The Ares Holdings Trade Marketing Internship 2026 is open for candidates who want hands-on exposure to retail campaigns, brand activations, visual merchandising, promotions and trade marketing execution. With 2 internship positions available in Cape Town, this opportunity gives marketing-focused applicants a practical way to learn how brands grow inside retail and wholesale channels.
This internship is ideal for candidates who want to understand how marketing moves from strategy into stores, campaigns, product displays and customer-facing brand moments.
It is a strong opportunity for someone who wants practical retail marketing experience, not only classroom theory.
What Is The Ares Holdings Trade Marketing Internship 2026?
The Ares Holdings Trade Marketing Internship 2026 is a contract internship opportunity based in Cape Town, Western Cape.
The role is listed as Trade Marketing Internship x2, with the internal title shown as Trade Marketing Graduate: Retail Trade.
Successful candidates will learn how marketing plans are developed, rolled out and tracked across retail stores and wholesale partners.
The internship reports into the Trade Marketing Manager and works closely with brand, merchandising, retail operations, wholesale accounts and marketing operations teams.
Why Is This Internship A Strong Opportunity?
Trade marketing sits between brand strategy and real customer action.
It helps make sure campaigns are not only planned in the office but also executed properly in stores, partner channels and promotional spaces.
The Ares Holdings Trade Marketing Internship 2026 gives selected interns exposure to how campaigns are launched, supported, monitored and improved.
For candidates interested in retail marketing, this is the kind of experience that can build a useful career foundation.
Who Should Consider This Internship?
This opportunity is suitable for candidates who are interested in retail, brands, marketing and campaign execution.
It may be a good fit if you:
- Are interested in trade marketing
- Enjoy retail and brand environments
- Can work with different teams
- Are organised and deadline-focused
- Have strong communication skills
- Are comfortable tracking campaign tasks
- Enjoy visual merchandising and product displays
- Want exposure to promotions and activations
- Can work with reports, feedback and campaign data
- Are willing to learn how retail marketing works in practice
This internship suits someone who is practical, curious and ready to support multiple moving parts at once.
What Will Interns Learn During The Programme?
Interns will gain exposure to different areas of trade marketing and retail execution.
The internship may include learning about:
- Trade marketing strategies
- Seasonal campaign planning
- Retail and wholesale campaign rollouts
- Point of sale materials
- Visual merchandising support
- Product training coordination
- Consumer promotions
- In-store activations
- Trade shows and events
- Campaign reporting
- Budget and administration support
- Cross-functional teamwork
This is a broad marketing internship.
It can help candidates understand how brand campaigns are executed across stores, partners and internal teams.
What Will Interns Do In Trade Marketing Execution?
Interns will support the implementation of trade marketing strategies and seasonal plans.
This may include helping with campaign rollouts across retail and wholesale channels, tracking timelines and coordinating deliverables with internal teams.
Campaign execution requires accuracy and follow-up.
Interns must be able to keep track of tasks, deadlines and updates so that campaigns are delivered properly.
How Will Interns Support Retail And Wholesale Teams?
The internship includes exposure to both retail and wholesale support.
Interns may help with marketing communication to retail and wholesale partners.
They may also assist with in-store promotions, activations and execution requirements alongside the marketing operations team.
This gives interns a chance to understand how campaigns differ across channels.
A retail store, wholesale partner and brand team may all need different support to make the same campaign work properly.
What Is POS Coordination?
POS stands for Point of Sale.
These are marketing materials used in stores and partner spaces to support campaigns, product visibility and customer engagement.
Interns may help coordinate the production, ordering and distribution of POS materials.
They may also track stock levels, support reorders and help adapt global POS materials for local market needs.
This is where marketing becomes visible to customers.
Will Interns Work With Visual Merchandising?
Yes. Visual merchandising support is part of the internship.
Interns may assist with briefing VM guidelines, distributing campaign toolkits, collecting store images and gathering execution feedback.
