Category Marketing Specialist

The Category Marketing Specialist is primarily responsible for driving the sales growth of battery-powered outdoor power equipment and other sustainable product categories by implementing incentive programs resulting from gas outdoor equipment regulations. This includes cultivating external program relationships, fostering retailer engagement and participation, maximizing vendor partner contributions, facilitating internal cross-departmental collaboration, and developing operational efficiencies for these programs. The Specialist will lead initiatives that drive sales growth and elevate the market distinction of our Famous for Four categories.

They will be instrumental in evolving strategic projects, executing marketing plans, advancing category positioning, and developing consumer activation plans.

• Maintain proficiency of evolving state and regional outdoor power equipment regulatory and financial incentive programs impacting residential and commercial outdoor battery-power equipment and other sustainable categories. Leverage this expertise to anticipate legislative changes, reduce time-to-market, and develop strategies that create a competitive advantage.
• Manage and expand existing partnerships, while also cultivating new strategic alliances with vendors, municipalities, environmental agencies (EPA, AGZA, Energy Star), and stakeholders for green energy fairs and sustainability events. Identify differentiated growth opportunities for retailers and leverage vendor relationships to execute marketing plans for our best brands
• Champion Ace’s value proposition, highlighting the strengths of its locally owned hardware stores, including product knowledge, diverse brand selection, vendor partnerships, deep community connections, successful participation in local events, local marketing campaigns, and ability to execute discounts in-store and online to secure program participation
• Manage all internal/external communications and facilitate cross-functional collaboration across marketing, merchandising, ecommerce, field staff, retailers, finance, accounting, inventory, store systems, retail distribution centers, and legal teams for new incentive programs and other Famous for Four (FF4) category activations. Proficiency to develop and execute each program to highest standards, resulting in Ace's continued engagement with key organizations and best brand partners
• Conduct in person and virtual presentations at retailer group meetings to engage train and on-board new retailers for incentive program participation and other FF4 strategic projects. Develop compelling presentations that generate enthusiasm and drive retailer interest. Provide internal reports and presentations on FF4 category success stories as necessary
• Oversee the end-to-end management and reporting of financial-related activities, including order reconciliation, invoicing, retailer credits, and sales reporting, ensuring timely and accurate completion. Drive process improvement to automate and streamline processes, enhancing scalability and operational efficiency to allow participation in a broader range of battery-powered equipment incentive programs.
• Contribute to the development of strategic projects and execution of marketing plans designed to increase sales within FF4 categories, including power tools and outdoor power equipment. These initiatives may include recycling programs, trade-in programs, in-store demo product programs, or projects relating to other FF4 categories that advance Ace’s positioning
• Conduct thorough category research to gather consumer insights, analyze competitors and industry trends, track market growth and Ace’s retail sales trends. Utilize these findings to progress Ace’s marketing strategy to increase category market share
• Manage the execution of all experiential in-store events, including creative brief submissions, campaign proofing, retailer/field communication (articles and playbooks), vendor collaboration, retailer feedback collection, and future strategy development. Gather feedback and insights from best-in-class retailers and competitors to inform strategy
• Proofing all creative assets for FF4…