At a Glance
- Tasks: Support the Category Manager in building and managing product ranges and pricing strategies.
- Company: Dynamic company in Manchester with a focus on licensed products.
- Benefits: Hybrid working model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Exciting role with potential for career advancement in a vibrant retail environment.
- Why this job: Join a fast-paced team and make an impact in product development and market strategy.
- Qualifications: Experience in buying or merchandising, strong organisational skills, and commercial awareness.
Location: Manchester
Type: Permanent
Industry: Licensed Products
Job Ref: TGN5575
The Company: We are looking for a highly organised, commercially focused Assistant Category Manager to support the delivery and development of a successful product category. Working closely with the wider buying, merchandising, design and supply teams, you will play a key role in range building, product development, pricing, critical path management and trade activity. Supporting the Category Manager to deliver a pipeline of new products for customer selection, maintaining required administration accurately and completely. The role requires strong attention to detail, commercial awareness and the ability to manage multiple product ranges, suppliers, price points and deadlines simultaneously.
Benefits: Hybrid working – 3 days in the office a week.
Responsibilities:
- Support the Category Manager and Buying team with range building.
- Manage and maintain Range Plans, ensuring product, pricing, supplier and critical path information is accurate and up to date.
- Support the development of ranges working with both UK and FOB suppliers.
- Brief Designers and other relevant teams on product and packaging requirements.
- Manage development range plans, tracking multiple price points, product developments and key milestones.
- Coordinate development samples, ensuring samples are received, reviewed and managed through to final sign-off.
- Conduct regular competitive shopping and benchmarking (comp shops) to understand competitor pricing, product offers and market activity.
- Complete frequent price benchmarks and contribute to discussions around pricing structures and recommended price actions.
- Monitor and support pricing actions across key/high-cover lines, identifying opportunities and risks.
- Track and maintain multiple prices across UK and FOB lines, ensuring pricing information remains accurate.
- Support weekly trade activity.
- Coordinate actions such as price drops, rebuys and end-of-line activity.
- Maintain accurate and timely updates across systems and range planning tools.
- Manage and monitor the critical path across product development and production.
- Track lead times and proactively identify risks to shipment dates.
- Work closely with UK and FOB.
- Follow up on samples, approvals, production milestones and shipping requirements.
Key Skills:
- Experience within buying, merchandising, category management, product development or a related retail environment.
- Strong commercial awareness with an understanding of pricing, competitor activity and customer expectations.
- Excellent organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple ranges and deadlines simultaneously.
- Strong attention to detail and confidence working with large amounts of product, pricing and supplier data.
- Experience managing critical paths, product development and supplier timelines.
- Confident communicating with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
- Strong Excel and systems skills, with the ability to maintain accurate range plans and track complex information.
- Proactive approach, with the ability to identify issues and take action before they impact key deadlines.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, commercially driven environment.
Assistant Category Manager (Tgn5575) - Excellent Salary Doe in Manchester employer: Tagged Resources
As a leading fast-fashion brand, we pride ourselves on fostering a vibrant and dynamic work culture that thrives on creativity and innovation. Our TikTok Coordinator role offers not only the chance to shape our social media presence but also provides ample opportunities for personal and professional growth in a fast-paced environment. With a focus on collaboration and trend-setting, employees can expect to be at the forefront of fashion and digital marketing, all while enjoying a supportive atmosphere that values their contributions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Category Manager (Tgn5575) - Excellent Salary Doe in Manchester
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like Tagged Resources, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like Tagged Resources!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Category Manager (Tgn5575) - Excellent Salary Doe in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at Tagged Resources, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at Tagged Resources and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show Tagged Resources that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Tagged Resources
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!