They may also help coordinate communication linked to VM training.
This is useful exposure for candidates who want to understand how product presentation, store layout and brand identity influence customer behaviour.
What Role Does Product Training Play?
Product training helps store teams and partners understand the products they are promoting or selling.
Interns may assist with developing and distributing training materials.
They may also help coordinate training schedules, track participation and maintain training content libraries.
This part of the internship is important because campaigns often perform better when store teams understand the product and brand message clearly.
Will Interns Work On Promotions And Activations?
Yes. Interns may support consumer promotions, sales incentive programmes, events and activations.
This may include coordinating timelines, materials, communication, logistics and campaign feedback.
They may also help with post-promotion reporting.
This exposure can help interns understand what happens before, during and after a campaign goes live.
What Skills Can Help Applicants Stand Out?
Ares Holdings highlights several competencies linked to trade marketing and brand execution.
Helpful skills include:
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Accountability
- Customer-centric thinking
- Adaptability
- Analytical thinking
- Brand management awareness
- Retail and wholesale marketing interest
- Digital marketing awareness
- Market research interest
- Event coordination ability
- Budget tracking awareness
Applicants should show that they can work with people, timelines, campaign assets and reporting.
Trade marketing is not only creative.
It also requires organisation, follow-up and commercial thinking.
Where Is The Internship Based?
The Ares Holdings Trade Marketing Internship 2026 is based in Cape Town, Western Cape.
The listing shows the opportunity as a contract role in the retail industry and marketing functional area.
Applicants should be prepared to work according to the company’s workplace and team requirements if selected.
What Documents Should Applicants Prepare?
Applicants should prepare clear and updated documents before starting the application process.
You may need:
- Updated CV
- Certified copy of your South African ID, if requested
- Marketing, retail, business or related qualification documents, if available
- Academic transcript, if available
- Portfolio of marketing work, if available
- Examples of campaigns, content, events or retail projects, if available
- Any additional documents requested during the application process
Your CV should clearly show your interest in marketing, retail, branding, events, promotions, merchandising or campaign coordination.
Even student projects, part-time retail experience or volunteer event work can help if it shows relevant practical ability.
How Can You Submit Your Application?
Applications must be submitted through the official online application portal.
Before submitting, check your CV carefully.
Make sure your contact details are correct and your marketing-related strengths are easy to find.
If you have experience with retail, campaigns, events, social media, visual displays, reporting or customer-facing work, include it clearly.
When Is The Closing Date?
The closing date for the Ares Holdings Trade Marketing Internship 2026 is 13 July 2026.
Applicants should submit their applications before the deadline.
The listing also notes that applicants who are not contacted within 2 weeks from the closing date should regard their application as unsuccessful.
Do not wait until the final day if your CV or documents still need updates.
Why Should Marketing Candidates Take This Seriously?
The Ares Holdings Trade Marketing Internship 2026 gives candidates exposure to the practical side of marketing.
Many people think marketing is only about social media or adverts.
Trade marketing goes deeper.
It connects brand strategy with stores, promotions, product displays, staff training, retail partners and customer-facing execution.
For someone who wants to grow in retail marketing, brand management, merchandising, activations or campaign coordination, this internship can offer valuable early experience.
Itumeleng’s Insider Tip: Before applying, make your CV show that you understand retail marketing. Add any experience with promotions, events, merchandising, customer service, social media, campaign projects or retail work. Trade marketing needs people who can connect brand ideas with what actually happens in stores.
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Final Thoughts
The Ares Holdings Trade Marketing Internship 2026 is a strong opportunity for candidates who want practical experience in retail trade marketing.
With 2 positions available in Cape Town, the internship offers exposure to campaign rollouts, POS materials, visual merchandising, promotions, product training, events, reporting and cross-functional teamwork.
Applicants who are organised, creative, practical and interested in retail brand execution should prepare their documents and submit their application before 13 July 2026.
