Category Manager

SUMMARY:
Well-established retail company in Durban requires a Category Manager/Buyer. The purpose of the role is to meet sales and margins budget through selecting appropriate product ranges in order to provide the shopper with the widest breadth of product at the best possible value.
Responsible for evaluation, forecasting, selection and procurement of all merchandise in the categories for which he/she has responsibility. The Buyer is accountable for range management, department strategies, sales, profits, margins, stock turn for their respective department as well as product quality control.

POSITION INFO:
Key Requirements:

• Relevant degree
• 5+ years in similar role

• Negotiating
• Analyzing sales data and sales planning
• Detail orientated and a creative problem solver
• Critical and analytical thinking skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Inventory management
• Expert level skills in retail merchandising tools and Microsoft tools/applications such as Excel and Outlook
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to multitask in a busy environment

• Develop and execute business strategy to maximize the profitability of assigned categories
• Responsible for communicating category strategies to the relevant parties (planning, marketing and operations) and providing timely updates and information
• Partner with the Marketing team to develop and integrate store and online merchandising strategy
• Partner with key strategic suppliers to develop 3 – 5 year plans
• Development of private label ranges and strategies
• Research business and market place trends, analyze competitor products and customer needs to increase the organization’s share of total market

• Responsible for managing gross profit, sales aged stock and stock turn, of the category portfolio
• Develop financial plans to achieve the department’s annual sales and net margin goals
• Engage with Planning department to manage current and future OTB status
• Manage the billings process and negotiate deals with suppliers

• Responsible for category range - product evaluation and selection to achieve category targets
• Responsible for managing the entire cycle of a product’s trend curve by making effective tactical and strategic merchandising and marketing decisions (managing top sellers, slow sellers, aged stock inventory management)
• Develop Import Program – range, price strategy, product life cycle, marketing &promotion
• Product innovation –point of difference product to ensure competitive advantage
• Partner with Marketing to manage launch strategies for new and innovative products
• Order samples, maintain and manage samples in the Concept store
• Responsible for working with Visual Merchandising Team and Store Planning to develop appropriate store groupings, bin allocations and planograms

• Consistently evaluate SKU count to ensure dominance of best-selling products and optimal range.
• Manage range through top seller, slow seller and aged stock inventory management
• Liaise with Planning team on system maintenance

• Ensure product complies to necessary quality standards to prevent company reputation damage, customer disappointment and misuse of company spend.
• Responsible for product certification and quality control parameters

• Collaborate with the Marketing team to execute product promotional calendar and promotional category strategies
• Partner with the Marketing team to drive category sales
• Accurately complete the marketing ROI template, proof ad copy/photography and proof advertising
• Partner with suppliers to obtain funding and run financially attractive promotions

• Maintain strong partnerships with existing suppliers and proactively source new suppliers
• Manage supplier relationships

• Provide feedback, coaching and guidance where appropriate to enhance skill development
• Develop and train store teams in relation to product knowledge, selling, and in-store execution