Full-Time

Merchant

Wovens

KnitWell Group

KnitWell Group

Operates multiple apparel brands nationwide

No salary listed

Fort Myers, FL, USA

In Person

Bachelor's

Category
Operations & Logistics (1)
Required Skills
Market Research
Inventory Management
Marketing

Get referred to KnitWell Group

See people who can refer or advise you

Requirements
  • A bachelor’s degree is preferred.
  • At least 6 years of experience in brand development and merchandising for a progressive national multi-channel apparel retailer.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and excellent written and verbal communication.
  • Excellent analytical skills.
  • Excellent planning and organizational skills.
  • Ability to run and manage the open-to-buy process.
  • Ability to work with and interpret numbers and thorough knowledge of inventory and open-to-buy.
  • Strong presentation skills.
  • Ability to multitask and lead cross-functional teams.
Responsibilities
  • Develop and guide execution of the quarterly strategic view of the line for the brand, focusing on assortment architecture that supports business strategies.
  • Research the market, identify trends and opportunities applicable to the core customer, and identify key opportunities for business strategies.
  • Represent the voice of the customer and apply deep target-customer knowledge to product and outfitting decisions.
  • Create partnerships across Planning, Design, Product Development, Sourcing, Marketing, Site Merchandising Operations, International, Allocation, and Visual.
  • Partner with Sourcing and Product Development, set target retail prices to meet financial goals, and communicate with stakeholders.
  • Partner with Design, Sourcing, and Product Development to ensure proper merchandise fit and quality.
  • Partner with stakeholders to ensure appropriate distribution that maximizes sales.
  • Determine order quantities by style, size, and color, and validate them against KPI objectives, the Line Plan, and the open-to-buy plan.
  • Review business sales trends and make merchandising decisions with leadership to maximize results and minimize risk.
  • Partner with Sourcing to manage delivery flow and timing and ensure commitments are met on time.
  • Partner with Marketing to understand omnichannel floor-set visual placement and its impact on sales, and work with Visual and Merchant leaders on related initiatives.
  • Coordinate with Digital Commerce Merchandising Site Operations and International teams on the final assortment and updates.
  • Coordinate with Site Merchandising partners on the final assortment.
  • Partner with Store Operations, when necessary, to create training and communications that improve workflow.
  • Lead the team by communicating expectations, providing guidance, delivering feedback, and empowering team members.
Desired Qualifications
  • Management experience.

KnitWell Group unites several well-known women’s fashion brands—Ann Taylor, Chico’s, Lane Bryant, LOFT, Soma, Talbots, and White House Black Market—into a large specialty apparel company in the United States with around $6 billion in annual sales. Its products are women’s clothing and accessories sold under these brands through stores and online, spanning a mix of styles and sizes across its portfolio. The company differentiates itself by operating a broad brand family rather than a single label, offering multiple price tiers and fit options through its brands to serve a wide range of customers, and leveraging both mall-based and e-commerce channels for omnichannel shopping. KnitWell Group’s goal is to provide accessible, brand-led fashion across its network of labels and stores, growing its market share in the specialty apparel segment.

Company Size

N/A

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

N/A

Founded

N/A

Get referred to KnitWell Group

See people who can refer or advise you

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • KnitWell added Sarah Evans as CHRO on March 24, 2026, sharpening retention and culture execution.
  • The company still serves 21 million customers, giving it a large cross-brand loyalty base.
  • June 2026 board additions and ongoing lease non-renewals show active portfolio optimization, not disorder.

What critics are saying

  • Selective 2026 closures at LOFT, Ann Taylor, Chico's, and Talbots signal shrinking store productivity.
  • Revelio Labs showed KnitWell headcount down 2.2% in 2026, implying operating leverage pressure.
  • If mall traffic weakens further, Sycamore could force deeper cuts and brand consolidation by 2027.

What makes KnitWell Group unique

  • Sycamore-backed KnitWell runs eight women’s brands across 3,000 stores, spanning ages and price points.
  • Lizanne Kindler, Boston Fed chair in 2026, gives KnitWell unusual merchant discipline and network access.
  • Jessica Sibley joined the board June 23, 2026, strengthening brand, media, and customer-growth expertise.

Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Hybrid Work Options

Remote Work Options

Company News

PR Newswire
Jun 23rd, 2026
TIME CEO Jessica Sibley joins KnitWell Group board of directors

KnitWell Group has appointed Jessica Sibley, CEO of TIME, to its board of directors. Sibley brings over two decades of experience in brand transformation and growth across global media organisations. As TIME's CEO since 2022, Sibley has led the 103-year-old brand's evolution into a diversified global enterprise spanning journalism, digital media, live events and television production. She previously served as chief operating officer and chief revenue officer at Forbes, and held senior roles at The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg. KnitWell Group operates eight American apparel brands including Ann Taylor, Chico's, LOFT and Talbots, serving over 21 million customers. The company is backed by private equity firm Sycamore Partners.

PR Newswire
Mar 24th, 2026
Sarah Evans named chief human resources officer at KnitWell Group

KnitWell Group, a specialty retail apparel company with eight American brands, has appointed Sarah Evans as chief human resources officer. Evans will lead human resources across KnitWell's portfolio, which includes Ann Taylor, Chico's, Lane Bryant, LOFT and Talbots, whilst overseeing corporate communications, belonging and philanthropy. Evans brings extensive experience from large, multi-channel businesses. Most recently, she served as chief human resources officer at Ocean Spray, leading global human resources and corporate communications. Previously, she held senior HR roles at Terminix and Walmart, supporting workforces ranging from 4,000 to over two million employees worldwide. KnitWell Group serves more than 21 million customers nationwide and operates as one of the largest speciality apparel companies in the United States.

First for Women
Mar 8th, 2025
See Ann Taylor's New Look: A Rebrand That's Still Classic, Chic and Made for Women of All Generations

Then, in 2015, Ann Inc. was acquired by Ascena Retail Group for $2.16 billion.