Category Buyer​/Merchandise Planner Fishing, BBQ & Camping

This role blends the commercial execution of a Retail Buyer with the analytical rigor of a Merchandise Planner. You will be responsible for assortment planning, vendor relations, pricing strategies, and inventory analytics for the hunting, fishing, BBQ, and camping categories. While a strong background in data analytics is required, prior experience strictly in retail buying or category management is preferred but not mandatory for the right analytical candidate.

NOTE:

This position is an in-office Mon - Fri opportunity in our Pearland, Texas office.

The essential job functions include, but are not limited to:

• Develop and execute long-term merchandise strategies and assortment plans for assigned categories.
• Source new products, identify market trends, and capitalize on opportunity gaps in the outdoor sector.
• Build and manage vendor relationships, driving negotiations to support category growth and margin goals.
• Direct product selection, pricing strategies, and promotional calendars across all customer channels.

• Analyze sales performance, sell-through rates, and consumer data to drive purchasing decisions.
• Manage inventory health by running ad hoc and regular reporting on out-of-stocks, SKU rationalization, and opportunity gaps.
• Optimize space planning and plan‑ograms based on financial performance and product movement.
• Monitor competitor pricing and adjust retail strategies to maintain market positioning.
• Partner with IT to define data requirements, optimize enterprise data flow, and ensure accurate reporting.
• Present financial performance, margin analysis, and strategic recommendations to leadership.
• Conduct field analysis and store visits to evaluate merchandising execution and localized product needs.
• Perform other duties as required and/or assigned
• Employee must be able to perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation

The position requirements include, but are not limited to:

• Master’s Degree (Business, Statistics, Mathematics, Accounting, Engineering, or related) with 2+ years of experience;
  OR Bachelor’s Degree with 4+ years of relevant experience
• Strong background in data analytics, merchandise planning, or retail buying working with large-scale datasets
• Preferred:
  Direct experience or strong product knowledge in hunting, fishing, BBQ, and camping gear

• Requires advanced expertise in Microsoft Excel
  , particularly with pivot tables, complex formula creation, and data modeling.
  Successful completion of an Excel skills assessment is required
• Experience utilizing Data Visualization and Business Intelligence tools (e.g., Tableau, Micro Strategy) for retail reporting

• Strong project management skills to oversee category resets, product launches, and promotional timelines
• Exceptional attention to detail, accuracy, and the ability to manage multiple priorities efficiently
• Solid communication skills to present actionable insights to internal teams and negotiate with external vendors