Matthew Szabo
About Matthew Szabo
Matthew Szabo is the Director of National Brand Cost Optimization at Kohl's, with 16 years of retail experience in strategy, buying, and brand management.
Title
Matthew Szabo holds the title of Director, National Brand Cost Optimization at Kohl's. He has been in this position since 2022, operating out of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.
Career at Kohl's
Matthew Szabo has had a long tenure with Kohl's, holding several significant roles. From 2021 to 2022, he served as Sr. Merchandising Initiatives Manager. Prior to that, he was the Sr. Inventory Manager - Mens Apparel from 2020 to 2021 and Divisional Localization and Digital Manager from 2018 to 2020. He also held the title of Sr. Buyer Men's Active Apparel between 2016 and 2018 and was the Buyer - Toys from 2013 to 2016. Earlier roles include Merchandise Planner - Toys, Merchandise Planner-Utility Bedding, Merchandise Planner-Men's Athletic Shoes, Assistant Buyer-Men's Athletic Shoes, Assistant Manager-Market Solutions, and Merchandise Analyst-Misses Shoes. His responsibilities evolved, reflecting his growing expertise in merchandising, buying, planning, and strategic initiatives.
Education and Expertise
Matthew Szabo studied at Indiana University - Kelley School of Business, where he graduated with a degree in Marketing and Business from 2002 to 2006. He specializes in strategy development through the refinement of both internal and external data to support growth strategies. His educational background has been foundational in his 16 years of retail experience, which encompasses merchant strategy, brand launches, and strategic inventory deployment.
Strategic Projects and Partnerships
During his extensive career at Kohl's, Matthew Szabo has been a key strategic partner and project manager to the Women’s and Men’s leadership groups. He is currently working on establishing Kohl's as a leader in the Outdoor apparel, gear, and accessory industry. Notable strategic brand partnerships he has been involved in include collaborations with Eddie Bauer and Tommy Hilfiger. His expertise also extends to digital strategy and unique store assortments through localization initiatives.
Professional Interests
Matthew Szabo is deeply interested in director-level strategy, buying, planning, and brand/product management. His professional focus areas include refining growth strategies through strategic data analysis and supporting key retail segments. His role in Kohl's emphasizes his interest and capability in driving brand optimization and strategic positioning in the retail sector.