Category Manager

Profile Brief:

As a
Category Manager

, your key responsibilities will include analyzing data to interpret and uncover industry and consumer trends, developing long-term strategies for product categories, and creating exit plans for underperforming products. You will also build and maintain relationships with vendors, brands, designers, and artists, determine product positioning, collaborate with marketing teams, and forecast product demand. You will oversee the overall management and profitability of a specific product category within our portfolio.

In this role, you will manage pricing and promotion strategies to maximize consumer appeal. Additionally, fostering partnerships with vendors, brands, designers, and artists, as well as overseeing product range management, will be part of your responsibilities. You will also collaborate closely with the Brand Category & Merchandising Lead, Supply Chain, Marketing, Training, Finance, Legal, and Onsite teams internally, and Brand Partners externally.

Responsibilities:

1.     
Brand Management (Trading terms negotiation and review):

o  Build and maintain strong relationships with brands, negotiating terms and collaborating on exclusive/non-exclusive product launches or promotions.

o  Coordinate and maintain brand agreement sign-offs and subsequent renewals.

o  Develop the annual brand plan, including product launch calendars and sales targets.

o  Ensure a relevant and productive assortment for each brand, aligned with the set linear productivity measure for the category.

2.     
Brand/Product Launch Plans:

o  Work closely with brands and internal stakeholders to plan, coordinate, and execute launch plans for assigned brands – including the annual launch plan and new listing process.

o  Coordinate and approve timely new sell-in processes, including data validation and submission.

o  Partner with brands on pricing and promotion strategies across the region to maximize sales and profitability.

o  Utilize data analytics to assess brand health and new launches' performance, making data-driven decisions to optimize assortments and enhance sales.

o  Collaborate with brands on assortment planning for OMNI-channel, taking customer preferences, market trends, and brand positioning into account.

3.     
Portfolio Management:

o  Monitor and measure the performance of assigned brands against category sales and profitability benchmarks.

o  Conduct half-yearly rationalization of brands and assortments.

o  Work closely with brands and internal stakeholders to develop exit strategies for unsuccessful products.

4.     
Stock Management:

o  Collaborate with the Supply Chain team to meet the company's stockholding KPIs.

o  Review SOH (Stock on Hand) with the supply chain and propose action plans for SKUs with high stock holdings and discontinued SKUs.

o  Monitor and optimize inventory levels to ensure products are adequately stocked, minimizing overstock or stockouts by working closely with demand planners.

5.     
Category Performance Tracking & Reporting:

o  Own the brand portfolio and track OMNI-channel category performance (by channel, market, segment, margin, productivity, brand conversion, and stock management) against set KPIs.

o  Execute and implement programs in alignment with category strategies, as defined in budget and strategy planning, under the guidance of the category lead.

o  Monitor and identify new trends, brands, merchandising programs, and ad-hoc strategies to optimize category growth and performance.

o  Track sales and category reports of assigned brands within the team, including brand insights by segments.

6.     
Talent Development:

o  Mentor and train Merchandising Executives and Interns.

Your Traits Could Be:

• Minimum of 4 years' experience in Account/Brand Management, ideally within the Luxury Furniture, Furnishing, Lifestyle, or Fashion industries.
• Bachelor's degree in business or marketing.
• A strong interest in the Home Furnishing and Furniture industry, with a keen eye for trends and style.
• Excellent command of spoken and written English.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to influence others.
• Strong analytical skills, with a results-oriented approach.
• Demonstrated teamwork and a high level of initiative.
• Ability to work and lead cross-functionally to resolve issues quickly and effectively.
• Independent and capable of working in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.