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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and optimise the Lightside categories, driving sales and margin growth.
- Company: Elliotts, a well-established independent company with a strong regional reputation.
- Benefits: High level of autonomy, direct impact on performance, and opportunities for growth.
- Other info: Regular engagement across branches and suppliers, with occasional travel.
- Why this job: Shape and grow a category while influencing key stakeholders in a collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Strong commercial/category management experience and proven sales growth.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
The Opportunity
Elliotts is hiring a Commercial Manager to lead its Lightside categories: everything within the shop area of its branches: tools, consumables, fixings etc. This is a shift from a traditional buying role to full commercial ownership.
- Own your category end-to-end
- Develop and execute a clear growth strategy
- Optimise range, pricing, and supplier performance
- Drive sales and margin through better decisions
- Influence branches, sales teams, and suppliers
There is clear untapped potential in this category, requiring strong ownership to realise it.
The Environment
- Long established, independent and growing
- Strong regional reputation
- Established supplier base with optimisation opportunities
- Collaborative, commercially focused leadership team
- Clear ambition to improve category performance
The Role
- Take full responsibility for category performance
- Deliver a clear commercial plan
- Improve customer proposition (range, price, availability)
- Drive measurable sales and margin growth
- Lead decisions and implement change
The Person
- Have strong commercial/category management experience in similar products and environments
- Be a Commercial or Category Manager (or similar)
- Demonstrate proven sales and margin growth
- Be confident influencing stakeholders
- Have a proactive, results-driven mindset
Why Elliotts
- High level of autonomy and ownership
- Direct impact on business performance
- Opportunity to shape and grow a category
Location
Hampshire – with visibility across the business and regular stakeholder engagement. Regular presence in Southampton HQ and across the branch network required, with occasional travel further afield to visit suppliers and for events etc.
Interested? For a confidential discussion, please: Send your CV to cv@wilsonbrook.com. All conversations handled with complete discretion.
Commercial Manager employer: Elliotts Builders Merchant
Contact Detail:
Elliotts Builders Merchant Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Commercial Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Elliotts and their Lightside categories. Show us you understand their business and have ideas on how to optimise range and pricing. Tailor your answers to demonstrate your commercial acumen!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your influencing skills! As a Commercial Manager, you'll need to persuade stakeholders. Role-play scenarios with friends or mentors to build your confidence in making impactful decisions.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows us you're serious about joining the team and taking ownership of the category.
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the Commercial Manager role. Highlight your experience in category management and any proven sales growth you've achieved. We want to see how you can own a category end-to-end!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share your vision for optimising range and pricing, and how you plan to drive sales and margin growth. We love a proactive mindset!
Showcase Your Stakeholder Influence: In your application, don’t forget to mention your experience influencing stakeholders. Whether it's branches, sales teams, or suppliers, we want to know how you've made an impact in previous roles. Be specific about your achievements!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at Elliotts!
How to prepare for a job interview at Elliotts Builders Merchant
✨Know Your Categories Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the Lightside categories you'll be managing. Understand the products, market trends, and customer preferences. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your expertise and show that you're ready to take full ownership of the category.
✨Prepare a Growth Strategy
Think about how you would develop and execute a growth strategy for the categories. Be ready to discuss specific ideas on optimising range, pricing, and supplier performance. This shows that you’re proactive and results-driven, which is exactly what they’re looking for.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Influence
Since influencing branches, sales teams, and suppliers is key, prepare examples of how you've successfully engaged stakeholders in the past. Highlight your communication skills and how you’ve driven decisions that led to measurable sales and margin growth.
✨Emphasise Your Autonomy and Results
Elliotts values autonomy, so be sure to share experiences where you took initiative and made impactful decisions. Discuss how your proactive mindset has led to improved category performance in previous roles, aligning with their ambition to enhance business outcomes.