2023 Internship - Merchandise Buying

Compensation Details:

$22.00 per hour

Why should you join our team?

We live our values - W.E.L.I.G.H.T (Winning, Excellence, Love, Integrity, Gratitude, Humility, and Teamwork). Gratitude. Humility. Love. You don't often see values like these in most corporate statements, but Ace is different. These things are important to us. They represent our commitment to the company, our employees, to Ace retailers and to the Ace brand.

Job Description:

Merchandise Buying Internship

Are you interested in becoming Ace helpful?

Ace has been named a Top Workplace in Chicago & we're looking for the best people to help us fulfill our vision of being the best, most helpful hardware stores on the planet. We're focused on the future, looking for new & better ways to compete in today's marketplace. At Ace, we like to say that we have a soft heart, a steel spine - & we like to win. People are the foundation of what makes Ace great, & we're always looking for ways to improve the employment experience for Ace team members. What we can promise you is that you will gain a sense of accountability & ownership by working hard to build Ace's continued success, & your own. You'll enjoy a competitive, fast-paced and friendly work environment. And, you'll take pride in serving our Ace retail stores & their customers in neighborhoods across the country and around the world.

2023 Summer Internship Program

The Ace Internship program allows you to apply skills and knowledge you're learning in College today, while contributing in a hands-on environment to fit your career objectives, complement your academic work and enhance your learning. Here's what you will take away from your experience this summer:

• Real hands-on experience in your assigned department/function with day-to-day projects, responsibilities, accountabilities and deadlines.

• Opportunity to partner with other interns over the summer on a Capstone project, presenting your findings and recommendations to Ace's Leadership

• Q & A with Ace's CEO and Senior Leadership team

• Resume Workshop to help you prepare for future opportunities

• Opportunity to volunteer through the Ace Hardware Foundation

• Teambuilding activities and more.

About this Opportunity

The Merchandise Buying Intern will be responsible for the following:

• Build and design retailer and consumer facing marketing and sales material to support key brands and vendors

• Partner with vendors to improve Item content on ecommerce site to enhance the customer shopping experience

• Cross functional collaboration with Marketing, Category Management, Inventory, Supply Chain, Pricing and Merchandising Operations departments for successful program launch and implementation

• Support merchants with vendor and item selection, program execution and promotional strategy

• Coordinate retailer communication for the department

• Assist with prep for semi-annual convention

Job Requirements

The ideal intern will possess the following:

• Working towards a bachelor's degree in the following area(s): Business, Marketing, Retail Merchandising, Management, and/or any related majors

• Entering senior year of college or graduating seniors

• Strong oral and written communication skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

• Proficient in the Microsoft Office Suite

• Adaptability and ability to learn quickly in high-pressure environments

• Ambitious self-starter who has demonstrated the ability to contribute as an effective team member with minimal supervision

• Excellent time management and organizational skills

• Demonstrated motivation and initiative to succeed

• Retail experience a plus

• Knowledge and interest in Ace Hardware Corporation

• Ability to work 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday for 12 weeks

• Willingness and ability to give presentations to colleagues, managers and directors

Our Company

For almost 100 years, Ace Hardware has been known as the place with the helpful hardware folks in thousands of neighborhoods across America, providing customers with a more personal kind of helpful. Notable awards in 2022 include Ranked #14 Top Illinois Workplace by the Chicago Tribune and Ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction by JD Power for the last 15 out of 16 years. With more than 5,000 hardware stores locally owned and operated across the globe, Ace is the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the world. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., Ace and its subsidiaries operate an expansive network of distribution centers in the U.S. and also have distribution capabilities in Ningbo, China; Colon, Panama; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Its retailers' stores are located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and approximately 55 countries.

We want to hear from you!

When most people think of career opportunities with Ace Hardware, they often think of the helpful cashiers and sales associates at their local store. However, have you also considered the people behind the scenes who select, promote, ship and process the invoices for more than 75,000 products? Maybe you haven't, but we'd like you to. Because together we help our customers take care of their homes. Come find out why a career with the Ace Hardware Corporation is one of America's best kept secrets.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Ace Hardware Corporation and its subsidiaries are committed to a policy of promoting equal employment opportunities. The company recognizes the importance of diversity and leveraging the skills and talents of all people to the mutual advantage of each individual and the organization. The company is committed to the prevention of employment discrimination related to race, religion, color, sex (including sexual harassment), gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, disability and military or veteran status, sexual orientation or any other action covered by federal or applicable state/local laws.

Disclaimer

The pay range for this position starts as listed in the job posting, but could be higher based on education and experience. Please note, compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each opening. We take into consideration the minimum requirements outlined in the job description, such as an individual's education, training and experience, the position's work location, required travel (if any), and external market conditions when determining the final salary for potential new hires.

Be aware that salary estimates published via alternate online job boards may not be a true representation of the actual pay range offered for this position. Please refer to the Ace position description for the accurate starting pay range information and feel free to discuss this with a Talent Acquisition professional if you are chosen to move forward with an interview.

This written "Position Description" is not intended to cover all aspects of the position listed. It is meant to cover the basic/general essential job functions of a particular position. Ace Hardware Corporation reserves the right to change job duties, including essential job functions, according to business necessity.

Ace Hardware is the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the world, with more than 5,500 locally owned hardware stores throughout approximately 70 countries. Our independently owned and operated retailers have the freedom to run their business in the way that best serves their local community. Beyond home-improvement projects, we support our communities by operating the Ace Hardware Foundation, which partners with such worthy causes as the Children's Miracle Network, Habitat for Humanity, the American Red Cross and more.