Product Development Specialist

Staples is business to business. You’re what binds us together.

While you may know Staples as the world’s leading office supply company, Staples Promotional Products – a division of Staples – is a national leader in the promotional products industry. At Staples Promotional Products, we help customers build love for their brands with customized merchandise solutions. Whatever story they want to tell, connection they want to make, or goal they need to deliver, Staples Promo makes it easy to design promo experiences that create lasting impact. Join our winning team!

The Product Development Specialist supports Customers and Account Managers with tailored product sourcing and the creation of custom-quotes for branded promotional merchandise. The Product Development Specialist interacts directly with Customers, Account Managers and Vendors to source/select unique and fitting promotional merchandise items and ensure that all items on the quote are within customer brand guidelines, sourced from preferred vendor channels, meet customer-compliance requirements, and are within margin/profitability guidelines. The Product Development Specialist is a promotional merchandise product and customer-brand expert, specializing in tailored/custom product solutions to meet and exceed customer requests. The Product Development Specialist also ensures that ideation and source/quote activities are executed in a timely fashion in order to meet/exceed customer event timelines

What You’ll Be Doing

• Partner closely with Account Managers, customers, and vendors to support promotional merchandise sourcing and quoting needs
• Manage and expand customer relationships through timely, accurate source/quote activities
• Generate promotional merchandise quotes using systems and formats such as Bridge, Linc, SAGE, PPT, and email
• Source promotional products from preferred domestic and overseas vendors, ensuring 80%+ preferred/partner vendor usage
• Respond promptly to customer and Account Manager quote requests in accordance with SLA requirements
• Handle incoming simple/transactional quote requests under $5,000 independently; manage quotes over $5,000 with Account Manager approval
• Ensure all quotes align with margin and profitability guidelines and departmental targets
• Maintain accountability for team margin performance and preferred vendor usage metrics
• Research products, pricing, and market trends to deliver competitive, profitable quotes
• Proactively present creative product sourcing ideas aligned to customer marketing objectives, events, or sponsorships
• Advise customers on best product solutions and recommend custom options when appropriate
• Maintain accurate records of quote activity and follow-up actions in designated systems
• Submit complete, clean order requests to the Special Order Team for order entry
• Attend client calls and product/vendor tradeshows (local and out-of-town as required)
• Collaborate with sales and support teams to resolve inquiries, issues, and customer complaints
• Contribute to team success through participation in sales meetings, sharing best practices, product ideas, and success stories

What You Bring to the Table

• Strong ability to interact directly with Account Managers, customers, and vendor partners
• Deep understanding of customer brand guidelines to ensure accurate and expedited quotes
• Proven ability to maintain and grow margins while meeting revenue goals
• Knowledge of promotional merchandise sourcing, pricing, and vendor ecosystems
• Experience ensuring customer satisfaction through cross-functional collaboration
• Ability to manage multiple quote requests while maintaining accuracy and responsiveness
• Creative, consultative mindset with the ability to exceed customer expectations
• Strong organizational skills, including tracking quote activities and follow-ups
• Customer-focused approach with a solid understanding of client business needs and operational requirements
• Commitment to staying current on new products, trends, and best practices in promotional merchandise

What’s Needed- Basic Qualifications

• 2+ years of related experience in sales support, sourcing, product development, or promotional merchandise

What’s Needed- Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience
• Bilingual capabilities in English/French
• Experience within promotional products, custom merchandise, or branded solutions
• Familiarity with preferred vendor programs and compliance standards
• Experience supporting revenue growth and margin performance goals
• Willingness to attend product or vendor tradeshows as required

We Offer

• Inclusive culture with associate-led Business Resource Groups
• Vacation Allotment and Holiday Schedule
• Online and Retail Discounts, Company Match RRSP, Physical and Mental Health Wellness programs, and more!

At Staples, “inclusion” is an action word. It represents what we do to ensure that all employees feel valued and supported to contribute to their fullest potential. When we operate inclusively, diversity naturally follows. This is why we work hard to foster an inclusive culture, as we seek employees with unique and varied perspectives and areas of expertise. The result is a better workplace and innovative thinking that helps us exceed our customers’ expectations – through the power of the people behind our iconic brand. Staples is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.