At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Furniture and Christmas categories, driving growth and managing product selection.
- Company: Join a leading garden centre business with a focus on innovation and customer satisfaction.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a dynamic work environment.
- Other info: Opportunity to travel and engage with suppliers and trade shows.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a senior role while shaping exciting product ranges.
- Qualifications: Experience in category management and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 59400 - 72600 £ per year.
We are working with a leading garden centre business who are looking to appoint a Category Head to take ownership of their Furniture and Christmas categories. This is a senior commercial role with responsibility for delivering profitable growth through a compelling customer proposition, commercially focused product selection and development, effective range planning, stock and margin management and strong in-store execution. The successful candidate will also lead the relationship and performance of the third-party warehouse and logistics partner, ensuring efficient stock flow, cost-effective distribution and high service levels. The role will be based from the Woodbridge office, with travel to garden centres, suppliers and trade shows as required.
Main responsibilities will include:
- Creating the department strategy and budget in partnership with stakeholders to deliver sales, cash margin and stock targets
- Providing a clear product vision to ensure the proposition reflects the customer profile, company brand and delivers strong in-store execution
- Leading the team to deliver range launches on time and in line with the critical path
- Managing the sourcing, selection and development of product ranges across Furniture and Christmas
- Developing and mentoring team members, building capability, accountability and a strong commercial focus
- Tailoring garden centre ranges based on customer buying trends, market insight and competitor activity
- Managing third-party distribution and logistics supplier relationships, costs and performance
- Managing exit strategies to support stock targets and maximise margin performance
Person specification:
- Previous experience in category management, buying or trading, ideally within furniture, Christmas, seasonal, garden centre or home-related product areas
- Strong commercial awareness with experience managing sales, margin, stock, budgets and range performance
- Proven leadership experience, with the ability to develop teams and work collaboratively across the wider business
- Highly organised and resilient, with the ability to prioritise, follow through and deliver against conflicting deadlines
- Confident decision-maker with a can-do attitude, strong problem-solving skills and the ability to challenge thinking and seize opportunities
Category Head - Furniture & Christmas in Slough employer: TRP Recruitment
Join a dynamic and fast-paced fashion business that values creativity and innovation, making it an excellent employer for those passionate about the industry. With a supportive work culture that encourages collaboration and personal growth, employees benefit from opportunities to enhance their skills while contributing to exciting wholesale and digital marketplace initiatives. Located in a vibrant area, this role offers a unique chance to be part of a team that thrives on data-driven decision-making and a shared love for fashion.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Head - Furniture & Christmas in Slough
✨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 TRP Recruitment, 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 TRP Recruitment!
We think you need these skills to ace Category Head - Furniture & Christmas in Slough
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 TRP Recruitment, 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 TRP Recruitment 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 TRP Recruitment that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at TRP Recruitment
✨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!
