Merchandising Intern

Lids Merchandising Intern

About Our Company

At Lids Sports Group, we don't just sell hats - we fuel fandom. As the largest licensed sports retailer in North America, we bring sports, fashion, and culture together in more than 1,300 stores nationwide. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, Lids delivers premium, fan-driven products and unforgettable retail experiences.

Our stores feature officially licensed headwear and apparel from collegiate and professional teams, alongside top brands like Champion, Nike, New Era, Lululemon Athletica, and Mitchell & Ness. We're also the industry leader in on-demand customization, offering in-store embroidery that turns everyday gear into one-of-a-kind statements.

From specialty concept stores for the NBA and NHL to iconic clubhouse destinations for the Yankees and Dodgers, we create immersive retail experiences that celebrate the teams fans love. Through collaborations with brands like Marvel, Peanuts, and The Walt Disney Company, Lids continues to redefine how fans represent their teams - in style.

General Position Summary

Looking for a game-changing opportunity to pull away from the competition and boost your career after college? We're always interested in attracting future talent to our team. Lids offers a comprehensive internship program across multiple professional disciplines in the fast-paced world of sports, retail and fashion.

Students will work at the Lids Corporate Office in Indianapolis, IN under the guidance of mentors while engaging in real career-related activities. Interns will have the opportunity to present their business projects to the Lids Leadership team and other key members of the organization. The program is designed to complement and expand the students' classroom education and offers an opportunity to gain marketable career experience.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Spend time rotating through all aspects of merchandising: buying, planning, and allocation.
• Develop and utilize reporting to analyze sales, inventory, and market trends to identify business opportunities.
• Attend buying meetings regarding product selection, design, and style and assist buyers with assortment reviews and planning.
• Research emerging trends in licensed headwear, apparel, hardgoods, and fan and fashion merchandise.
• Participate in real, meaningful work assignments that positively impact the company.
• Complete a summer project and present your findings and solution to our executive leadership team.
• Visit stores to analyze our product mix as well as our competitors.

Job Required Knowledge and Skills

• For consideration to participate in the internship program, an applicant must have a 3.0 minimum GPA and be a full-time student pursuing a bachelor's or higher degree in a Business, Retail Merchandising, Fashion Merchandising, or related field at an accredited college/university or attending an accredited 2-year college/university.
• A selected student must be present for the duration of the internship from 06/01/2026 to 07/31/2026.
• This internship is full on-site at our corporate office in Indianapolis. If not local, you must be willing to relocate to the Indianapolis area for the summer.
• Expected to graduate between December of 2027 and May 2028 (Junior Status).

Who You Are

• True team player
• Innovative thinker
• Proven leader and engaged student on campus
• Passion for retail, sports and business
• Intermediate skills in Microsoft Excel
• Results-oriented, willingness to follow through, make informed decisions, complete tasks and problem solve
• Uses rigorous logic and thoughtful thinking to effectively identify, address and resolve challenges
• Demonstrated abilities in learning new skills, change/variety in work and creativity, exhibit attention to detail with high degree of accuracy.

What We Offer

• Competitive Pay

• $200/weekly housing stipend for non-local interns

• Proven leader and engaged student on campus

• Passion for retail, sports and business

• Intermediate skills in Microsoft Excel

• Results-oriented, willingness to follow through, make informed decisions, complete tasks and problem solve

• Uses rigorous logic and thoughtful thinking to effectively identify, address and resolve challenges

• Demonstrated abilities in learning new skills, change/variety in work and creativity, exhibit attention to detail with high degree of accuracy.

Physical Demands & Requirements

• Ability to operate a computer and work with digital systems for extended periods.
• Ability to communicate verbally and visually with internal teams and stakeholders.
• Ability to work in an office or remote environment with frequent task deadlines.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. For inquiries related to reasonable accommodations, please contact HR@Lids.com.

Work Environment

• Onsite office work environment.
• Standard business hours from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., flexibility may be provided upon request.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Employment Requirements

Candidates must possess the experience, skills, physical abilities, and qualifications, with or without reasonable accommodation, to perform the essential duties of the role and must be able to meet all applicable employment standards. Being legally authorized to work in the United States is a pre-condition of employment for this position. Current or future employment-based visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Notice to Applicants

In connection with your application, we collect information that identifies, reasonably relates to, or describes you ("Personal Information"). The categories of Personal Information we collect include your name, email address, mailing address, other contact information, employment history, and educational history. We collect and use this information for human resources and business management purposes, including identifying and evaluating candidates for employment or future contract opportunities, and maintaining recruiting and hiring records.

Need Accessibility Assistance?

Applicants who require accessibility assistance to submit an employment application may email hr@lids.com. A member of our Talent team will respond as soon as reasonably possible. This email address is only for individuals seeking reasonable accommodation when applying for a career at Lids.