Category Manager Apparel and Accessories

Job Description

Job Description

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Bonus based on performance
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Position Overview

Absolute Recomp is seeking a commercially minded Category Manager, Apparel & Accessories to own and grow our non-consumables assortment across our DTC site and retail spaces inside our gyms.

This role owns the category end to end, including what we make, when it launches, and how it performs. The Category Manager will oversee approximately 10–15 product drops annually across a seven-figure category spanning apparel, shakers, keychains, playing cards, novelty items, and other gym-adjacent non-consumable goods.

The ideal candidate is comfortable owning a category, using sales results and customer feedback to make assortment decisions, managing multiple product launches, and driving cross-functional teams toward execution. This role will inherit an existing assortment strategy and supplier relationships, with the opportunity to test and evolve the assortment, develop new supplier partnerships, and grow category revenue.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage approximately 10–15 product drops annually across a seven-figure non-consumables category.
• Own and evolve the assortment strategy using sales results, customer feedback, and product trends.
• Manage products sold through our DTC site and retail spaces inside our gyms.
• Partner with Retail on merchandising, product placement, and sell-through.
• Own category revenue targets and use performance data to guide product and assortment decisions.
• Manage production through overseas suppliers and sourcing agents.
• Maintain existing supplier relationships while identifying and developing new partners.
• Partner with our in-house designer and freelance creative partners to take products from concept through launch.
• Own what gets made, when it launches, and how it performs, while Design owns creative direction.
• Build the marketing plan for each drop and partner with Marketing on launch execution.
• Own and manage the product calendar, including key milestones, deliverables, and launch dates.
• Track product development timelines and proactively identify delays, dependencies, or risks.
• Drive accountability across cross-functional partners for established deadlines and deliverables.
• Provide regular updates on category performance, upcoming launches, timelines, and potential risks.
• Attend domestic industry conventions and trade shows, with future opportunities for international travel to supplier facilities.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in category management, product management, merchandising, product development, retail, apparel, consumer products, or a related field.
• Experience managing a product category or assortment from concept through launch.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple product launches, timelines, or cross-functional projects.
• Experience working with Design, Marketing, Retail, Supply Chain, Sourcing, Production, or Operations teams.
• Strong product and assortment management skills.
• Strong business acumen and ability to use sales and performance data to make product decisions.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• High level of accountability, ownership, and follow-through.
• Ability to identify potential roadblocks early and proactively work toward solutions.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role means taking ownership of an established category and making informed decisions about what stays, what goes, and what comes next. In the first year, this person will focus on testing and refining the current assortment strategy against actual sales results and customer feedback, growing non-consumables category revenue, and establishing consistent, on-time execution across the annual product drop calendar.

This person will bring strong commercial ownership to the category while ensuring products move efficiently from concept through launch and that product decisions translate into measurable business results.