Buyer

Fanatics Commerce•Jacksonville, NY

13d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Buyer is a category owner responsible for curating a trend-right assortment and driving performance across a defined product category, 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. The Buyer delivers business and fan impact through BOLD leadership and execution excellence, leveraging data, automation, and AI-enabled insights.

Requirements

4+ years of experience in Merchandising or Buying, with demonstrated success in assortment management and vendor partnerships.
Proven ability to own category performance, including sales, margin, inventory, and turn, with strong in-season decision-making skills.
Experience negotiating costs, terms, and exclusives with vendor and brand partners to drive growth and product differentiation.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data and fan insights into clear, actionable merchandising strategies.
Familiarity with Good/Better/Best assortment frameworks and full product lifecycle management, from initial buy through markdown and exit.
Demonstrated passion for product innovation, fan experience, and delivering at speed in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Partner with Planning, Product Development, Site Experience, Marketing, and Supply Chain to align assortment strategy with financial targets and fan experience goals.
Collaborate with the DMM and General Merchandise Manager on vendor negotiations, seasonal strategies, and go-to-market planning.
Share insights, tools, and best practices across divisions to elevate collective merchandising thinking.
Support onboarding and coaching of Assistant Buyers and Coordinators, fostering accountability and a growth mindset across the team.
Serve as a culture carrier and active contributor to the broader Merchandising team, modeling the BOLD Leadership Principles in daily work.
Build a balanced, trend-right assortment grounded in fan insights, product performance data, and a deep understanding of what fans value emotionally and experientially.
Stay closely connected to the voice of the fan — tracking trends, social signals, and product sentiment to keep the category relevant and differentiated.
Leverage pricing, promotion, and markdown decisions driven by fan demand signals and in-season performance insights.
Monitor the competitive landscape to ensure the category delivers compelling fan value that competitors cannot easily replicate.
Stay curious about emerging product trends, brand innovations, and fan behaviors to continuously elevate category assortment and storytelling.
Partner with Product Development to shape vertical brand assortment and optimize positioning, identifying opportunities to blend exclusivity with accessibility.
Curate the vendor matrix to reduce redundancy, improve productivity, and surface new partnership opportunities that drive differentiation.
Apply data and AI-enabled insights to challenge conventional assortment assumptions and identify new paths to profitable growth.
Own in-season management of sales, margin, inventory, and turn for the category, operating with urgency and resilience to stay ahead of business needs.
Manage the category's Good/Better/Best framework and full product lifecycle — from initial buy through markdown and exit — with disciplined follow-through.
Collaborate with Planning to align open-to-buy, receipt flow, and in-season reforecasting, ensuring the category remains on track to financial targets.
Track and report on category performance regularly, making data-informed recommendations to accelerate profitable growth.
Apply AI and technology to improve efficiency, quality, and outcomes.
Use data and digital tools to inform decisions and enhance performance.
Demonstrate curiosity and adaptability in adopting new technologies and ways of working.
Contribute to a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.