What does a category manager do?
A category manager plays a vital role in the retail industry and helps manage product categories. Their primary responsibility is to oversee and optimise the performance of a specific product category within a company. Through detailed research and analysis of customer purchasing behaviours, they customise category offerings to meet customer demands.
The role of category managers includes developing and implementing strategic plans that align with market trends, customer demands and business objectives. They analyse market data, consumer insights and competitor activities to make informed decisions regarding product selection, assortment, pricing, promotions and inventory management.
These professionals collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including merchandising, marketing, sales and supply chain, to develop and execute category-specific plans and pricing strategies. By leveraging their expertise in understanding consumer behaviour and market dynamics, they ensure the company's product offerings are appealing, relevant and meet the target audience's needs.
In India, where retail is highly competitive, and consumer preferences are diverse and ever-changing, a competent category manager is essential for companies to effectively manage their product offerings and stay ahead of the competition.
Their role differs from that of a product manager, whose job is to look after and track the performance of an individual product. Other terms for category manager are category management specialist, assortment manager and portfolio manager.
Job Description: Template
We seek a proficient and strategic category manager to join our team at [Company A].
As a category manager, you will oversee and optimise the performance of a specific product category within our company. This includes negotiating with suppliers, leveraging their expertise to secure advantageous terms and maintaining strong supplier relationships. You will also work closely with cross-functional teams to establish optimal pricing structures and ensure competitiveness.
You will work with talented professionals, shape our product assortment and contribute to our company's success in the competitive Indian market. If you have a solid knowledge of market analysis and consumer behaviour with an innovative mindset, this could be your ideal career.
Objectives of this role
- Developing and executing strategic plans for the assigned product category to drive sales and profitability.
- Analysing market trends, consumer behaviour and competitor activities in order to identify growth opportunities and market gaps.
- Collaborating with various teams, like marketing, sales and product development, to identify and implement new products, services and marketing initiatives.
- Managing product assortment, pricing, promotions and inventory to optimise category performance.
- Evaluating customer feedback and implementing changes to enhance the overall customer experience and drive customer loyalty.
- Developing solid relationships with key vendors and suppliers to improve category offerings and negotiate favourable terms.
Your tasks
- Conduct thorough market research and analysis to identify emerging trends, competitive landscape and customer preferences and provide actionable plans.
- Develop and execute comprehensive category management strategies to achieve business objectives and drive growth.
- Maintain robust category management tools and processes, ensuring seamless strategy execution across the organisation.
- Monitor and evaluate category performance, leveraging key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify areas for improvement and implement corrective measures.
- Lead supplier negotiations, ensuring favourable terms and conditions to drive cost savings and strengthen supplier relationships.
- Collaborate with marketing teams to develop effective product messaging, positioning and communication strategies.
- Execute pricing strategies and promotional plans to optimise profitability while considering market dynamics and customer value perception.
- Stay up-to-date with industry trends, competitor activities and technological advancements to provide recommendations to senior management.
Required skills and qualifications
- SA bachelor’s degree in business, marketing or a related field.
- 3+ years of experience as a category manager in the retail industry in India.
- Strong understanding of the Indian market, consumer behaviour and retail trends.
- Proficiency in utilising Microsoft Office Suite, category management tools and software for data analysis and reporting.
- Flexibility to adapt to the changing market dynamics, consumer preferences and organisational priorities.
- Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and make data-driven decisions.
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders.
- Detail-oriented with a focus on accuracy and quality.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment.
Preferred skills and qualifications
- Experience in category management within the Indian retail market.
- Familiarity with retail merchandising systems and software.
- Knowledge of inventory management and demand forecasting techniques.
- Understanding of pricing strategies, margin analysis and profitability optimisation.
- Experience in vendor management and negotiations.
- Ability to conduct market research and consumer surveys.
- Proficiency in data analysis and using analytics tools.
- Multilingual skills to cater to diverse customer segments in India.
