Product Strategist

About Empire and Co.

Empire and Co. is the largest commercial furniture dealer in the world, with 80 years of experience and more than 565 full-time employees nationwide. As the preeminent Steelcase dealer in the United States, we proudly support a portfolio of more than 500 manufacturers and collaborate with leading architects, designers, brokers, craftsmen, and makers. Through innovative and cost-effective solutions, we help clients solve business challenges, elevate workspace environments, and activate their brand identities.

Overview

Empire and Co. is seeking a skilled and strategic Product Strategist to join our team in our NYC office. This role is critical in supporting Empire and Co.'s directive to remain highly competitive on price while increasing profitability wherever possible.

The Product Strategist will support internal teams by analyzing, blending, and substituting standard product applications with dealer accessible alternatives to improve competitiveness and margins. This role plays an integral part in assisting teams with competitive RFP responses and enhancing client standards programs, engaging early in opportunities to enable smarter decision-making while limiting downstream resource demands.

Key Responsibilities

• Initiate and direct product strategy for competitive RFPs, client standards programs, and new opportunities
• Analyze proposed applications and recommend strategic product substitutions to improve pricing competitiveness and gross profit
• Support internal teams with competitive RFP pricing and pricing submittals
• Establish near-real cost estimates to enable accurate pricing comparisons and GP evaluation
• Perform internal vetting and comparisons by:

o Floor

o Group (e.g., Workstations, Offices, Seating)

o Specific product parts or categories

• Develop product strategies aligned with Empire and Co.'s pricing and profitability objectives
• Create clear visuals, application plans, and presentation materials to help articulate proposed solutions to internal and external audiences

Product and Specification Expertise

• Specify commercial workspace environments, including but not limited to:

o Workstations

o Private offices

o Seating

o Common areas

o Conference rooms

• Develop BOM-based specifications and visuals using industry-standard software
• Work within dealer ordering databases representing major manufacturers

Experience

• Experience working with CET or similar specification software
• Experience working within a dealer ordering database
• Experience using Microsoft Excel for pricing analysis and comparisons
• Experience using Microsoft PowerPoint to develop presentations
• Experience working with a major manufacturer and its product offerings
• Experience working with third-party ancillary and open line vendors
• Experience developing RFP responses, including pricing submittals

Skills and Qualifications

• Strong understanding of industry pricing structures, including:

o Net cost

o Discount structures

o List vs off-list pricing

• Strong understanding of Net Price establishment and definition
• Strong understanding of Gross Profit establishment and analysis
• Ability to analyze applications and recommend strategic product substitutions
• Strong analytical skills with attention to detail
• Ability to translate pricing and product strategies into clear visuals and application plans
• Ability to collaborate effectively with Sales, Design, and Operations teams
• Salary range: $95,000 to $115,000 based on experience and qualifications