Associate Category Manager, Store Support Center, Lenexa, KS

About Ace Retail Holdings

Ace Retail Holdings (ARH), the division of Ace Hardware Corporation that owns and operates the Great Lakes and Westlake Ace Hardware chains, is one of the largest hardware retailers in the United States.  ARH has been in operation for over a century and operates over 220 neighborhood stores located throughout the United States.  Great people make ARH stand out in our industry, and we are looking for individuals who strive for personal and professional growth, and who want to work with a company dedicated to serving our customers and communities.

Service, Passion, Respect, Integrity, Teamwork and Excellence

Job Title:    Associate Category Manager
Department:    Merchandising
Reports To:    Senior Category Manager 
Exemption Status:    Exempt (Salaried)
                       
About Ace Retail Holdings
Ace Retail Holdings (ARH), is a division of Ace Hardware Corporation that owns and operates several Ace brands, including Westlake Ace, Great Lakes Ace, Buikema’s Ace, Outer Banks Ace, Dennis Company, and Breed & Company.  ARH is one of the largest hardware retailers in the United States and has two headquarters located in Lenexa, KS and Farmington Hills, MI.  ARH’s origins date back over a century and operates over 250 neighborhood stores located throughout the United States.  Great people make ARH stand out in our industry, and we are looking for individuals who strive for personal and professional growth, and who want to work with a company founded on (and still led by) our solid Core Values of: 

Winning, Excellence, Love, Integrity, Gratitude, Humility and Teamwork

General Job Summary
The Associate Category Manager is responsible for developing and executing merchandising strategies that drive profitable sales growth within assigned business segments. This role collaborates closely with cross-functional partners across the organization to ensure optimal assortment, financial performance, and customer satisfaction. The Associate Category Manager also provides exceptional service to both internal and external customers, clearly communicates category strategies and implementation plans, and is highly responsive to customer and store needs.

Category Focus
This role will be responsible for categories that are highly impulse-driven and trend-sensitive. The Associate Category Manager must anticipate customer needs, understand emerging trends, and apply insights to drive sales, units per transaction, and customer engagement. Examples of potential categories include:
•    Seasonal or promotional items
•    Impulse or gift-related categories
•    Trend-driven home, hardware, or specialty merchandise

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Assortment Strategy and Management
•    Own the performance of assigned product categories, including assortment planning, merchandising, and sales results.
•    Develop high-quality product assortments that drive sales and profitable growth, leveraging Ace planograms, assortment strategies, and fixture presentations where applicable.
•    Develop advertising strategies for assigned categories across print, digital, and social marketing platforms to drive customer transactions, increase units per transaction, and grow overall sales.
•    Identify localized opportunities to tailor merchandise assortments to diverse consumer bases (B2B, DIY, rural, urban, etc.).
•    Analyze and monitor category sales, trends, and economic conditions to anticipate consumer buying patterns.
•    Maintain a strong understanding of competitors, marketplace dynamics, and industry trends through store visits, advertisements, and research.
Retail Support & Customer Service
•    Provide exceptional service to both internal (store teams, cross-functional partners) and external customers.
•    Clearly communicate category strategies, merchandising plans, and implementation guidance through multiple communication platforms.
•    Respond promptly and effectively to store and customer needs to ensure optimal category performance and execution.
Financial Accountability
•    Manage category financial performance, including sales, net margin, sell-through, and GMROI (gross margin return on investment).
•    Develop semiannual forecasts to support senior management planning activities.
•    Negotiate costs, discounts, rebates, Vendor Partnership Program (VPP) agreements, and freight terms with suppliers.

•    Establish and maintain strategic supplier relationships to align products and services with business needs.
•    Collaborate with inventory management to determine demand forecasts for regular and promotional periods.
•    Attend trade shows to identify new product opportunities and strengthen supplier relationships.
Leadership and Management
•    Define and