Merchant, Footwear & Accessories - Hollister

A&F Trading Co.•Columbus, OH

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Merchandising is the central function setting the course for our brands’ product; the hub of the wheel that ensures all teams are moving in the right direction to deliver a beautiful, compelling and profitable assortment. Working hand-in-hand with our design, visual, and planning teams, merchants are the bridge between the strategy and creative direction of their line. Our merchandising teams possess a blend of analytical ability and creative thinking, drawing from historical data and market trends to craft an assortment that stays true to our brands and excites our customer. This job is located at our Global Home Office in Columbus, Ohio.

Requirements

A Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
5+ years of Merchandising or Buying experience, with an emphasis on footwear, jewelry, or accessories
Proven leadership experience and ability to thrive in team-based settings
Passion for the merchant role, fashion retail and the Abercrombie & Fitch brand
A deep understanding of sales analysis and financial metrics that relate to your business
Strong presentation skills and the ability to communicate confidently to leadership
A high comfort-level with analytical sales tools and proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
A collaborative approach to working with cross-functional partners to achieve the vision of the brand
Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as needed by the department

Responsibilities

Contributing to the assortment strategy of an emerging brand by influencing decisions at every stage of the product lifecycle; from concept and product development, to buying and pricing, to product placement, marketing and promotions.
Collaborating with our internal partners and external vendors to create product that is on-trend and right for our customer.
Ensure that vendor relations are optimal i.e., getting the best possible prices, quality and deliveries with an appropriate level of “partnership” from the Market.
Working closely with Planning and Inventory Management to drive a strategy that maximizes key areas of the business and meets the financial targets of the category and total brand.
Serving as the expert in current selling analysis and historical selling knowledge for your department.
Diving into the interests and preferences of our customer by observing shopping patterns, active lifestyle behaviors, shopping our competitors, seeking out feedback from our stores, and monitoring media platforms.
Identifying emerging fashion trends in the market by monitoring fashion weeks, runway shows, blogs, and aspirational brands, and interpreting these ideas for our customer.
Presenting to senior leadership, including presentations on selling analysis, business strategies, style information and trend ideas.

Benefits

equitable compensation and benefits
flexibility
competitive Paid Time Off
education and engagement events
various Associate Resource Groups
volunteer opportunities
additional time off to give back to our global communities
Incentive bonus program
Annual companywide review process
Flexible spending accounts
Medical, dental and vision insurance
Life and disability insurance
Associate assistance program
Paid parental and adoption leave
Access to fertility and adoption benefits through Carrot
Access to mental health and wellness app, Headspace
Paid time off
one paid volunteer day per year
Work from anywhere (Mondays and Fridays are “work from anywhere” days for most roles and six work from anywhere weeks per year)
Seven associate wellness half days per year
Merchandise discount on all of our brands
Opportunities for career advancement, we believe in promoting from within
Access to multiple Associate Resource Groups
Global team of people who will celebrate you for being YOU!