.
• Help establish measurable goals for promotional programs.
• Analyze results to determine which promotions should be repeated, modified, expanded, or deleted.
• Maintain accurate spreadsheets, reports, calendars, and program documentation.

Merchandising Support

• Assist with development and maintenance of planograms, product assortments, endcap layouts, and promotional displays.
• Work with Merchandise Manager and buyers to ensure assortments are appropriate for Wallace's independent dealer base.
• Help coordinate product images, descriptions, dimensions, case quantities, and other information needed for merchandising and marketing.
• Assist with store layout, merchandising, and dealer projects as needed.
• Stay informed about industry trends, competitive assortments, new products,and emerging merchandising opportunities.

CROSS-FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The EasyStart / Encap Coordinator will walk closely with:

• Purchasing and Buyers
• Merchandising Management
• Sales Representatives and Regional Sales Managers
• Marketing
• E-Commerce
• IT
• Operations / Distribution
• Vendors and Manufacturer Representatives
• Wallace Dealers

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• High school diploma or equivalent, associate or bachelor's degree preferred.
• 2+ years of experience in merchandise, wholesale distribution, retail, marketing, vendor coordination, or a related field.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and related Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to management projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with vendors, salespeople, buyers, and internal departments.
• Ability to analyze sales and inventory information and make practical recommendations.

Preferred

• Experience in hardware, home improvement, farm/agriculture, lawn & garden, paint, tools, LBM, or related distribution.
• Experience working with wholesale distribution or dealer networks.
• Experience with ERP systems and product databases.
• Experience with planograms, endcaps, promotional programs, or retail merchandising.
• Familiarity with gross margin, inventory turns, sell-though, GMROI, and other merchandising metrics.
• Experience working with manufacturer representatives and vendor programs.

KEY COMPETENCIES

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• Organization - Able to manage numerous programs, vendors, products, and deadlines without losing track of details.
• Attention to Details - Understands that incorrect pricing, UPCs, product information, quantities, or dates can negatively affect both Wallace and its dealers.
• Communication - Communicates clearly and professionally with vendors, buyers, salespeople, and management.
• Ownership - Takes responsibility for seeing a program through from initial concept to completion rather than simply passing information between departments.
• Analytical Thinking - Uses sales, margin, inventory, and other data to make decisions rather than relying solely on opinion.
• Merchandising Sense - Understands what makes a product assortment attractive and profitable for an independent dealer.
• Vendor Relationship Skills - Builds productive vendor relationships while negotiating and protecting Wallace's interests.
• Problem Solving - Identifies issues early and works proactively to resolve them.
• Teamwork - Works cooperatively across departments and understands that successful programs require coordination throughout the company.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Success in this position will be measured though factors including:

• On-time completion of EasyStart and endcap programs.
• Accuracy of pricing, product information, and promotional materials.
• Vendor participation and vendor program support obtained.
• Sales performance of EasyStart and endcap programs.
• Gross margin performance.
• Inventory sell-through and inventory productivity.
• Reduction in promotional errors and execution issues.
• Dealer and sales-team satisfaction.
• Number and quality of new promotional opportunities developed.
• Ability to meet established program deadlines.
• Overall contribution to Wallace sales and profitability.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

This position operates primarily in an office environment but may occasionally require travel to vendor meetings, dealer locations, trade shows, dealer markets, and other Wallace events.

Occasional extended hours may be required around dealer markets, major promotional deadlines, or special projects.

POSITION OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of the EasyStart / Endcap Coordinator is to help Wallace turn vendor opportunities and product assortments into profitable sales for Wallace and its dealers.

The successful candidate will not simply coordinate promotions. They will help Wallace continually improve its merchandising programs by identifying opportunities, coordinating the people and information necessary to execute them, measuring results, and using those results to make better decisions.

• JOB TYPE: Full Time
• SALARY: Based on Experience
• BENEFITS:
  401(k)
  Health Insurance
  Dental & Vision Insurance
  Life Insurance
  Paid Time Off
  Employee Discount