Category Manager
Clicks
Total years of experience :7 years, 8 Months
Managed an OTB of ZAR 80 million for 2015:
• Developed an annual operating plan and lead the category team to achieve the category operating plan targets
• Negotiated favourable trading terms with suppliers and actively cultivate, develop and maintain vendor relationships to ensure vendor performance and first to market with product launches
• Negotiated and selected promotional products and price to meet the promotional category sales and margin targets, whilst ensuring that the day to day sales and margin targets are met
• Translated the operating and financial plans into a balanced product assortment with visual on shelf layout to meet the customer’s needs
• Drove the sourcing and development of private label products / exclusive brands thereby creating product differentiation, innovation and brand loyalty to increase market share and profitability
• Coordinated and approved the category financial plan to achieve the divisional financial plan
• Defined the category pricing and promotions strategy to ensure we meet the customer’s needs and remain competitive in the market
Managed an OTB of US$3.6million for 2014:
• Managed regional merchandising strategy for assigned categories
• Managed the day to day execution of assigned category or categories for a country cluster including data entry and samples
• Demonstrated expertise of assigned categories and their management
• Supported local execution of global brand strategy
• Offered input to / execute the brand’s annual business plan
• Analysed product sell thru/ sell in data and participated in monthly financial and selling review meetings by feeding back to Senior Merchants on Product performance
• Demonstrated sound understanding of customer trends, competitors and their pricing strategies
• Monitored and shared competitor trends including pricing strategies for local markets
• Expert on local socio, political and creative trends and ability to anticipate consumer behaviours and inform local and global brand responses
• Supported the development of the seasonal brief based on local consumer insights, customer and competitive intelligence
• Executed / presented local assortments through seasonal line release activities
• Ensured product decisions support brand portfolio strategies, in conjunction with planning, manage the assortment through its PLC
• Part of a team that was culturally connected, driven to win and innovative with a relentless focus on the consumer and the competition
• Coached lower level Merchants
• Managed aspects of product development activities with assistance of product development department and contribute to the execution of the annual brand plan
• Created and maintained Visual line plans/matrix and communicate plan to stakeholders
• Executed all merchant related steps in line with Go-To -Market calendar
• Strong communication skills - included presentation, influencing and negotiation skills
• Day to day communication and followed up with PD&S, commercial and supply planning teams
• Assisted with range planning by local retail segment
• Product sourced and development, including all system work (DaVinci)
• Displayed innovation and energy in constantly addressing trend / product direction, international trend research
• Communicated production instructions and requirements to vendors prior to bulk production
• Worked with the manufacturers to ensure processes are followed to achieve their customer’s requirements in line with their required standards
• Sampled sealing procedures (this included evaluating product and communicating feedback to the team and production base)
• Delivery management from development through to actual receipt of product on shelf
• Ad hoc tasks included assisting with optimizing marketing exposure of the accessories portfolio, building window concepts, communicating their requirements to stores (product styling & selling tips), and managing all customer queries / requests
• Managed the online line book from initial photo shoot to information completion and upload
• Provided product information and activities for their internal marketing focused newsletter
• Business Management (Principles of BM) • Economics (1A& 1B) • Business Communication • Human Resource Management • End User Computing • Principles of Business Law • Strategic Management • Financial Accounting ( (1A &1B) • Change Management • Business Statistics • Finance for Marketing • Marketing of Services • Business Ethics • Project Management • Organizational Behavior • Promotions & Media