Associate Merchant - Fans, Firelogs, Weatherproofing

Walmart•Bentonville, AR

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Merchant supports category management by assisting with supplier negotiations, purchase order management, and item setup for both stores and online channels. This role collaborates cross-functionally to ensure accurate product content, supports promotional activities, and leverages data analysis to inform category performance. The Associate Merchant contributes to budgeting, forecasting, and modular assortment execution while maintaining strong vendor relationships. This position requires a detail-oriented approach to enhance the customer experience and drive business results through effective communication, problem-solving, and adherence to company policies and standards. The Department 11 Hardware and Fans & Winter team is dedicated to being America’s preferred local hardware and home comfort resource by offering affordable, accessible, and high quality products. Focusing on the Fans and Winter (Fire-logs, Weatherproofing) category, the team delivers exceptional quality and value through a broad assortment that solves for all customers’ year around comfort needs. Operating in a fast-paced, highly penetrated seasonal business, the team builds assortments that balance essentials, style, function, innovation, and value while adapting quickly to changing weather, market trends, and customer comfort preferences.

Requirements

Proven experience in vendor relationship management and supplier negotiations within retail or related sectors.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales, market trends, and category performance data to inform business decisions.
Proficiency in managing purchase orders, item setup, and category administration to ensure operational accuracy.
Ability to collaborate cross-functionally to resolve supplier issues and support merchandising and promotional activities.
Knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance tracking to support category objectives and financial targets.
Effective communication skills to collaborate and guide suppliers and coordinate with internal teams.
Commitment to upholding company policies, ethics, and customer-focused business practices.
2 years’ experience in merchandising, buying, financial planning, operations, or related area.

Nice To Haves

Microsoft Office
Negotiating with third-party suppliers
Pricing, site merchandising, planning or inventory, or related area
Bachelors: Business
Bachelors: Merchandising

Responsibilities

Support senior merchant in supplier negotiations, purchase orders, supplier issue resolution, and new supplier setup across stores and online for assigned categories.
Own customer communication and education, ensuring accurate product content, taxonomy, and search guidelines.
Analyze performance and reporting to support budgeting, forecasting, sales, and financial planning.
Develop and execute feature proposals, modular assortments, and promotional strategies across channels.
Execute and recommend item setup, pricing, assortment, sample management, and product configuration to optimize inventory and customer experience.
Collaborate with partners and provide project and administrative support to drive category strategy, management initiatives, and execution.