Head of Strategic Merchandising & Brand Partnerships

Concord Marketing Solutions/Clayton Kendall is currently looking for a Head of Strategic Merchandising & Brand Partnerships to join our team!

The Head of Strategic Merchandising & Brand Partnerships will be responsible for curating premium promotional products and print solutions that align with client branding, campaign goals, and market trends. This client-facing role bridges sales, sourcing, and product strategy to identify high-impact and creative merchandise that enhances brand visibility and drives client engagement. This position combines creativity, product expertise of premium brands, developed relationships with prestigious retail brands, and market insight to build compelling product assortments for client programs, proposals, and campaigns. This position has the ability to work remote or hybrid with office locations in Glendale Heights, IL and Monroeville, PA.

Concord Marketing Solutions/Clayton Kendall is a growing promotional products and print distributor, providing full-service corporate identity offerings. Our expertise in online store programs, creative merchandise, print services, incentive and recognition programs, custom packaging, fulfillment, and international sourcing make Concord Marketing Solutions/Clayton Kendall a preferred supplier of choice. We pride ourselves in our commitment to our clients’ needs through a wide selection of quality products, creative solutions, and excellent customer service. Our company is honored to have been recognized on Promotional Products Business Magazine’s list of Greatest Companies to Work for in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 and on the Crain’s Chicago Business Best Places to Work Top 100 list in 2021, among numerous other industry awards over the years.

What’s in it for YOU:

• Comprehensive benefits plan including medical, dental, vision, a company-funded Health Savings Account, company-provided life insurance, supplemental life insurance, long-term disability, and employee assistance program
• 401k plan with a company match
• Paid Time Off/PTO
• Floating Holidays
• A generous holiday schedule
• Parental Leave
• Company events and outings
• Casual and friendly work environment
• Salary + Bonus compensation structure

Responsibilities:

• Strategy Development: Design and implement merchandising strategies that boost customer engagement and sales, aligning product selection with brand standards.
• Research and identify innovative and premium promotional and print products, trends, and emerging suppliers within the branded merchandise industry.
• Support large client programs, seasonal campaigns, and branded merchandise initiatives with strategic product planning.
• Assist with RFP responses, client pitches, quarterly business reviews, and major program proposals.
• Product Curation & Promotion: Select, source, and position promotional, apparel, and print products, focusing on high perceived value items for campaigns.
• Create curated product collections, lookbooks, and campaign assortments for client presentations and marketing initiatives.
• Influencer experience that bridges product curation with digital content creation, leveraging personal brand authority to drive engagement and brand partnerships.
• Experience using social media strategy to research and engage with brands and collaborate with brand influencers.
• Identify new retail brands in the marketplace to meet customer demand.
• Analytical Insight: Analyze sales data, retail market trends, and competitor activities to optimize product placement, pricing, and assortment.
• Analyze product performance, pricing trends, and supplier capabilities to inform merchandising decisions.
• Collaboration: Work with marketing, purchasing, and sales teams to align strategic promotional and print recommendations tailored to client objectives, budgets, and target audiences.
• Vendor & Inventory Management: Maintain relationships with industry and retail suppliers, negotiate terms, and collaborate with Procurement to optimize inventory levels and margins.
• Performance Tracking: Monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to sales, product performance, and customer feedback.
• Maintain expertise in sustainability, retail-inspired merchandise, and premium branded goods within the promotional products industry.
• Ensure product selections meet quality standards, compliance requirements, and brand guidelines.
• Develop internal product knowledge resources for sales teams.
• Lead the Company’s certification with EcoVadis.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strategic product thinking
• Trend analysis and market insight
• Client-focused solution development
• Supplier and sourcing expertise
• Creative merchandising and storytelling
• Strong organization and project management
• Effectiveness of product recommendations in winning new business
• Client satisfaction with merchandise solutions
• Innovation and trend adoption in product assortments
• Margin and cost management on recommended products
• Contribution to major client proposals and campaigns
• Strong attention to detail
• Reliable and dependable
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proven ability to handle multiple client requests and projects simultaneously
• Resilience and ability to handle pressure of changing priorities or client needs
• A self-starter with the ability to work both independently as well as part of a team to complete assignments
• Strong technical skills and aptitude, with advanced experience with presentation building, spreadsheets, utilizing Outlook/Teams, and learning internal technical software/systems.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Merchandising, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 10+ years of experience in promotional products, branded merchandise, retail merchandising, or product sourcing.
• Strong knowledge of premium retail brands, promotional product suppliers, decoration methods, and production processes.
• Ability to identify product trends, retail inspiration, and emerging categories.
• Experience supporting enterprise clients, brand programs, or corporate merchandise strategies.
• Developed relationships with premium brand suppliers.
• Familiarity with sustainability certifications and eco-friendly product sourcing
• Understanding of decoration methods (screen print, embroidery, laser engraving, etc.)
• Excellent presentation and storytelling skills for product recommendations.
• Strong vendor negotiation and relationship management skills.
• High proficiency with PowerPoint, Excel, and product research tools.
• Experience with industry platforms such as **ESP+ by ASI, SAGE (Promotional Product Software) preferred.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $90,000.00 - $130,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Ability to Commute:

• Glendale Heights, IL 60139 (Required)

Work Location: Remote