Category Manager - Apparel

Fleet Farm Careers • Appleton, WI

1d

About The Position

Apparel Category Manager – Sporting Goods Fleet Farm is looking for a trend-savvy, data-driven Apparel Category Manager to lead our Sporting Goods categories—shaping strategy, product assortments, and the customer experience across stores and online. This is your chance to make a meaningful impact at a growing retailer known for quality, value, and community. You’ll combine apparel knowledge with analytical insight to build assortments that drive sales, maximize profitability, and delight our customers. What You’ll Do Lead category strategy for performance, outdoor, and lifestyle apparel aligned with business goals Curate assortments that balance function, durability, and style across men’s, women’s, and kids’ sporting goods apparel Analyze sales, margin, pricing, and promotions to optimize performance Build vendor partnerships, negotiate contracts, and drive private brand development Collaborate with Store Operations, Visual Merchandising, Marketing, and Inventory Planning Stay ahead of trends and customer preferences to anticipate demand and shape assortments What You Bring 3–5 years in category management, buying, or merchandising—preferably in sporting goods apparel Strong understanding of performance fabrics, size curves, seasonal planning, and product lifecycle Analytical skills with experience in P&L management, sales analysis, and merchandising tools Collaborative mindset and ability to influence cross-functional teams Balanced commercial and creative thinking to turn insights into actionable assortments Ideal Candidate Traits: Passion for the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing Self-motivated and comfortable making decisions independently Thrives in a fast-paced environment with autonomy Proactive problem-solver with vendors and in-store teams Why You’ll Love Working Here At Fleet Farm, we outfit our customers for work, play, and the outdoors. You’ll have the freedom to shape category strategy, lead initiatives, and see your ideas come to life across stores and online. Join a collaborative, values-driven team and help equip our customers for every adventure. Fleet Farm is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and gives all applicants for employment equal consideration regardless of race, color, sex, gender, ethnicity, religious creed or belief, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, citizenship status, military or veteran status, pregnancy, or any other status protected by federal, state or local law. Upon request and consistent with applicable laws, Fleet Farm will provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation to fully participate in the application process.

Requirements

• 3–5 years in category management, buying, or merchandising—preferably in sporting goods apparel
• Strong understanding of performance fabrics, size curves, seasonal planning, and product lifecycle
• Analytical skills with experience in P&L management, sales analysis, and merchandising tools
• Collaborative mindset and ability to influence cross-functional teams
• Balanced commercial and creative thinking to turn insights into actionable assortments

Nice To Haves

• Passion for the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing
• Self-motivated and comfortable making decisions independently
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment with autonomy
• Proactive problem-solver with vendors and in-store teams

Responsibilities

• Lead category strategy for performance, outdoor, and lifestyle apparel aligned with business goals
• Curate assortments that balance function, durability, and style across men’s, women’s, and kids’ sporting goods apparel
• Analyze sales, margin, pricing, and promotions to optimize performance
• Build vendor partnerships, negotiate contracts, and drive private brand development
• Collaborate with Store Operations, Visual Merchandising, Marketing, and Inventory Planning
• Stay ahead of trends and customer preferences to anticipate demand and shape assortments

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees