Merchandising Associate: Category Growth & Strategy

Mills Fleet Farm e-Commerce Enterprises, LLC; Appleton (WI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Fleet Farm is seeking an Associate Category Manager to join our Merchandising team in Appleton, WI. You will partner with Category Managers to select and purchase merchandise, drive category strategy, negotiate with vendors, and support forecasting to meet store needs.

Ideal candidates have a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent), 1–3 years in retail or merchandising, and strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) required.
• 1–3 years of related experience in retail or merchandising.
• Familiarity with retail financials (revenue, COGS, gross profit margin, 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

• Drive Category Strategy: develop and execute merchandising, promotional, pricing, and distribution strategies.
• Support Merchandise Buying: assist with purchasing, vendor negotiations, and contracts to achieve best value.
• Manage Category Planning: support sales, gross profit, inventory, and turnover forecasting.
• Analyze Performance: review category data, trends, and customer behavior to identify opportunities.
• Optimize Inventory: maintain stock levels and support promos and daily operations.
• Leverage Private Brands: build expertise in Fleet Farm private brands and support assortment, forecasting, pricing, and promotions.
• Stay Current & Collaborate: partner with Store Ops, Planogramming, and other teams to drive data-informed decisions.

Skills

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Problem-solving

Multitasking

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

MS Office Suite

Job description

Fleet Farm is seeking an Associate Category Manager to join our Merchandising team in Appleton, WI. You will partner with Category Managers to select and purchase merchandise, drive category strategy, negotiate with vendors, and support forecasting to meet store needs.

Ideal candidates have a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent), 1–3 years in retail or merchandising, and strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.