Local Marketing & Merchandising Buyer (Midwest)

 

Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform to ignite and harness the passions of fans and maximize the presence and reach for hundreds of partners globally. Optimizing these long-standing partnerships, a database of more than 80 million global consumers and a trusted, recognizable brand name, Fanatics is expanding beyond its position as a global leader for licensed sports merchandise to now becoming a next-gen digital sports platform, featuring an array of offerings for fans across the sports ecosystem.

 

The Fanatics family of companies currently includes Fanatics Commerce, a vertically-integrated licensed merchandise business that has changed the way fans purchase their favorite team apparel, jerseys, headwear and hardgoods through a tech-infused approach to making and quickly distributing fan gear in today’s 24/7 mobile-first economy; Candy Digital, a digital collectibles company that is partnering with prominent sports properties, including MLB and MLBPA, to build an official NFT ecosystem; Fanatics Collectibles, through Topps as a cornerstone of the business, building a new model for the collectibles and trading cards hobby with top leagues and players association partners; and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, a mobile betting, gaming and retail sportsbook platform. Fanatics’ partners include all major professional sports leagues (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, NASCAR, MLS, PGA) and hundreds of collegiate and professional teams, which include several of the biggest global soccer clubs.

 

As a market leader with more than 9,000 employees, and hundreds of partners, suppliers, and vendors worldwide, we take responsibility for driving toward more ethical and sustainable practices. We are committed to building an inclusive Fanatics community, reflecting and representing society at every level of the business, including our employees, vendors, partners and fans. Fanatics is also dedicated to making a positive impact in the communities where we all live, work, and play through strategic philanthropic initiatives.

 

At Fanatics, we’re a diverse, passionate group of employees aiming to ignite pride and passion in the fans we outfit, celebrate and support.  We recognize that diversity helps drive and foster innovation, and through our IDEA program (inclusion, diversity, equality and advocacy) at Fanatics we provide employees with tools and resources to feel connected and engaged in who they are and what they do to support the ultimate fan experience.

 

ABOUT THE TEAM

 

Our merchandise is the key component to the Fanatics Commerce engine. The merchant team at Fanatics is responsible for planning, buying & selecting the merchandise we sell across all venues, platforms and the hundreds of sites we operate. We keep our finger on the real-time pulse of the sports world and work with world-class vendors, such as Nike, Adidas, Under Armor and our own in-house Fanatics Brands division, driving overall top and bottom line results. Teamwork is what we rely on and an essential aspect to everything we do.

PRIMARY PURPOSE

As a Manager, Local Marketing & Merchandising, you will be responsible for collaborating with our in-venue retail partners on marketing, promotions, venue exclusives, and local product opportunities. 

This is a remote role predominately covering our mid-west territory with additional North-East locations (CST Operating Hours) regional candidates preferred.  

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

•Coordinate merchandise strategy between Fanatics and team partners. Includes, but not limited to: 

o New product launches

o Seasonal Strategies

o Key items 

o Item of the Game 

o Theme Nights

o Local Collaborations & Capsule Collections

o Team-Steered Initiatives

o Events including hot markets, seasonal activity, promotions. 

•       Develop and manage promotional calendars for each team partner. 

•       Meet regularly with team partner contacts to brainstorm, collaborate, plan, execute, and evaluate results. 

•       Obtain feedback regularly from team partners for pre-book deadlines or new product offerings. 

•Develop marketing assets at venue on digital, social, & other platforms for featured items, league & team marketing campaigns, item of the game, and all other promotions. 

•Identify trend categories & opportunities. Explore incremental sales opportunities through innovative programs that enhance the fan experience. 

•Responsible for all facets of a local product assortment, using merchandise data to inform strategies and decisions. 

•Partner closely with Buying & Planning to determine financial plans, projections, and maintain open-to-buy.

•Review inventory, maintaining current data on sales and fashion trend. 

•Negotiate with vendors relative to product cost, terms, and issues.

 

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

•Passion for sports and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment

•Bachelor’s degree required

•5+ years of licensed sports experience or team partner management required

•Sports marketing or retail marketing experience encouraged

•Business and financial savvy

•Strong strategic ability

•Strong written communication skills

•Outstanding verbal communication skills with the ability to influence

•Exhibits high standards and accountability; takes pride in accuracy

•Readily grasps numerical concepts and interprets financial information accurately

•Ability to utilize retail math skills to analyze and drive business

•High aptitude; processes information quickly

•Ability to offer solutions to challenges

•Ability to successfully collaborate with internal and external partners

•Seeks to be the leader, wants to be in a position of influence

•Result-oriented and self-motivated with a strong sense of urgency

•Curious about complex issues or opportunities – ability to view things in new ways or from a different perspective

•Able to independently organize and prioritize broad workload to meet deadlines

•Strong computer skills (intermediate Excel skills necessary)

•Travel will be required. 

Ensure your Fanatics job offer is legitimate and don’t fall victim to fraud.  Fanatics never seeks payment from job applicants.  Fanatics recruiters will only reach out to applicants from an @fanatics.com or @fanatics.co.uk email address.  For added security, where possible, apply through our company website at www.fanaticsinc.com/careers

Fanatics is committed to responsible planning and purchasing (RPP) practices, working with its business partners across its global and multi-layered supply chain, to ensure that planning, sourcing, and purchasing decisions, along with other supporting processes, do not impede or conflict with the fulfillment of Fanatics’ fair labor practices.

NOTICE TO CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS/APPLICANTS: In connection with your application, we collect information that identifies, reasonably relates to or describes you (“Personal Information”). The categories of Personal Information that we collect include your name, government issued identification number(s), email address, mailing address, other contact information, emergency contact information, employment history, educational history, criminal record, and demographic information.  We collect and use those categories of Personal Information about you for human resources and other business management purposes, including identifying and evaluating you as a candidate for potential or future employment or future contract positions, recordkeeping in relation to recruiting and hiring, conducting criminal background checks as permitted by law, conducting analytics, and ensuring compliance with applicable legal requirements and Company policies.