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- Tasks: Lead a team to manage beauty brands and drive customer growth.
- Company: Join Space NK, a leading beauty destination with a vibrant community.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, career development, and a dynamic work environment.
- Why this job: Shape the future of beauty while working with innovative brands.
- Qualifications: Experience in retail buying and a passion for beauty is essential.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values creativity and collaboration.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
If you love beauty, you’re in the right place. As the ultimate curator of over 100 of the most in-demand, highly innovative and boundary-pushing beauty brands, we are the go-to destination for worldwide beauty discovery. Together through our neighbourhood stores, online presence and loyalty scheme, Space NK has built a flourishing community in which to discover beauty. The customer is at the heart of everything we do, and we will always endeavour to offer everything they need to help them explore, experiment, and enjoy our brands.
Role Objective
The objective of the Category Manager is to lead a category buying team to deliver the customer & commercial growth and profit targets for your portfolio. Support the Category Director to strategically shape plans, collaborating with the Senior Merchandiser/Merchandising Manager to drive the best outcome for the division.
Strategic Objectives
- Attract New Customers through our Brands
- Increase Space NK Brand Awareness & Appeal
- Make it Easy for the Customer to Shop
- Retain Customers & Grow their Spend
- Achieve Scale to deliver Profitability
Key Accountabilities
- Lead a team of buyer/s to manage the commercial performance of portfolio of brands and products with focus on enhancing performance of customer offer on an ongoing basis
- Oversee buyer/s to ensure the product assortment is delivering maximum customer & commercial output
- Working with existing brands to identify & trade into new trends and products
- Lead the team to plan and launch new products with a view of maximising performance of new launches
- Manage performance of underperforming products and brands through communications internally and with brand partners
- Identify and activate quick win commercial opportunities, in line with business priorities
- Build & optimise relationships with our brand partners, modelling best-in-class buying leadership to your team
- Effective contact with brands, conducting regular performance meetings relevant to brand size & profile
- Lead Market Week meeting process, supported by your team & where appropriate the Category Director
- Develop medium & long-term strategy with brands, alongside the Category Director to align to business priorities
- Work collaboratively with wider team & other departments, ensuring excellent communications and planning
- Partner closely with the category Merchandising counterpart to deliver annual budget & key category KPIs, supporting intermittent reforecasts where required (cascading these to the team)
- Manage your team to communicate key brand and product information with key departments across the business, such as Merchandise Planning, Training, and Tech
- Create & maintain joint brand and product marketing plans with other departments, such as Partner & Brand Marketing, PR and Events. Partner with wider marketing team (content, SEO) to identify customer journey enhancements to drive category performance including content support
- Drive business improvement and commercial opportunities across departments
- Lead your team to meet go to market deadlines required by other departments
- Proactively trade the Category with omnichannel responsibility
- Ensure product and brand launch performance is maximised fully, guiding the team to utilise relevant channel levers to deliver the best customer outcome e.g. Brand Spaces, Cash Wrap, digital ratecard packages & Category-owned pages (PDPs, BLPs)
- Oversee the analysis and optimisation strategy of customer journey both in Store & Online
- Partnering closely with both Retail Operations & Inventory team to maximise the allocated store spaces via range, brand & product mix to best suit the customer and drive category growth
- Oversee all category-owned pages (Brand landing pages, PDPs, and edits) to maximise KPI performance, identifying areas to optimise for the team to execute
- Support team to identify and take action on areas of opportunity including assets, descriptions, navigation, product placements, and trading levers to support customer and sales
- Partner with Technology team to identify opportunities for optimisation and support technology rollouts aligned to Category KPIs e.g. My Matches
- Establish team culture which is entrepreneurial and action-oriented supported by analytics
- Establish clear KPIs and objectives for each member of the team
- Ensure clear development plans are in place for each individual
- Hold regular development meetings with direct reports; ensure all team members are receiving regular development feedback
Attributes & Qualifications
- Significant senior level buying and/or category management experience
- Relevant experience in retailing with a proven recording of trading in a fast-paced environment
- Passion & deep understanding of the beauty industry, brands and products
- Proactive, entrepreneurial, self-starter who can identify opportunities and lead a team to pursue them
- Strong people skills with a focus and drive to build strong relationships both internally and externally
- Strong commercial acumen and savvy; highly numerate with strong analytical skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Power Point and Outlook)
- Comfort with ambiguity and openness to change; willingness to drive new ways of thinking and new processes
- Actively seeks feedback from peers, managers, and team to improve operating model and experience and culture for everyone involved
Please note that only successful candidates will be contacted. All applicants must have the right to live and work in the UK. If you want to find out more about us, what it is like to work for us, all about our benefits, and our pledges on Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, please visit our website. Space NK are an equal opportunities employer.
Category Manager - Hair, Body, Sun (Maternity Cover) in London employer: Space NK
Contact Detail:
Space NK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Manager - Hair, Body, Sun (Maternity Cover) in London
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research Space NK's values, products, and recent news. This will help you tailor your conversations and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of the team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. Building relationships can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral, which is always a bonus!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to category management. Think about how your experience aligns with their goals, especially around customer growth and brand partnerships.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression and shows your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it keeps you on their radar!
We think you need these skills to ace Category Manager - Hair, Body, Sun (Maternity Cover) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Beauty: When you're writing your application, let your love for the beauty industry shine through! Share your experiences and what excites you about working with innovative brands. We want to see that you're not just looking for a job, but that you're genuinely passionate about beauty.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to fit the role of Category Manager. Highlight your relevant experience in category management and buying, and how it aligns with our goals at Space NK. We appreciate when candidates take the time to connect their skills with what we’re looking for!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and structure your thoughts logically. We love a well-organised application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications and enthusiasm without wading through unnecessary fluff.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about us and our culture right there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Space NK
✨Know Your Brands
Before the interview, dive deep into the beauty brands that Space NK curates. Understand their unique selling points, recent launches, and market trends. This knowledge will not only impress your interviewers but also show your genuine passion for the beauty industry.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
As a Category Manager, you'll need strong analytical skills. Be prepared to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in previous roles. Bring examples of how you've optimised product assortments or identified trends that led to increased sales.
✨Demonstrate Team Leadership
Space NK values strong leadership. Share specific instances where you've successfully led a team, managed performance, or developed team members. Highlight your ability to foster an entrepreneurial culture and how you’ve driven results through collaboration.
✨Prepare Questions
Interviews are a two-way street. Prepare insightful questions about Space NK's future strategies, brand partnerships, and how they measure success in the category. This shows your interest in the role and helps you gauge if it's the right fit for you.
