Category Manager, National Merchandising

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies and seasonal assortment plans aligned with company objectives
• Serve as the category subject matter expert; optimize assortments by introducing new products and eliminating underperforming SKUs
• Build seasonal product mixes by channel, including pricing tiers, subcategory segmentation, and SKU productivity
• Present data-driven insights and actionable recommendations to leadership
• Analyze category performance through sales, margin, pricing, and inventory productivity metrics
• Conduct process category reviews to identify risks and opportunities
• Partner with planning and pricing teams to implement pricing strategies, including markdowns and promotional adjustments
• Drive category sales, margin expansion, and inventory efficiency
• Collaborate with product development and sourcing to bring trend-right, customer-focused products to market
• Manage product lifecycle from concept through launch, including merchandising strategy and campaign alignment
• Recommend product positioning, pricing architecture, and assortment expansions
• Partner with merchandising, marketing, creative, and visual teams to execute cohesive product strategies
• Align on promotional calendars, campaign support, and go-to-market plans
• Work closely with regional merchandising and store teams to ensure effective in-store execution and feedback loops
• Conduct store visits and engage with regional teams to gather insights on customer preferences and product performance
• Utilize feedback to refine assortments and identify growth opportunities
• Perform competitive analysis and market research to stay current on industry trends and customer expectations
• Partner with visual merchandising teams to guide floor layout decisions and storytelling
• Support showroom setup, market preparation, and seasonal presentations
• Maintain high standards of merchandising that reflect brand positioning
• Ensure adherence to merchandising processes and seasonal timelines
• Support cross-functional alignment to deliver on key milestones and product launches
• Participate in major furniture markets to assess trends and evaluate product opportunities

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising, Business, Marketing, or related field
• 5+ years of experience in merchandising, category management, or retail buying
• Strong analytical skills with experience in sales, margin, and inventory analysis
• Proven ability to develop and execute category strategies
• Experience collaborating across cross-functional teams in a fast-paced environment
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data analysis tools

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in furniture, home goods, or retail merchandising
• Familiarity with AI-driven analytics, automation tools, or advanced forecasting systems
• Experience managing multi-channel assortments (retail, e-commerce, etc.)

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinking and business acumen
• Data-driven decision-making
• Product intuition and trend awareness
• Cross-functional collaboration and influence
• Execution focus and attention to detail
• Continuous improvement mindset

Work Environment

• Climate-controlled office environment with standard lighting and moderate noise levels
• Typical of professional workspace settings
• Primarily involves sitting at a desk for extended periods while working with computers, phones, and other office equipment
• Includes interaction with team members and may require attendance at meetings, conference calls, and cross-departmental communications during regular business hours

Benefits

• Health, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off; increases with years of service
• Generous Employee Discount on home furnishings
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Tuition Assistance
• Ashley Wellness Centers (location specific)
• 401(k) and Profit Sharing
• Life Insurance

Core Values

• Honesty & Integrity
• Continuous Improvement
• Growth & Results Focus
• Culture of Leadership
• Customer-Centric & Boundaryless
• Operational Excellence