Associate Category Manager

Mills Fleet Farm • Appleton, WI

34d

About The Position

Fleet Farm is looking for a driven and detail-oriented Associate Category Manager to join our Merchandising team. In this role, you will partner with Category Managers to select and purchase merchandise across assigned categories, ensuring competitive costs, strong vendor partnerships, and effective merchandising strategies that meet customer and store needs. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with a passion for retail, data-driven decision-making, and category growth.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.
• 1-3 years of related experience (retail or merchandising experience preferred).
• Strong knowledge of retail financials including revenue, COGS, gross profit margin, and operating expenses.
• Familiarity with customer-centric retailing and consumer purchase analytics.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to juggle multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Category Managers to select and purchase merchandise and services at the best possible cost.
• Assist in developing and implementing merchandising strategies, promotional programs, and distribution plans.
• Support planning and forecasting for sales, gross profit, inventory control, and merchandise turnover.
• Recommend category pricing strategies based on market trends, competition, and customer insights.
• Review and analyze category performance data, providing recommendations to leadership.
• Work with Store Operations and Planogramming teams to develop data-driven category insights.
• Assist in negotiating buying contracts as assigned by the Category Manager or Divisional Merchandise Manager.
• Partner with Inventory Management to ensure accurate stock levels for promotions and daily operations.
• Gain deep knowledge of Fleet Farm's private brands and support forecasting, assortment, and promotional planning.
• Stay current on industry trends and product knowledge through continuous learning and research.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees