Trade Show & Merchandise Manager

Job Title: Trade Show & Merchandise Manager FLSA Status: Exempt

Position

Type: Full-Time –Week Location: Hybrid – New Brunswick, NJ (Mon–Wed required on-site; Thu–Fri flexible)

Job Level: Manager Dept: Marketing

Reports To: 360 Brand Marketing Director

JOB DESCRIPTION

Company Overview

At Universal Nutrition, our people are the heart of everything we do. Founded in 1977 during the golden age of bodybuilding, we have grown from a pioneering New Jersey sports nutrition manufacturer into a global leader with distribution in over 100 countries. From our state-of-the-art GMP-certified production facility in New Brunswick, NJ, we formulate, manufacture, and ship products end-to-end — owning the entire process from raw ingredient sourcing to finished goods. Our iconic brands, Animal and UniversalU, are trusted by competitive bodybuilders, powerlifters, and everyday fitness enthusiasts worldwide. At approximately $100M in annual revenue with ~200 employees, we operate with the agility of a family business and the rigor of an industry leader. Open communication, mutual respect, and an entrepreneurial spirit define us — whether you have been here for decades or are just starting your journey.

Job Overview

Universal Nutrition is seeking a driven, detail-oriented, and creatively minded Trade Show & Merchandise Manager to own two of the most visible and community-facing expressions of the Animal brand: our physical presence at industry events and our branded merchandise line. Reporting to the 360 Brand Marketing Director as part of the Marketing organization, this role sits at the intersection of experiential marketing, brand merchandising, and community activation.

On the events side, this leader will own end-to-end planning and execution of Universal Nutrition's trade show calendar — including The Olympia, the Arnold Classic, Expo West, ECRM, and grassroots community activations — ensuring that every booth, display, and brand experience delivers maximum brand impact, consumer engagement, and commercial performance. On the merchandise side, this individual will lead the full lifecycle of the Animal brand's apparel and accessories line — from creative brief and product selection through vendor management, production, inventory, and both DTC and event-based sales — treating the merch line as a brand extension that deepens consumer connection and drives incremental revenue.

The ideal candidate is equally comfortable managing a booth build-out at the Arnold Classic on a Saturday and reviewing seasonal apparel assortment plans on a Monday morning. They bring strong project management instincts, a sharp visual merchandising eye, and authentic cultural fluency in the bodybuilding and strength sports world that makes Animal and Universal meaningful to their communities.

Responsibilities

Trade Show, Events & Activations

• Own the full annual trade show and events calendar — planning, logistics, and execution for all Universal Nutrition brand activations including The Olympia, the Arnold Classic, Expo West, ECRM, powerlifting and strength sport competitions, gym grand openings, and emerging community-facing event opportunities

• Lead pre-event planning from start to finish: venue contracts and booth assignments, exhibit design briefs, display construction and installation, shipping and drayage coordination, staffing plans, and all on-site logistics

• Establish trade show objectives and success criteria for each event — including sales targets, lead generation goals, sampling volumes, consumer engagement KPIs, and brand impression metrics — and evaluate performance rigorously following each activation

• Negotiate with exhibit houses, display vendors, freight carriers, and on-site service providers to ensure cost-effectiveness and quality execution within approved budgets

• Manage on-site booth setup, teardown, and real-time troubleshooting; serve as the on-site operational lead for Animal and Universal brand activations at major shows

• Develop and maintain a master event calendar and project management timeline for all activations, ensuring all stakeholders (creative, operations, sales, athlete relations) have clear deliverables and deadlines

• Develop post-event evaluation reports including booth traffic, sales, sampling data, photo/video assets captured, and brand engagement metrics; present findings and recommendations to the 360 Brand Marketing Director

• Coordinate with the 360 Brand Marketing Director on event-based content capture — ensuring each activation yields high-quality photo and video assets for social, digital, and PR use

• Manage event inventory including product samples, display materials, branded signage, POS materials, and giveaway items; coordinate with Operations on product allocation and replenishment for each event

Community Outreach & Grassroots Activation

• Lead community outreach programming in partnership with the Brand Community function — including gym sponsorships, local powerlifting and bodybuilding event presence, affiliate partner activations, and grassroots marketing initiatives that bring Animal and Universal to life at the street level

• Identify, evaluate, and recommend new event and community activation opportunities that align with Animal's brand positioning and target consumer demographics — including niche strength competitions, functional fitness events, and emerging fitness communities

• Partner with the Athlete & Ambassador Manager to coordinate athlete and ambassador appearance coordination for events — to align athlete scheduling, deliverables, and on-site presence with event strategy

• Build and steward relationships with event organizers, venue operators, competition promoters, and community partners to secure preferred placement, sponsorship value, and long-term presence at key events

Animal Brand Merchandise — Apparel & Accessories

• Own the full lifecycle of the Animal brand's apparel and accessories line — including the existing collections (Iconic, Premium, Accessories) across tees, tanks, hoodies, bottoms, headwear, and accessories — from seasonal concept through production, inventory receipt, and sell-through

• Lead product creation and curation: develop seasonal assortment plans, write creative briefs, partner with internal creative and external design resources to bring new apparel concepts to life, and manage product development timelines from brief to delivery

• Curate and select merchandise assortments for each major event activation — determining the right SKU mix, sizing curves, pricing, and on-site display presentation to maximize event-based merchandise sales

