At a Glance
- Tasks: Own and drive product categories, shaping ranges and delivering successful strategies.
- Company: Fast-paced, entrepreneurial UK retailer with a dynamic culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and opportunities for career growth.
- Other info: Join a vibrant team and thrive in a fast-moving industry.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on product success and business growth in a collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in retail, strong analytical skills, and a passion for fashion.
The predicted salary is between 34000 - 38000 £ per year.
We're working with a fast-paced, entrepreneurial business to appoint a commercially driven Category Manager. This is a high-impact, product-focused role where you will take full ownership of your categories, shaping ranges, driving performance, and delivering commercially successful product strategies across multiple channels. This is an opportunity to step into a role with real influence, where your ability to plan, build, launch and trade ranges will directly impact business growth.
Key Behaviours:
- Collaborative - builds strong, effective relationships across teams
- Commercially focused - understands how product decisions impact performance
- Analytical - uses data to inform and improve outcomes
- High standards - detail-driven with a focus on execution
- Proactive - takes ownership and drives results
- Entrepreneurial - thrives in a fast-moving, evolving environment
This role requires someone who can demonstrate:
- How you plan and build ranges collaboratively
- How you launch product successfully and on time
- How you trade and react in-season to drive performance
About You:
- Currently operating as a Junior Buyer, Category Manager or Account Manager within a retail or online environment
- Must have experience across clothing, footwear, or accessories
- Proven ability to plan, build, and trade ranges end-to-end
- Strong commercial acumen, with a clear understanding of pricing, margins, and range architecture
- Confident working cross-functionally to deliver ranges collaboratively
- Experience briefing product with a clear understanding of costings and target price points
- Strong analytical skills, comfortable using data to inform decisions
- Highly organised, able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Confident presenter, able to influence and engage stakeholders
The Role:
Sitting at the centre of the product function, you will be responsible for translating ideas into commercially viable, market-ready ranges. Design and Development will support product creation, but you will own how ranges are built, positioned, priced, and delivered.
Your focus is to manage the full product lifecycle, from initial concept and supplier engagement through to launch and in-season trading, ensuring products land on time, meet margin targets, and resonate with the customer.
Working cross-functionally with Design, Development, Merchandising, Sourcing, Marketing, Wholesale and Retail teams, you will ensure alignment across all stages of the product journey.
Key Responsibilities:
- Own the end-to-end performance of your categories, from concept to in-season trade
- Build and deliver commercially focused ranges aligned to market trends, customer insight, and price architecture
- Define clear product briefs, including target price points, margins, and product positioning
- Collaborate closely with Design and Development to bring ranges to life
- Lead supplier engagement, including sourcing, negotiations, and cost management
- Develop strong relationships with UK, European, and Far East suppliers
- Analyse sales performance and take decisive action to optimise trading
- Plan and deliver seasonal range launches in line with the corporate calendar
- Present ranges confidently to internal stakeholders and at senior level
- Ensure all product data is accurately maintained within PLM systems
- Work across multiple channels and markets, with a focus on building a strong menswear active offer
Locations
Indirect Category Manager - Commercial in Cheshire, Warrington employer: Zachary Daniels
Contact Detail:
Zachary Daniels Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Indirect Category Manager - Commercial in Cheshire, Warrington
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the retail industry, especially those who work in clothing or accessories. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that might not even be advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising your pitch. You want to showcase your experience in planning and building ranges, so have some solid examples ready. Remember, confidence is key, and we know you’ve got it!
✨Tip Number 3
Stay on top of market trends! Being able to discuss current fashion trends and how they impact product decisions will impress interviewers. Show them you’re not just a candidate, but a passionate industry enthusiast.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and take ownership of their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Indirect Category Manager - Commercial in Cheshire, Warrington
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Commercial Savvy: When you're writing your application, make sure to highlight your commercial focus. We want to see how you've made product decisions that have positively impacted performance in your previous roles. Use specific examples to demonstrate your understanding of pricing, margins, and range architecture.
Be Collaborative: This role is all about teamwork, so don’t forget to mention your collaborative skills. Share instances where you’ve worked cross-functionally with different teams to build and launch successful ranges. We love seeing how you can bring people together to achieve a common goal!
Get Analytical: We’re looking for someone who can use data to inform their decisions. In your application, include examples of how you've analysed sales performance and taken action to optimise trading. Show us your analytical side and how it has driven results in your past roles.
Keep It Professional Yet Personal: While we appreciate professionalism, we also want to get a sense of who you are. Let your personality shine through in your application! Be genuine and express your passion for the role and the industry. And remember, apply through our website for the best chance of success!
How to prepare for a job interview at Zachary Daniels
✨Know Your Categories Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the categories you'll be managing. Understand current trends in clothing, footwear, and accessories. Be ready to discuss how you would plan and build ranges that resonate with customers and drive performance.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Prepare examples of how you've used data to inform your decisions in previous roles. Whether it's analysing sales performance or optimising trading strategies, being able to demonstrate your analytical prowess will impress interviewers.
✨Demonstrate Collaborative Spirit
This role requires strong cross-functional collaboration. Think of specific instances where you've worked effectively with design, development, or merchandising teams. Highlight how you built relationships and drove results together.
✨Be Ready to Present
As a confident presenter, you’ll need to engage stakeholders at all levels. Prepare a mini-presentation on a range you’ve previously launched or a concept you’re passionate about. This will showcase your ability to influence and communicate effectively.