Category Manager: Branded Apparel, Lingerie, and Accessories

Overview

This role is based out of our headquarters in Torrance, CA.HUSTLER Hollywood Entertainment, Inc. is seeking a talented Category Manager. This position owns the end to end product lifecycle of the branded apparel, accessories, and lingerie program, driving sales execution, planning, pricing, promotion, and product development for HUSTLER Hollywood and Lovers. This role will work closely with cross-functional teams, including Buying, Planning, and Allocation to ensure that product initiatives align with business goals, meet quality and cost targets, and contribute to the overall growth and probability of the brand. From negotiating with vendors, monitoring inventory levels, identifying new product opportunities to drive category success, and lead the supporting team, the Category Manager will have a key influence on both product strategy and financial outcomes. This role is focused on delivering results while championing a culture of curiosity, operation excellence, continuous improvement, and growth mentality.  

Responsibilities

Manage Category Performance and Financial Success

• Drive category sales and profitability through assortment planning, pricing, promotions, and inventory strategies across all channels
• Collaborate with the Director of Buying on seasonal and long term plans to continue category growth, including proposing what to grow, maintain, and decline.
• Consistently analyze category performance to identify areas of opportunity and data driven decisions
• Manage OTB and inventory levels to ensure proper inventory turns and healthy newness and replenishment ratios 
• Cultivate and strengthen key relationships with vendors/suppliers, negotiating competitive cost structures, promotions, and exclusives
• Pitch seasonal promotions and marketing initiatives o the Director of Buying
• Ensure adherence to critical milestone deadlines as well as departmental and business calendars 
• Investigate past seasonal sales and styling to ensure comp sku counts, styling, category growth, and line planning
• Partner with planning and allocation on monthly replenishment, inventory management, and inventory strategy 
• Manage seasonality within the Managers’ categories including communication of seasonal reorders, end of life product, and production orders
• Ensure SKU count is on plan by product tier and store cluster
• Maintain up to date size scales by store, category, and cluster to ensure proper store allocation and inventory optimization 
• Execute sku rationalization by sub-category and manage all markdowns
• Research market trends, consumer insights, and the competitive landscape

Lead Product Development from Concept to Production

• Take ownership of product categories, from initial concept through final production handof to effectively manage the end-to-end product development process, ensuring timelines, quality standards, and cost targets are met.
• Monitor private label sales and inventory levels, ensuring timely replenishment or replacement of styles as needed 
• Partner with the Director of Buying and Buyers to align on line plan strategies and long-term planning, to ensure categorical success and align with business goals.
• Develop and maintain detailed product development line plans, tech packs, time and action calendars, and project tracking systems 
• Review pre-production samples to ensure quality standards are met and keep development on track 
• Communicate all pre-production notes and sample adjustments clearly and in a timely manner 
• Communicate all visual and non-fit-related comments to vendors and review comments with buyers/Director of Buying 
• Oversee the packaging process to ensure alignment with brand standards and product goals in partnership with the Brand team 
• Facilitate communications and obtain necessary approvals for licensed products to ensure alignment with the brand's vision and goals 
• Lead negotiations with vendors and factories to meet cost and MOQ targets, ensuring favorable outcomes for the business 
• Identify new opportunities for product development that drive financial growth and category success 
• Work closely with vendors to troubleshoot and resolve any development or production challenges 

Collaborate Cross-Functionally to Ensure Product Alignment and Execution

• Act as the primary internal liaison across departments for new product launches, ensuring alignment on progress updates and timelines 
• Collaborate with visual merchandising to ensure monthly visual directives are accurate to achieve desired product placement, product features, signage, and promotions
• Align with Operations on promotional needs, accurate promotional inclusion lists, and weekly store communication
• Ensure cross-functional needs are met for photoshoots, Affiates, and monthly marketing projects. 

Team Leadership

• Lead, manage, and develop a team of Merchandising professionals
• Actively coach, train, and develop buying personnel and assists in growth of the team 
• Drive the calendar for your team to ensure all categorical deadlines are met

To be successful in this role, the ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in product development and buying, particularly soft goods within a retail chain environment.
• 3+ managing merchandising team members
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proven track record of driving successful product development initiatives and delivering on sales goals.
• Strong analytical, financial, and strategic thinking abilities, with a demonstrated ability to make data-driven decisions.
• Excellent negotiating skills, with a history of successfully achieving favorable outcomes with vendors and suppliers.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams.
• Detail-oriented and highly organized, able to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Proactive problem-solving skills with a results-oriented mindset.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with cross-functional teams and external partners.
• Experience working directly with international factories is a plus.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook (advanced skills preferred).