• Source, evaluate, and manage relationships with apparel vendors, manufacturers, screen printers, embroiderers, and accessories suppliers — negotiating pricing, lead times, and quality standards to deliver on-brand product at appropriate margin

• Manage the merchandise product roadmap and launch calendar, aligning new product drops with key brand moments: The Olympia, the Arnold Classic, new supplement launches, athlete collaborations, and seasonal campaigns

• Lead limited-edition and event-exclusive merchandise programs (e.g., Arnold Anniversary Tees, Olympia exclusives) from concept through sell-out — coordinating production quantities, pricing, event allocation, and DTC/online fulfillment

• Manage apparel and accessories inventory across channels — including DTC (animalpak.com), trade show on-site sales, and wholesale/retail distribution where applicable; maintain optimal inventory levels to minimize excess and out-of-stocks

• Evaluate merchandise line performance using SKU-level sales data, margin analysis, event sell-through rates, and consumer feedback; present seasonal recaps and recommendations to the 360 Brand Marketing Director

• Develop and manage the merchandise section of animalpak.com in partnership with the e-commerce team — including product listing accuracy, photography standards, copy, and promotional cadence

Visual Merchandising & Brand Display Standards

• Develop and maintain visual merchandising standards for the Animal brand — governing how product, apparel, and branded materials are displayed at trade shows, events, and retail touchpoints

• Ensure all visual presentations — booth layouts, apparel displays, signage, POS materials, and product arrangements — align with brand guidelines and deliver a premium, consistent brand experience

• Oversee the design and production of all event display assets: trade show booth graphics, hanging signage, product display fixtures, branded tables and risers, and on-site promotional materials

• Collaborate with the 360 Brand Marketing Director and creative resources on visual identities for event-specific campaigns, ensuring event aesthetics connect to the broader brand campaign narrative

Budget Management & Reporting

• Manage the trade show, events, and merchandise budget — tracking spend against plan across all activations and product development; flag variances and reforecast as needed

• Provide cost estimates, vendor quotes, and resource analyses to the 360 Brand Marketing Director in support of annual budget planning and event-level P&L decisions

• Track and report on key performance metrics across both pillars of the role — event attendance, booth engagement, merchandise sell-through, margin performance, and brand health indicators — delivering consistent post-event and seasonal reporting

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Brand Management, Merchandising, Fashion/Apparel, Event Management, Communications, or a related field required

• 6–10 years of progressive experience in trade show management, experiential marketing, event marketing, merchandise management, or a combination — with demonstrated strength in at least two of these disciplines

• Proven track record of planning and executing large-scale trade show or event activations end-to-end, including logistics, vendor coordination, on-site management, and post-event analysis

• Experience managing a branded merchandise or apparel line — including product development, sourcing, vendor management, assortment planning, inventory management, and sell-through analysis

• Strong visual merchandising sensibility — ability to design and execute compelling product and brand displays that are on-brand, visually striking, and commercially effective

• Culturally fluent in bodybuilding, powerlifting, strength sports, and sports nutrition — authentic understanding of the Animal community and what makes the brand resonate with its consumer base is essential

• Excellent project management skills — ability to manage multiple concurrent activations and product development timelines with strong attention to detail and follow-through

• Experience negotiating with vendors, exhibit houses, freight carriers, and apparel manufacturers — comfortable managing supplier relationships and holding partners to quality and delivery commitments

• Proficiency with event management tools, project management platforms (Asana, Monday.com, or similar), and Microsoft Office Suite; familiarity with Shopify or comparable e-commerce platforms a plus

• Strong analytical capabilities — ability to interpret merchandise sales data, event performance metrics, and margin analysis and translate findings into actionable recommendations

• Willingness and ability to travel 25–40% of the time for trade shows, events, and activations — including weekend travel for major industry shows (Olympia, Arnold Classic)

• Physical capability to support on-site event setup and teardown, including moving and assembling booth displays and merchandise fixtures

Schedule

• This is a hybrid position based at Universal Nutrition's headquarters in New Brunswick, NJ. Monday through Wednesday are required in-office days for all employees in this role.

• Thursday and Friday are flexible — employees may work in-office or remotely based on business need and individual preference.

• Extended on-site presence is required during the weeks of major trade shows and events; advance scheduling is provided. Weekend travel is expected for key industry activations.

Compensation & Offerings

$100,000 – $135,000 base salary (dependent on experience and background). Eligible for annual performance bonus of 10% of base salary tied to event performance KPIs, merchandise sell-through, budget management, and brand activation quality metrics. Total target compensation: $110,000 – $148,000.

• Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance offered, with cost shared between employer and employee

• 401(k) with employer match of up to 5%

• Employer-sponsored Life Insurance, Basic AD&D, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability Insurance; additional buy-up coverages available

• Paid Time Off at competitive market rates; paid Sick Leave

• Employee Resource Center & Telehealth medical offerings

• Product discount on Animal and Universal Nutrition productsc

Equal Opportunity Employer

Universal Nutrition is committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination or harassment. We expect every member of our community to do their part in cultivating and maintaining an environment where everyone has the opportunity to feel included and is afforded the respect and dignity they deserve. All decisions related to hiring, compensation, training, evaluating performance, or terminating are made fairly and on the basis of merit.