At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead category management for top retailers in the Baby and Pharmacy sectors.
- Company: Join Mayborn HQ, a dynamic company focused on innovative baby products.
- Benefits: Enjoy a permanent role with opportunities for growth and development.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on creativity and strategic thinking.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping retail strategies and driving brand success.
- Qualifications: Experience in category management and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 € per year.
We’re looking for a Category Manager – Retail to support our businesses in the UK and Ireland. The Category Manager will be the lead on our retailer category management relationships within the Baby Specialist and Pharmacy Channels, including Boots, John Lewis and Mamas and Papas. They will be responsible for the execution of our Category plans as set by the Senior Category Management & Insights Manager, to whom this role reports.
The role will analyse & lead the shopper insights for the sales, marketing & category teams to use for decision making purposes, lead ranging and distribution conversations with selected retailers, support the business through the production of retailer planograms and support the annual sell in decks for innovation to retailers. This role requires the ability to demonstrate and bring strong category thought leadership to our retailers, ensuring our category strategy is implemented and working across teams internally and externally to influence decision making.
What you will be doing:
- Identify the key retailer & shopper insights: Provide relevant market, shopper, and performance insights to define the retailer growth strategy and enhance business understanding and deliver quantifiable benefits to both our brand and channel strategies.
- Execute the key accounts growth strategy: Working with the sales & regional category team, to implement and execute the key growth drivers to achieve the Annual Business Plan.
- Develop External Category Strategy: Develop an external Baby Category Growth strategy for retailers, using the culmination of the internal sub category strategies (Bottles, Soothers, Electricals etc) to support the sales team to land their customer & channel plans.
- Category Captaincy: Bring category thought leadership to our chosen retail partners with compelling category management programmes to deliver growth in our core categories and support the team to win incremental distribution across our strategic customers.
- Review Retailer Performance: Monthly review and reporting of retailer performance and sharing of best practice.
- Drive best in class category fundamentals with the retailer for assortment and shelving: Using a full suite of capabilities like point of sale data, shopper data, panel data, and planogram software. Determine the opportunities for growth in regards assortment (via under trade analysis) developing a targeted distribution plan by retailer.
- Create the NPD sell in story: Support marketing & category team to create retailer specific sell in presentations to support listings/launch of NPD.
- Support trade activation plans: Align with the retailer marketing team to ensure trade activation supports the channel growth plan.
- Work as part of the broader multi-functional Category & Marketing team to ensure development, delivery and exceptional commercial success for Mayborn.
What skills and experiences you’ll need to ace this job:
- Experience: experience in a category management or category executive role, ideally from a branded background. Proven experience developing retailer growth strategies and retailer-facing sell-ins.
- Category management: Experience with key strategic retailers’ merchandising centres & their category management process. Experience & success with influencing retailers.
Category Manager - Retail Commercial - UK & Europe · Mayborn HQ in Newcastle upon Tyne employer: Mayborn
Mayborn HQ is an exceptional employer located in Newcastle upon Tyne, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation. As a Category Manager, you will benefit from comprehensive professional development opportunities, a supportive team environment, and the chance to lead impactful category strategies with renowned retailers. Join us to make a meaningful contribution in the baby products sector while enjoying the vibrant lifestyle that Newcastle has to offer.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Manager - Retail Commercial - UK & Europe · Mayborn HQ in Newcastle upon Tyne
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy to reach out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its competitors. Understand their category strategies and think about how you can contribute. Bring your insights to the table – show them you’re not just another candidate!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or family. Focus on articulating your experience in category management and how it aligns with the role. Confidence is key, so get comfortable talking about your achievements.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining us. Tailor your application to highlight your relevant skills and experiences that match the job description.
We think you need these skills to ace Category Manager - Retail Commercial - UK & Europe · Mayborn HQ in Newcastle upon Tyne
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Category Manager role. Highlight your experience in category management and any specific achievements with retailers like Boots or John Lewis. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about category management and how your skills align with our needs. Don’t forget to mention your insights into shopper behaviour and how you can drive growth.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:Since this role involves analysing shopper insights, make sure to highlight any relevant analytical skills or tools you've used in the past. We love data-driven decision-making, so let us know how you've used insights to influence strategies!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and keep track of it. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at Mayborn!
How to prepare for a job interview at Mayborn
✨Know Your Retail Landscape
Before the interview, dive deep into the retail landscape of the Baby Specialist and Pharmacy Channels. Familiarise yourself with key players like Boots, John Lewis, and Mamas and Papas. Understanding their category management processes will help you speak confidently about how you can contribute to their growth strategies.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
As a Category Manager, you'll need to analyse shopper insights and performance data. Prepare examples from your past experience where you've successfully used data to drive decisions or improve category performance. This will demonstrate your ability to bring strong category thought leadership to the table.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you would handle specific situations, such as developing a retailer growth strategy or creating a sell-in story for new products. Think through your approach to these scenarios in advance, using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Demonstrate Team Collaboration
This role requires working closely with sales, marketing, and category teams. Be ready to discuss how you've collaborated with cross-functional teams in the past. Highlight any successful projects where teamwork led to exceptional commercial outcomes, showing that you can thrive in a multi-functional environment.