Buyer - Hardgoods

Fanatics•Jacksonville, FL

10h

About The Position

The Buyer is a category owner, responsible for curating a compelling assortment and driving performance across a defined product category. This leader plays a critical role in bringing the Fanatics brand to life through innovative product strategy, vendor partnerships, and end-to-end merchandise execution. Reporting to the Divisional Merchandise Manager (DMM), the Buyer partners closely with Planning, Product Development, Site Experience, Marketing, and Supply Chain to build and manage an assortment that delivers for fans — financially, emotionally, and experientially.

Requirements

2 + years of experience in Merchandising or Buying, with proven success in assortment management and vendor partnerships.
Strong analytical skills and ability to make data-informed decisions.
Passion for product, fans, and delivering innovation at speed.
Team player with high accountability and growth mindset.

Nice To Haves

Experience in vertical/private brand and market vendor businesses is a plus.

Responsibilities

Support the development and execution of the merchandising strategy for your category, aligned to brand goals and financial targets.
Build a balanced, trend-right assortment that blends accessibility and exclusivity — grounded in data, fan insights, and product performance.
Manage the category’s 'Good, Better, best' framework and product lifecycle — from initial buy through markdown and exit.
Partner with Product Development to shape vertical brand assortment and optimize positioning within the category.
Build strong relationships with vendor and brand partners to drive growth, product exclusivity, and innovation.
Collaborate on seasonal strategies, assortment reviews, and go-to-market planning.
Negotiate costs, terms, and exclusives in partnership with the DMM and General Merchandise Manager.
Curate the vendor matrix to optimize productivity, reduce redundancy, and elevate product storytelling.
Own in-season management of sales, margin, inventory, and turn for your category.
Leverage insights to drive pricing, promotion, and markdown decisions.
Collaborate with Planning to align OTB, receipt flow, and in-season reforecasting.
Track and report on category performance; make recommendations to accelerate profitable growth.
Be a culture carrier and active contributor to the broader Merchandising team.
Share insights, tools, and best practices across divisions to elevate team thinking.
Support onboarding and coaching of Assistant Buyers and Coordinators.
Stay closely connected to the voice of the fan — tracking trends, social signals, and product sentiment.
Monitor the competitive landscape to ensure category relevance and differentiation.
Be an expert in your category across vertical and market brands — including brand equity, cost architecture, and vendor capability.