Store Planner - Ace Hardware Corporation

The Store Planner is responsible for taking the capital project from inception to execution for each individual store. This will be accomplished through a series of virtual meetings with the core planning team (the Retailer, District Manager and Project Manager). The Store Planner will schedule, coordinate and lead all planning meetings and will execute changes and updates in real-time. The Store Planner will combine their data-driven analytics, Emery Jensen best practices, experience and knowledge with the overall goals and desires of the Retailer to provide the most productive retailer store plan. During the process, the Store Planner will need to maintain ADA compliance and determine local or municipal codes that apply and ensure those standards are also met.

For a new store, the Store Planner proposes recommendations for buildouts and improvements that will maximize the consumer experience and facilitate staff productivity and efficiency. Then, the Store Planner will create a fixture plan, lighting Plan and an electrical & data Plan for the space. The Store Planner will provide data-driven analytics to recommend the best product assortment based on regionality and best-in-class store performance. The Store Planner needs to create customized recommendations based on geography, regionality, store size, market factors, etc. The Store Planner will work to align these analytics with the retailers desired merchandise sizes by planogram and propose a merchandise plan accordingly. With live virtual meetings, the merchandise plan will go through a series of revisions and once approved, the Store Planner will create a décor plan and location code plan before finalization. The Store Planner is then responsible for ensuring that the Project Support team can order all the right merchandise, fixtures and décor for the store to be set by a Third-Party labor team. Once the labor team has completed the store set, they then partner with the Store Planner to update plans with any changes and reconfigure location code plans accordingly.

Additionally, for a remodel or conversion, the Store Planner will work with the existing as-built and fixture layout to provide a more productive store fixture layout.  The Store Planner will then provide an overlay of the existing and the new fixture plan to allow for fixture ordering and project phasing. The Store Planner will then provide data analytics on the existing merchandise assortment in the store, allowing the Retailer to see performance in gross profit dollars per linear foot.  Once the new fixture plan has been determined, the Store Planner then follows the same process through live meetings to work through the merchandise, décor, electrical and data, lighting and location code plans. The Store Planner works to ensure Emery Jensen best practices are being laid out in relation to department and category placement, power aisle, side aisle placement and all adjacencies. The Store Planner must factor in market intelligence, local needs and ensure they are providing both a cost-effective plan to remodel the store and that the store will realize a lift in overall sales and productivity after the remodel is complete.

Improving the store model is pillar of Emery Jensen’s long-term wholesale distribution strategy and developing the most productive and consumer-centric store layouts for our retailers is a key element of this pillar.

• Scope: The Store Planner owns the planning process from start to finish for all new stores, remodels and conversions.  The Store Planner must execute every plan for each store, using AutoCAD for Fixture, Lighting, Electrical and Data, Décor and Location Code Plans.  The Store Planner uses JDA for Merchandise Plans.  The Store Planner completes 50-60 full store projects per year, and thus must be working on multiple stores throughout the week that are at different stages, in order to maintain productivity.
• Leadership/Mentorship:  Every Store Planner is also tasked with special projects beyond the 50 projects they complete, as defined by the Department Manager.  Each Store Planner is also responsible for training new project managers, educating their core team members on process improvements, changes and other updates from merchandising, space planning or store planning.  The Store Planner also actively participates in training and onboarding of new team members and is responsible for training on one or more steps of the planning process. This means the Store Planner must ensure that they are explaining Emery Jensen practices and standards beyond the scope of the planning process (financial terms, incentives, qualifications, etc.). 

Compensation Details:

$80000 - $103600 per year

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.

In addition to providing our employees a great culture, Ace / Emery Jensen Distribution also offers competitive benefits* that address life’s necessities and perks, many of which expand and improve year after year, including:

• Incentive opportunities, based on role/grade level (rapid company growth over the past 3 years resulted in incentives being paid out above 106.6% of your target opportunity!)
• Generous 401(k) retirement savings plan with a fully vested matching contribution the first year, in addition to an annual discretionary contribution (once eligibility requirements have been met). Over the past five years, company contributions (matching & discretionary) for fully eligible employees have averaged 7.5% of total compensation.
• Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision and disability – up to 26 weeks short-term disability and long-term disability) & life insurance benefits for you and your dependents
• 21 days of vacation immediately available (prorated in the first year) and up to 6 paid holidaysdepending on the month of hire
• Company Car, phone and fuel card are provided for field-based positions
• Flexible working arrangements (Non-Field positions can work from home up to 2 days per week)
• Your career at Ace is more than just a job. It’s a chance to be part of something meaningful. We help locally-owned businesses thrive and make an impact in their communities – and we support our employees in doing the same by offering an annual Ace Cares Week, 20 hours off work per year to volunteer at an organization of your choice, opportunities to help Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the Ace Helpful Fund through the Ace Foundation
• Ace invests in every employee we hire, with a key focus on development and coaching. We offer on-site classes, facilitator-led courses, and a generous tuition assistance program, plus a performance management approach that goes beyond the typical annual review
• We know the work environment matters. That’s why Ace holds frequent campus events like Employee Appreciation Week, vendor demos, cookouts, and merchandise sales
• We bring them to you! Services such as mobile spas, auto maintenance, car wash and detailing, dry cleaning, dentists, eye doctors, flu shots, recycling and more!
• Employee discounts on Ace merchandise (including top brands like Weber, Traeger, Yeti, Craftsman, DeWalt and more), travel, fitness, computers and thousands more
• Birth/Adoption bonding paid time off
• Adoption cost reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – access to free visits to therapists and lawyers, guidance on financial matters, elder and childcare, and assistance with tickets to entertainment events
• Identity theft protection

* Benefits are provided in compliance with applicable policies.

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We want to hear from you!
Emery Jensen Distribution delivers wholesale products and best-in-class service to independent retailers in the Pro Lumber Yards, Home Centers, Paint, Hardware Stores, Decorating Stores, and E-retailer space. Our goal is to support sustainable and profitable growth for our customers by offering the broadest assortments, best pricing, and most knowledgeable team. We have national scale, a regional focus and the commitment to serve our customers and support each other. Come find out why a career with Emery Jensen Distribution is right for you.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Emery Jensen Distribution is 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 Emery Jensen Distribution 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. Emery Jensen Distribution reserves the right to change job duties, including essential job functions, according to business necessity.