Merchandising Intern - June 2026
Staples is business-to-business. You’re what binds us together.
We’re searching for you: fresh talent with new ideas, innovation, passion, and drive to bring to Staples. We have student and graduate opportunities where you’ll help the Staples, Inc. organization be more successful and productive while building a purposeful career. Whether you are looking for a summer internship, co-op, or an entry-level role, we’ll help you develop the technical and soft skills you need to thrive in the future.
Target Start Date: June 1, 2026 - August 14, 2026 (11-week program)
Position Overview
The Merchandising buy-side department at Staples manages the master product assortment for all channels, concentrating on dotcom and our contract business. Merchandising is in charge of bringing in the most exciting products at the right prices and quantities to ultimately drive sales, and profit, and to deliver the best customer experience. As a member of the Merchandising group, you will work with different departments around Staples including Staples Brands Group, Strategy, Finance, Marketing, and Store Operations. As a Merchandising Product Specialist, your primary responsibility is to manage SKU and vendor set-up, conduct market research, and support the Merchandise Buyer. Training through classes from the Merchant Academy.
Product Specialist Categories you may be considered for: Furniture & Breakroom, Janitorial, Facilities, Ink & Toner, Paper, Shredders, Office Products and Essentials, Technology, Toys, Backpacks, and School Supplies.
Responsibilities
- Attend vendor meetings to collaborate on business plans and gain exposure to new products.
- Work closely with vendors and internal teams to launch new-to-market products, vendor program agreements, and price change worksheets.
- Proactively manage the SKU and Vendor setup and maintenance process
- Communicate new information to Planners and Inventory Analysts
- Conduct market research, gather industry data, track trends, and competitive shopping
- Process RTV’s, price changes, price protection, coupons/rebates, and markdowns
- Retrieve/source financial data/reports to conduct weekly/seasonal reviews of performance with the Buyer
- Collaborate frequently with other departments in Merchandising and the company
- Answer emails and calls in a timely manner from sellers on products and vendors.
What’s needed - Basic Qualifications
- Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in business or marketing, enrolled
- Must be a rising junior (graduating May 2027), enrolled as a full-time student carrying a minimum of 12 college credits
- Strong Microsoft Office skills
- Strong Excel skills; ability to use a pivot table
- Demonstrated comfort with basic mathematical concepts; the role involves regular use of foundational math in day-to-day work
- Prior experience in a retail or retail-adjacent environment, with the ability to connect work outputs to customer impact
- Naturally curious and self-motivated, with a proactive approach to learning and problem-solving
What’s needed - Preferred Qualifications:
- Passionate about retail and merchandising
- Retail Experience
- Enjoy working in teams and being highly communicative
- Able to multitask and be flexible to new initiatives
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