Category Manager

Broad River Retail

Category Manager leading merchandising strategies and financial performance for furniture and accessory assortments. Directing cross-functional collaboration to drive revenue growth and innovation within the category.

Posted 6/30/2026full-timeRemote • South Carolina • 🇺🇸 United StatesMid-LevelSeniorWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Own and execute short and long-term category strategies aligned with brand experience and enterprise growth objectives.
Lead the development of 3–5 year category roadmaps focused on revenue growth, margin expansion, and market differentiation.
Identify emerging trends, competitive threats, and consumer behavior insights to influence category innovation and expansion.
Develop and execute plans to achieve or exceed sales and inventory productivity targets across all retail locations.
Manage category performance through key retail metrics including: Sales per guest, Sales per square foot, Inventory productivity, Gross margin and IMU performance.
Lead enterprise assortment planning strategy across all retail channels and locations.
Build and maintain a strategic Core Assortment that balances innovation, margin optimization, and inventory efficiency.
Direct product lifecycle management including new product introductions, assortment refreshes, and exit strategies.
Develop and manage strategic vendor partnerships, including negotiation of pricing, terms, and product exclusivity.
Partner closely with Supply Chain leadership to develop inventory strategies that optimize working capital and minimize aging inventory.
Establish a data-driven decision culture by leveraging sales analytics, customer insights, and market research.
Lead cross-functional collaboration with Marketing, Supply Chain, Retail Operations, Finance, and Visual Merchandising.
Mentor and develop merchandising team members and analysts.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s Degree in Retail Merchandising, Business, Supply Chain, or related field required
Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in retail merchandising, category management, or buying
Furniture, bedding, or durable goods retail experience strongly preferred
Strong expertise in category strategy, assortment optimization, and pricing strategy
Advanced ability to analyze large data sets and translate insights into actionable strategies
Excellent executive-level communication and presentation skills

Benefits

Comp & perks

Competitive salary based on experience and expertise
Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance options
Paid time off and 401K matching contributions
40% employee discount at Ashley
Leadership development and internal career advancement opportunities

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

Category ManagementSales AnalyticsInventory ManagementProduct Lifecycle ManagementMarket Research

Soft Skills

MentoringCollaborationPresentation Skills

Certifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Retail MerchandisingBachelor’s Degree in BusinessBachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain