Category Manager - Christmas
Category Manager - Christmas

Category Manager - Christmas

Full-Time 36000 - 60000 Β£ / year (est.) No home office possible
M

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the Christmas category strategy, curate exciting product ranges, and manage supplier relationships.
  • Company: Rapidly expanding retail group known for innovative and beautifully designed seasonal products.
  • Benefits: Opportunity to shape a high-profile category and work with international suppliers.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact during the festive season in a collaborative and forward-thinking environment.
  • Qualifications: Experience as a Category Manager or Buyer, strong analytical skills, and excellent communication.
  • Other info: Join a growing team focused on sustainable growth and memorable customer experiences.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 Β£ per year.

About the Business

Our client is a highly respected and rapidly expanding retail group, renowned for delivering beautifully designed, trend-led products across seasonal and lifestyle categories. With a particularly strong presence in Christmas and seasonal ranges, they are known for combining creativity with commercial excellence. The business has an outstanding reputation for quality, innovation, and delivering memorable customer experiences, making this an exciting time to join a collaborative and forward-thinking organisation focused on sustainable growth.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced and commercially driven Christmas Category Manager to take full ownership of a key seasonal category. This is a pivotal role for a proactive, detail-oriented professional who thrives on range building, trend-led product curation, and Far East sourcing. You'll have significant autonomy to shape the Christmas category strategy, driving growth, profitability, and customer appeal across this critical trading period.

Key Responsibilities

  • Analyse Christmas trends, seasonal insights, and competitor activity to inform and refine category strategy.
  • Build, curate, and evolve compelling Christmas product ranges that excite customers and maximise sales.
  • Source, negotiate, and maintain strong relationships with Far East suppliers to ensure competitive pricing, quality, and on-time delivery for peak season.
  • Manage the full product lifecycle, from concept, design, and development through to launch, merchandising, and post-season performance review.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally on pricing, promotions, and marketing activity to optimise seasonal visibility and sell-through.
  • Monitor margins, landed costs, and category KPIs, using data to drive informed commercial decisions.
  • Plan and manage budgets, forecasts, and stock levels to align with seasonal demand and critical trading windows.

Skills & Experience

  • Proven experience as a Category Manager or Buyer, ideally within Christmas, seasonal, home dΓ©cor, or gifting categories.
  • Strong analytical capability with the confidence to turn insight into commercial action.
  • Demonstrated success in building and trading seasonal or fast-paced retail ranges.
  • Solid experience sourcing and negotiating with Far East suppliers.
  • Excellent commercial acumen, communication, and negotiation skills.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.
  • A proactive, organised, and collaborative approach, with the confidence to work autonomously.

Why Apply?

This is an exceptional opportunity to take ownership of a high-profile Christmas category within a growing retail group at an exciting stage of its journey. You'll play a key role in shaping seasonal strategy, working with international suppliers, and seeing your impact come to life during the most important trading period of the year.

If you're a commercially minded Christmas Category Manager looking for your next challenge, we'd love to hear from you.

What's Next?

For further information regarding this opportunity, please send your CV to Rae@morepeople.co.uk. If you feel you meet most of the requirements but would like to discuss the role further, please call 01780 480530.

Category Manager - Christmas employer: Morepeople 01780

Join a dynamic and innovative retail group that is not only renowned for its beautifully designed seasonal products but also fosters a collaborative and forward-thinking work culture. With a strong emphasis on employee growth and sustainability, this company offers significant autonomy in your role as a Christmas Category Manager, allowing you to make a tangible impact during the peak trading season while enjoying a supportive environment that values creativity and commercial excellence.
M

Contact Detail:

Morepeople 01780 Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🀫

We think this is how you could land Category Manager - Christmas

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the retail industry, especially those who have experience with seasonal categories. A friendly chat can lead to insider info or even a referral that could land you an interview.

✨Tip Number 2

Show off your expertise! Prepare a portfolio showcasing your previous work in category management, especially any Christmas or seasonal projects. This will help you stand out and demonstrate your ability to drive growth and profitability.

✨Tip Number 3

Stay updated on trends! Keep an eye on the latest Christmas trends and competitor activities. Being able to discuss these insights during interviews will show you're proactive and ready to shape the category strategy.

✨Tip Number 4

Apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining us. Make sure to tailor your application to highlight your relevant experience and how you can contribute to our exciting journey in the retail space.

We think you need these skills to ace Category Manager - Christmas

Category Management
Trend Analysis
Product Curation
Far East Sourcing
Negotiation Skills
Commercial Acumen
Data-Driven Decision Making
Budget Management
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft PowerPoint
Organisational Skills
Autonomy
Customer Insight

Some tips for your application 🫑

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience mentioned in the job description. Highlight your experience with seasonal categories, especially Christmas, and showcase any relevant achievements that demonstrate your commercial acumen.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about the Christmas category and how your previous experiences have prepared you for this role. Be sure to mention specific examples of your success in range building and supplier negotiations.

Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since the role requires strong analytical capabilities, make sure to include examples of how you've used data to drive decisions in past roles. Whether it's monitoring KPIs or analysing market trends, we want to see how you turn insights into action.

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!

How to prepare for a job interview at Morepeople 01780

✨Know Your Christmas Trends

Before the interview, dive deep into current Christmas trends and seasonal insights. Familiarise yourself with what’s hot in the market and how competitors are positioning their products. This will not only show your passion for the role but also demonstrate your analytical skills.

✨Showcase Your Sourcing Skills

Be prepared to discuss your experience with sourcing and negotiating with suppliers, especially from the Far East. Bring examples of successful negotiations or partnerships you've built. This will highlight your commercial acumen and ability to manage supplier relationships effectively.

✨Prepare for Data-Driven Discussions

Since the role involves monitoring margins and KPIs, brush up on your data analysis skills. Be ready to talk about how you’ve used data to inform decisions in past roles. This will illustrate your ability to turn insights into actionable strategies.

✨Collaborative Mindset

Emphasise your collaborative approach during the interview. Share examples of how you’ve worked cross-functionally in previous roles, particularly in relation to pricing, promotions, and marketing. This will show that you can thrive in a team-oriented environment and contribute to the overall success of the category.

Land your dream job quicker with Premium

You’re marked as a top applicant with our partner companies
Individual CV and cover letter feedback including tailoring to specific job roles
Be among the first applications for new jobs with our AI application
1:1 support and career advice from our career coaches
Go Premium

Money-back if you don't land a job in 6-months

M
Similar positions in other companies
UK’s top job board for Gen Z
discover-jobs-cta
Discover now
>