Ares Holdings is inviting applications for its Trade Marketing Internship Programme in Cape Town. This graduate opportunity offers hands-on experience in retail marketing, brand management, visual merchandising, promotions, events, and trade marketing strategy. Applications close on 18 August 2026.
Ares Holdings Opens Applications for Trade Marketing Internship Programme in Cape Town
Graduates looking to establish themselves in the exciting world of retail, brand management, and marketing now have an opportunity to gain practical industry experience with one of South Africa’s leading brand distributors. Ares Holdings has announced applications for its Trade Marketing Graduate: Retail Trade Internship Programme, based in Cape Town, Western Cape.
The internship is designed to provide aspiring marketing professionals with comprehensive exposure to the retail and wholesale marketing environment. Through structured learning and practical workplace experience, successful candidates will develop valuable skills in campaign execution, visual merchandising, product training, promotions, retail activations, reporting, and strategic marketing support.
For graduates who are passionate about brands, consumer engagement, and retail marketing, this programme offers an excellent platform to gain industry experience while working alongside experienced professionals.
About Ares Holdings
Ares Holdings is recognized as a leading distributor and retailer of internationally renowned lifestyle, outdoor, sports, and fashion brands in South Africa. The company has built a strong reputation for growing brands responsibly while investing in people, innovation, and customer experiences.
Through its graduate internship programme, Ares Holdings aims to nurture future marketing professionals by providing practical exposure to the commercial realities of building and managing successful retail brands.
The Trade Marketing Graduate position falls within the company’s Brands Division and reports directly to the Trade Marketing Manager.
What the Internship Offers
The Trade Marketing Internship is designed to expose graduates to the full trade marketing cycle, helping them understand how marketing strategies are translated into in-store experiences and commercial success.
Successful interns will gain practical experience in:
- Trade marketing strategy
- Retail and wholesale marketing
- Campaign planning and execution
- Visual merchandising
- Consumer promotions
- Product training
- Brand activations
- Event coordination
- Marketing analytics
- Budget administration
The programme also provides valuable opportunities to collaborate with multiple business units, including brand teams, retail operations, wholesale accounts, marketing operations, and merchandising specialists.
Supporting Trade Marketing Campaigns
One of the primary responsibilities of the Trade Marketing Graduate will be supporting the implementation of seasonal marketing campaigns and trade marketing initiatives.
The intern will assist with:
- Executing trade marketing plans
- Coordinating campaign rollouts
- Monitoring project timelines
- Ensuring marketing activities are delivered on schedule
- Collaborating with internal stakeholders to achieve campaign objectives
This exposure will help graduates understand how strategic marketing initiatives are executed across retail and wholesale environments.
Retail and Wholesale Marketing Exposure
A key component of the programme involves supporting communication and engagement with retail stores and wholesale partners.
The graduate will assist with:
- Coordinating in-store promotions
- Supporting retail marketing initiatives
- Gathering feedback from stores and partners
- Monitoring campaign performance
- Assisting with execution improvements
This experience provides valuable insight into how marketing activities influence consumer behavior and sales performance.
Learning Visual Merchandising Principles
Visual merchandising remains one of the most important tools for influencing purchasing decisions in retail environments.
The internship will provide hands-on exposure to:
- Visual merchandising guideline development
- Campaign toolkit distribution
- Store execution monitoring
- Merchandising feedback collection
- Visual merchandising training support
Graduates will learn how brands create engaging retail environments that enhance customer experiences and drive product sales.
Product Training and Consumer Promotions
An important aspect of the role involves supporting product education and promotional campaigns.
Interns will assist with:
- Developing product training materials
- Coordinating training schedules
- Monitoring training participation
- Maintaining training resources
- Supporting sales incentive programmes
- Assisting with promotional campaign execution
This exposure helps graduates understand the connection between product knowledge, customer engagement, and commercial performance.
Events and Brand Activations
Marketing events and activations play a significant role in building brand awareness and customer engagement.
The Trade Marketing Graduate will support:
- Trade shows
- Promotional events
- Retail activations
- Campaign launches
- Event logistics and setup
- Branding and asset management
- Post-event reporting and feedback collection
These experiences allow interns to see how marketing initiatives come to life in real-world environments.
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Reporting and Market Analysis
Data-driven decision-making is an essential skill for modern marketers, and the internship includes significant exposure to reporting and analysis.
Responsibilities include:
- Collecting campaign performance data
- Monitoring competitor activity
- Tracking retail trends
- Preparing reports and presentations
- Maintaining performance dashboards
- Supporting business insights development
These analytical responsibilities help graduates build the skills required to evaluate marketing effectiveness and optimize future campaigns.
Administrative and Budget Support
In addition to campaign-related responsibilities, the intern will gain exposure to the financial and administrative aspects of marketing.
Tasks may include:
- Budget tracking
- Purchase order management
- Invoice administration
- Campaign cost reconciliation
- Documentation management
Understanding these operational processes is critical for marketing professionals who aspire to manage larger campaigns and budgets in the future.
Skills and Competencies Ares Holdings Values
The company is seeking graduates who demonstrate strong interpersonal and professional capabilities.
Key competencies include:
Collaboration
Building productive relationships with internal teams and external partners.
Communication
Communicating clearly and effectively with stakeholders across the business.
Problem-Solving
Identifying challenges and contributing practical solutions.
Adaptability
Remaining flexible in a dynamic and fast-changing retail environment.
Accountability
Taking ownership of tasks and ensuring successful delivery of projects.
Customer Focus
Understanding customer needs and supporting marketing initiatives that create value.
Technical Knowledge and Learning Opportunities
Throughout the internship, participants will gain exposure to several important marketing disciplines, including:
- Marketing strategy
- Brand management
- Retail and wholesale marketing
- Point-of-sale materials
- Digital marketing
- Market research
- Event management
- Budget management
- Marketing analytics
- Cross-functional collaboration
This broad exposure makes the programme particularly valuable for graduates seeking a well-rounded introduction to the marketing profession.
A Company That Invests in People
Ares Holdings emphasizes the importance of investing in employees and developing future talent. The company’s values focus on responsible brand growth, continuous learning, environmental responsibility, and stakeholder value creation.
For graduates, this means joining an organization that encourages professional growth while providing opportunities to learn from experienced industry professionals.
Application Information
Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their applications before the deadline.
Internship Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Position | Trade Marketing Graduate: Retail Trade |
| Company | Ares Holdings |
| Location | Cape Town, Western Cape |
| Job Type | Internship / Contract |
| Department | Brands |
| Industry | Retail |
| Functional Area | Marketing |
| Closing Date | 18 August 2026 |
Applicants who do not receive feedback within two weeks after the closing date should consider their application unsuccessful.
Final Thoughts
The Ares Holdings Trade Marketing Internship 2026 presents an outstanding opportunity for graduates who want to build careers in retail marketing, brand management, trade marketing, and consumer engagement.
By providing practical exposure to campaign execution, visual merchandising, promotions, events, reporting, and strategic marketing activities, the programme equips graduates with valuable skills that can accelerate their careers in South Africa’s competitive retail and marketing industry.
For ambitious graduates eager to learn from experienced professionals and gain hands-on experience with leading brands, this internship could be the ideal first step toward a successful marketing career.
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