Category Manager

Job Description : APPAREL CATEGORY MANAGER UAE The role holder will be responsible to grow category market share through provision of an effective and innovative product portfolio within the right price and quality in order to drive sales. The role is responsible for contributing to Business Unit’s overall category strategy, as well as partnering and maintaining key relationships with principals for brands/categories managed and maximizes sales and profitability. Core Responsibilities: · Drive sales from the assigned brand/category by developing comprehensive business plans · Studies trends from historical data around brand/category sales and market research to assist in the overall planning process · Manages consumer mapping, and is responsible for brand/category consumer segmentation and differentiation · Ensures optimum utilization of customer research information to guide brand/category management decisions, including decisions on the introduction of new products, product assortment, promotion and pricing of products in the store · Collaborates with Retail operations to understand consumer trends, sales figures, etc. to further formulate the business plan for the brand/category · Ensures access to market intelligence through various sources on competition pricing and business and analysis of trends which may impact the Business Unit · Monitors and analyses business performance by brand/category sales, sell-out, gross margin and turnover and translates insights into key selling points, or category opportunities · Manages and tracks brand/category sales planning and forecasting processes · Ensures effective ‘in season’ management for the given brand/category of products (stock balancing, markdown management, stock analysis, stock vs sales performance). · Leads and oversees the buying requirements and formulates buying plan and budget for the brand/category and ensures proper monitoring of orders based on the buying plan and follow-ups on merchandise delivery as per the plan · Manages the relationship and liaises with principals/supplies on matters relating to price negotiations, product launches, marketing campaigns, forthcoming offerings and events · Coordinates regular meetings with Area Managers/Store Managers to share insights arising from market dynamics and brand/category performance · Collaborates with the visual merchandising function to provide brand/category guidelines and implementations of the same in all retail outlets · Collaborates with the retail marketing function, to ensure maximum visibility of their category through retail marketing · Analyses sales related data for products within the brand/category portfolio and provides insights into enhancing potential sales opportunities · Works with the Human Resource department to coordinate training related to products and customer service, to ensure personnel knowledge of key product features and benefits across the stores · Defines goals and key performance indicators for each member of the team and ensures effective implementation of the GMG’s performance management process. Educational Qualifications and Certificates · Bachelor’s degree in Business Management/ Marketing or equivalent · Master’s degree in Buying and Merchandising Experience · A minimum of 10 to 12 years of relevant experience with at least 4 years in managing brand/category of products Additional skills · Product/category/brand knowledge · Industry Knowledge · MS Office and tools · Analytical skills

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