Category Advisor CAT AD, Sam’s Club

At Fanatics Commerce, we’re more than just a leader in licensed sports merchandise – we’re a team united by a relentless passion for our fans and a commitment to innovation. We live by our BOLD Leadership principles: We Build Championship Teams, we’re Obsessed with Fans, we embrace a Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit, and we approach every challenge with a Determined and Relentless Mindset. If you’re ready to contribute to a dynamic, fast-paced environment that thrives on collaboration and growth, we want you to be part of our team.

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Category Advisor (CAT AD) for Sam’s Club is a strategic partner within Fanatics, responsible for driving performance and innovation across the licensed sports category both in-store and online. As a trusted, objective advisor to Sam’s Club, the CAT AD delivers data-driven insights, assortment strategies, and operational support to ensure a seamless omnichannel experience for customers.

This role manages end-to-end business analytics, merchandising execution, eCommerce growth, and supplier coordination while maintaining alignment with Sam’s Club priorities, timelines, and guidelines.

HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT

Business Strategy & Club Traits

• Develop and manage store-level trait lists based on geography, fanbase, weather zones, and performance to guide club-specific assortments.
• Align club traits and in club space allocations with team affinities and local market opportunities.
• Partner with club managers to gather input, fulfill requests, and conduct annual trait surveys.
• Monitor league schedules, rankings, and events to proactively identify "chase" opportunities.

Performance Analytics & Reporting

• Lead category-level reporting using tools such as RetailLink/Madrid, Coop-NextGen, Sam’s Item Data Management and Sam’s Item Link and others to drive strategic decision-making.
• Strong understanding of the Sam’s Club systems is necessary for success in this role.
• Deliver actionable insights on SKU productivity, in-season recommendations, space utilization, and supplier performance.
• Monitor SAIL reports and sell through data to ensure supplier compliance with Sam’s Club standards and drive revenue opportunities.
• Support financial planning, markdown optimization, and ad-hoc analysis as needed.

Assortment Planning & Merchandising

• Support Sam’s buying team with planning and forecasting for seasonal buys , including item setup and vendor communication to ensure accurate data.
• Ensure consistent team naming conventions and accurate distribution strategies across all programs.
• Conduct quality checks on Buy Plans and Commitment Sheets for accuracy and alignment.
• Manage sample, images, .com content and packaging (belly bands) needs for each program as applicable.

eCommerce & Omnichannel Expansion

• Support BOPIC (Buy Online, Pick up In Club) growth by optimizing inventory availability.
• Improve product detail pages (PDPs) through IDM approvals, keyword optimization, A1 image selection, and content updates.
• Monitor online inventory and analyze customer feedback to refine strategy.
• Lead weekly eCommerce reviews, competitive site audits, and digital shelf enhancements.
• Build best-in-class landing pages and partner cross-functionally to improve site experience and conversion rates.

Collaboration & Execution

• Serve as an extension of the Sam’s Club merchandising team, delivering fact-based, unbiased recommendations.
• Coordinate across internal and external stakeholders to ensure timely execution of feature placements, and product transitions.
• Maintain a professional and organized presence in the Bentonville office.

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TEAM

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, or related field (MBA is a plus); or equivalent experience
• 8+ years of experience in retail business analytics.
• 2+ years of experience as a Category Advisor preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel; skilled in RetailLink, Sam’s SPS, management systems, and related tools.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to create and present detailed reports.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented; thrives in a matrixed team environment.
• Strong financial and operational acumen.

WHERE YOU'LL WORK:

• Based in Bentonville, AR, with hybrid flexibility.

Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. We ignite the passions of global sports fans and maximize the presence and reach for our hundreds of sports partners globally by offering products and services across Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles, and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, allowing sports fans to Buy, Collect, and Bet. Through the Fanatics platform, sports fans can buy licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods; collect physical and digital trading cards, sports memorabilia, and other digital assets; and bet as the company builds its Sportsbook and iGaming platform. Fanatics has an established database of over 100 million global sports fans; a global partner network with approximately 900 sports properties, including major national and international professional sports leagues, players associations, teams, colleges, college conferences and retail partners, 2,500 athletes and celebrities, and 200 exclusive athletes; and over 2,000 retail locations, including its Lids retail stores. Our more than 22,000 employees are committed to relentlessly enhancing the fan experience and delighting sports fans globally. 

Fanatics Commerce is a leading designer, manufacturer, and seller of licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods. It operates a vertically-integrated platform of digital and physical capabilities for leading sports leagues, teams, colleges, and associations globally – as well as its flagship site, www.fanatics.com.

Fanatics Commerce has a broad range of online, sports venue, and vertical apparel partnerships worldwide, including comprehensive partnerships with leading leagues, teams, colleges, and sports organizations across the world—including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, Formula 1, and Australian Football League (AFL); the Dallas Cowboys, Golden State Warriors, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, Chelsea FC, and Tokyo Giants; the University of Notre Dame, University of Alabama, and University of Texas; the International Olympic Committee (IOC), England Rugby, and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).

At Fanatics Commerce, we infuse our BOLD Leadership Principles in everything we do:
· Build Championship Teams
· Obsessed with Fans
· Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit
· Determined and Relentless Mindset