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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 for events.
- Why this job: Shape and grow a category while influencing key stakeholders in a collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Strong commercial management experience and proven track record in sales growth.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ 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 in Eastleigh employer: Elliotts Builders Merchant
Contact Detail:
Elliotts Builders Merchant Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Manager in Eastleigh
✨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 understanding their current category performance. Be ready to discuss how you can drive sales and margin growth based on your past experiences. Show them you mean business!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just apply anywhere; focus on roles that excite you! Use our website to find opportunities that match your skills and ambitions. Tailor your approach to each role, especially when it comes to showcasing your commercial management experience.
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in keeping you top of mind. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and reinforces your proactive mindset, which is exactly what they’re looking for.
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Manager in Eastleigh
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. We’re looking for someone who can engage with branches, sales teams, and suppliers effectively. Give us examples of how you've done this in the past!
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 don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step!
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 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 will showcase your proactive mindset and ability to drive sales and margin growth.
✨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 can build collaborative relationships to achieve commercial goals.
✨Demonstrate Results-Driven Mindset
Be ready to share concrete examples of how you've achieved sales and margin growth in previous roles. Use metrics and data to back up your claims, as this will illustrate your results-driven approach and align with the expectations of the role.