Merchant - All Levels

Abercrombie & Fitch is the most successful specialty retailer in operation today. Our casual, classic, all-American lifestyle brand is synonymous with quality. Based in Columbus, Ohio, all of the Abercrombie & Fitch brands have never been more powerful or more profitable.  The A&F culture is one-of-a-kind. We design, merchandise, market, and live the Abercrombie & Fitch brand. With passion and dedication, we’re our best customer.  The lifestyles of our brands are immensely important.  We make sure that when a customer steps into one of our stores it is a complete experience. Every element has been considered to make the customer feel special; the music, marketing, photos, and overall aesthetic has made the in-store experience more exciting than ever. Through our web sites, Abercrombie.com, abercrombiekids.com and hollisterco.com, e-commerce has expanded the A&F experience beyond our stores and gives our customers access to the brand from anywhere at any time.  With the additions of abercrombie, the lifestyle for kids 7-14, Hollister Co., a west-coast inspired line of clothing for high school kids 14-18, Ruehl, a New York Greenwich Village based brand for adults in their 20s, and most recently Gilly Hicks, a women’s underwear and personal care business, our brands have never been stronger. We are constantly moving forward and expanding overseas to give everyone the opportunity to experience A&F culture.  GENERAL SUMMARY:As the backbone of the brand, the Merchandiser will interact with nearly every entity of the business, both internal (design, technical design, financial planning, allocation, and marketing) and external (factories, agents, mills, and printers). ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:Focus on product development - managing the development process from flat sketch to finished product Lead a cross-functional team for a single department Critically evaluate the assortment calling out issues and then making line changes Problem solve production timelines and negotiate cost to maintain IMU goals Shop to identify trends and identify competition for our target segment Work with market testing and focus groups to understand product expectations Maintain direction of development with regards to SKU count and the floorset Seen as point person for the product area by senior managementBachelor degree required, 3.0 Minimum GPA, Business degree preferred 2+ years merchandising, planning, buying or equivalent experience preferred Capacity for rapid career growth Eye for fashion trend, quality, and detail Clear knowledge of target customer and product trends Excellent communication, presentation, and multi-tasking skills Ability to think and react in a high-energy, fast-paced environment Proactive attitude and an entrepreneurial spirit Desire to handle significant responsibility from the onset Team-oriented with strong management skills

 

 

merchant, buyer, business analyst, merchandiser, assistant buyer, product development