Buying Merchant (Relocation Benefits)

Our client is looking for both a Merchant and a Senior Merchant professionals to help drive product strategy, assortment planning, and business performance within a dynamic retail environment. These roles will partner closely with Design, Product Development, Planning, and Inventory Management teams to deliver compelling assortments that resonate with customers and achieve financial goals.

This is a full-time, direct hire position and it is hybrid in Columbus, Ohio. The client is offering relocation benefits for candidates who are not local to the Columbus area and are interested in relocating.

While both levels are responsible for owning category performance and influencing product strategy, the Senior Merchant role brings deeper category ownership, strategic leadership, and greater responsibility for influencing high-level business decisions.

The Merchant position salary range is $100,000 - $111,000 per year and the Senior Merchant salary range is $120,000 - $150,000 per year. When applying, please note which you are interested in based on your experience level.

Merchant Responsibilities: ($100k - $111k)
Contribute to assortment strategies by influencing decisions throughout the product lifecycle, including product development, buying, pricing, placement, marketing, and promotions.
Partner with Design and Product Development teams to create trend-right products that meet customer needs and business objectives.
Collaborate with Planning and Inventory Management to drive category performance and achieve financial targets.
Analyze current and historical sales performance to identify opportunities and inform merchandising decisions.
Monitor customer shopping behaviors, marketplace trends, competitor activity, and consumer feedback to support assortment planning.
Research and identify emerging fashion and retail trends, translating insights into actionable product strategies.
Present business updates, selling analysis, trend insights, and assortment recommendations to leadership teams.
Support category growth through data-driven decision-making and strong cross-functional collaboration.

Senior Merchant Responsibilities: ($120k - $150k)
Lead assortment strategy and category vision, influencing key decisions across the entire product lifecycle.
Own and drive category performance, identifying opportunities to maximize sales, profitability, and market share.
Partner closely with senior leaders across Merchandising, Planning, Design, Product Development, and Marketing to shape long-term business strategies.
Utilize deep customer, product, and market insights to build innovative assortments aligned with brand objectives.
Serve as the category expert, leveraging sales analysis, trend forecasting, and competitive intelligence to guide business decisions.
Mentor and influence junior merchandising team members while fostering collaboration across functions.
Lead high-level presentations and business reviews with senior leadership, communicating strategies, assortment plans, and performance results.
Identify emerging trends and market opportunities to proactively evolve product offerings and drive growth.

Qualifications:

Merchant: ($100k - $111k)
Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
5+ years of merchandising or buying experience, preferably within apparel, retail, or a related consumer products environment.
Strong understanding of assortment planning, sales analysis, and retail financial metrics.
Passion for product, consumer trends, and the customer experience.
Proven ability to partner effectively with cross-functional teams.
Strong analytical, presentation, and communication skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and merchandising/planning tools.
Ability and willingness to travel as needed.

Senior Merchant: ($120k - $150k)
Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
9+ years of merchandising or buying experience with demonstrated category ownership and business impact.
Proven leadership experience and the ability to influence decisions across multiple stakeholder groups.
Deep expertise in retail financials, sales analysis, assortment planning, and trend forecasting.
Strong strategic mindset with the ability to balance creative and business objectives.
Excellent presentation skills and experience communicating with executive leadership.
Advanced analytical capabilities and comfort leveraging data to drive decisions.
Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally as needed.
Preferred Traits for Both Levels
Strong product intuition and trend awareness.
Customer-first mindset.
Collaborative and team-oriented approach.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving retail environment.
Strong business acumen and decision-making skills.
Passion for building compelling assortments that drive customer engagement and commercial success.

In this position, you may have access to client or customer systems, confidential and/or proprietary information or data. This position is onsite and requires you to work closely with other individuals in a collaborative team environment.

Email Your Resume In Word To
Sarah.Turner@jobalert.creativecircle.com
Looking forward to receiving your resume through our website and going over the position with you. Clicking apply is the best way to apply.
Please do NOT change the email subject line in any way. You must keep the JobID: linkedin : SM23-1998349L707 -- in the email subject line for your application to be considered.
Sarah Turner - Senior Recruiter

For Creative Circle to represent you for this opportunity, you must be currently authorized to work in the United States without the need of employer sponsorship for a non-immigrant visa such as a H-1B, TN, or O visa. We do not support or provide training for STEM/OPT programs. Additionally, you must be physically located in and perform the work for our client in the United States.This is a new role.

This job was first posted by Creative Circle on 09/30/2026 and applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled or closed.

Everforth Creative Circle is an Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, disability, status as a crime victim, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Our hiring process includes AI screening for keywords and minimum qualifications. Recruiters review all results. Everforth Creative Circle will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local law, including but not limited to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the California Fair Chance Act. If you need a reasonable accommodation in the application process, please contact your Recruiter (the person you'll be interviewing with) or a member of our Human Resources team to make arrangements. Anthem / Blue Cross Blue Shield creates and publishes the Transparency in Coverage Machine-Readable Files on behalf of Everforth Creative Circle.

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