Head of category ( Category Manager )
B.TECH
Total years of experience :20 years, 4 Months
- Responsible for budgeting, forecasting, making category level strategy and achieving sales and margin targets assigned to the category
- Lead negotiations on annual contract terms with suppliers to maximize benefits for both our organisation and the suppliers including margins, pricing, and volumes, product range, MSL, returns, and replenishment, payment terms, etc
- Keep up to date with latest retail and category trends about new and innovative products and ways of displaying products
- Have a close eye on each competition making counter strategies to gain market share
- Work closely with marketing team to create marketing strategy for own category and provide all necessary inputs to marketing for respective category
- Ensure category liaison with key internal interfaces such Product Registration, Vendor Co-ordination, finance reconciliation for category, Brand level reconciliation for respective category, oversee management of all suppliers reconciliation, rebates and any disputes
- Ensure optimum category inventory levels are maintained keeping in mind customers requirements as well as working capital constraints, OTB management
- Monitor and make recommendations for customer product needs, preferences based on internal survey data, and change product range/buying patterns within category making weekly/monthly category level promotional plans
- Ensure assortment are up to date and making timely clearance plan for aging and EOL inventory
- Ensure effective in season management of the assigned category/department through regular analysis and action plan based on the performance around the following anchors: sales vs stock, stock analysis, stock palancing, margin analysis
- Oversee management of organization training needs for training provided by suppliers for new products
- Competition analysis: review and analyze competition offers, suggest improvements based on the analysis
Manage all sales activities
Analyze the company's sales policies and recommend proper improvements and changes
Assist, support and coordinate sales personnel in performing daily sales activities
Analyze markets in order to identify new sales and business opportunities
Analyze, interpret and evaluate the effectiveness of sales, methods, costs and results
Handle customer complaints and solve conflicts within the company
Handle promotional materials and coordinate advertising
Compile and track sales data
Maintain good long term relationship with customers, sales staff and suppliers
Promote positive relationships with vendors and distributors
Participate at trade fairs and other events
Order and maintain materials and merchandise
Handle both field and indoor sales activities
Prepare and analyze complex and technical specifications of products
Evaluate market demand and try to meet customers needs and expectations
Provide customer services after selling the product or service