Category Manager

Ref: 555855

Worcester, UK

£65,000

• Permanent
• Strategic Product Sourcing
• Exceptional Vendor Relationships
• Immediately Available

About the candidate

An imaginative and commercially savvy Category Manager in the Seasonal products sector, proficient at managing product life cycles, vendor relations, and strategic sourcing. With an extensive background in the retail field specific to garden and outdoor products, our candidate offers expertise in sourcing a myriad of seasonal items, ranging from luxurious outdoor furniture to festive decorations.

With a long-standing career spanning over three decades, including significant leadership roles, they have developed a keen instinct for aligning product offerings with consumer desires and commercial objectives. They have a track record of developing original sets of in-store merchandising systems which significantly boost sales and customer engagement, particularly during seasonal peaks.

What makes them great?

• Proven capability in designing and implementing innovative seasonal product ranges that have notably increased year-on-year growth and profitability in previous roles.
• Expertise in managing both domestic and international supplier relationships, enhancing the supply chain efficiency.
• Significant experience in negotiating with vendors to secure beneficial agreements, improving cost-effectiveness and profit margins.

Areas of expertise

• Creative product design and season-specific sourcing
• Vendor negotiations and relations, particularly with Far East suppliers
• Strategic market analysis to ensure product viability and profitability
• Leadership in setting up vendor and retail strategies with a focus on increasing sales and profit margins
• Extensive experience with in-store visual merchandising and layout planning