At Designer Brands, we are the proud parent company of DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, The Shoe Company, and Rubino, operating nearly 675 stores across North America and a billion-dollar digital commerce business. We lead the footwear industry with a diverse portfolio of iconic brands, including Topo Athletic, Keds, Vince Camuto, Kelly & Katie, Jessica Simpson, Lucky Brand, Mix No. 6, Crown Vintage, and others. With expertise in design, production, and sourcing, we create on-trend footwear and accessories, delivered through a robust omni-channel infrastructure and national wholesale distribution. At Designer Brands, we are committed to fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity, where each employee’s unique perspective contributes to our success. Anchored by our core values of “We Love What We Do,” “We Own What We Do,” “We Do What’s Right,” and “We Belong,” we continuously drive forward together, building a future where everyone can put their best foot forward.
Reports to: Senior Manager, Store Planning and Allocation
The OpportunityAs an Allocation Analyst, you’ll play a central role in how product shows up for our customers—deciding what goes where, when it matters most. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys turning data into action, spotting patterns others might miss, and influencing outcomes through thoughtful analysis and collaboration.
You’ll be responsible for executing allocation strategies for a specific product category, ensuring the right inventory reaches the right stores at the right time. Working closely with Merchandising and Planning partners, you’ll help shape product flow, improve in-stock performance, and support financial goals across the business.
This is a hands-on, highly collaborative role where your ideas, analysis, and curiosity directly impact store performance and customer experience.
What You’ll Be Doing- Execute allocations for an assigned product category that aligns to the assortment strategy and store capacity
- Monitor product performance at the store and item level; identify risks and opportunities to improve product productivity, maximize in-stocks and propose actionable recommendations
- Partner with Merchants and Planning to understand assortment strategies, product life cycles and inform the allocation strategy; participate in weekly cross functional meetings, hindsight and pre-season discussions
- Contribute to process improvements that enhance efficiency, accuracy and automation within the allocation system
- Develop and maintain ad hoc reporting to analyze performance and support the allocation strategy; share insights and recommendations cross functionally
- Ability to use data to inform decisions and identify trends, risks and opportunities; clearly communicate findings to cross functional teams
- 1–2 years of experience in allocation, planning, analytics, or retail inventory management
- BA or BS required, preferably in a business related field
- Strong analytical skills, including proficiency in retail math
- Ability to interpret data, identify trends, and draw actionable insights
- Excel knowledge and skills are required
- Experience working with retail allocation systems preferred (Blue Yonder/JDA, Oracle, or similar)
- Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to partner across teams and levels
- Ability to clearly share insights, recommendations, and rationale behind decisions
- Highly organized, detail oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities
- Comfortable making judgment-based decisions and solving problems independently
- Able to adapt quickly in a fast-paced, evolving retail environment
- Team oriented, with a shared focus on achieving common goals
Perks and Benefits You’ll Enjoy!
- Your Sole Well-Being: Our benefits package is crafted with our associates in mind! We support you with benefits like free virtual health care, robust family/fertility benefits, 401(k) w/ match, and more. Explore our offerings at https://mymobilewalletcard.com/dbi.
- Stride with Flexibility: We offer hybrid and remote work opportunities, giving you the freedom to stay connected, productive, and inspired—wherever you do your best work.
- Stepping Up Your Career: Take advantage of training programs, professional development, and education assistance to advance your career with a company that celebrates bold ideas and fresh perspectives.
- We are Shoe-Obsessed: Because we know a great pair of shoes can change your day, you’ll enjoy 30% off at DSW & com, plus discounts across our family of brands.
Skills Required
- 1–2 years of experience in allocation, planning, analytics, or retail inventory management
- Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree, preferably in a business-related field
- Strong analytical skills, including proficiency in retail math
- Ability to interpret data, identify trends, and develop actionable insights
- Excel knowledge and skills
- Experience with retail allocation systems such as Blue Yonder/JDA, Oracle, or similar
- Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and make independent judgment-based decisions
What We Do
Designer Brands is one of North America’s largest designers, producers and retailers of footwear and accessories that operates retail concepts. Our primary concept, DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, offers brand name and designer dress, casual and athletic footwear and accessories. The first store opened in 1991 in Dublin, Ohio. Today, DSW operates more than 500 stores in 44 states. The Affiliated Business Group operates nearly 290 leased departments for other retailers, such as Stein Mart, in the U.S. Designer Brands also operates several retail concepts in Canada, including The Shoe Company and Shoe Warehouse, which provide a convenient footwear solution for the whole family, as well as DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse – nearly 150 locations in all. In 2018, the company acquired Camuto Group, the legendary product design and brand development organization best known for the successful Vince Camuto® brand and the footwear licenses of Jessica Simpson® and Lucky Brand®. The partnership transformed Designer Brands into one of the largest footwear companies in North America with global, industry-leading capabilities in product design, development, sourcing and production.
