At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Home & Lifestyle category, curating innovative products and driving growth.
- Company: Zapp, London's premium convenience retail platform, disrupting the market since 2020.
- Benefits: Hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Fast-paced environment with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Why this job: Be a key player in transforming how Londoners shop with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in category management, strong analytical skills, and project management experience.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
Join to apply for the Category Manager, Home & Lifestyle role at Zapp. Zapp is London’s leading premium convenience retail platform. Founded in 2020, our vision is to disrupt the multi-trillion dollar convenience retail market, currently dominated by major players, by developing best-in-class customer‑centric technology and fulfilment solutions. Zapp partners with some of the world’s leading brands to deliver an exclusive range of hand‑picked products 24/7, delivered in minutes.
The Role
We are looking for a visionary Category Manager to lead our Non Food department. You will be the commercial engine behind our Home & Lifestyle, Health & Wellness and Bath & Beauty categories – transforming how Londoners shop for everything from daily essentials to luxury treats. This isn’t traditional retail. You’ll be operating at the intersection of high‑end curation and hyper‑growth logistics, ensuring our “virtual shelves” are always stocked with the right products, delivered in minutes.
Here’s What You’d Be Doing
- Curate a trending, innovative and relevant product range
- Build and sustain supplier relationships, whilst driving efficiencies across our supply base
- Deliver data‑driven insights and market trend analysis to spearhead category growth, providing the analytical backbone for strategic decision‑making and competitive positioning
- Own supplier negotiations across cost, delivery and payment terms to maximise profitability and minimise risk
- Partner cross‑functionally with Marketing, Merchandising, Product, and Partnerships to synthesise a cohesive customer offering
What We're Looking For
- 5+ years experience in a category management/buying role, ideally in Non Food
- Strong execution mindset and exceptional project management abilities: proven track record of managing multiple concurrent workstreams with competing deadlines and priorities
- Strong analytical skills: confident building business cases, and extracting insights from data to drive decisions
- Advanced proficiency in Google Workspace (Sheets, Docs, Slides) or Microsoft Excel; experience with Looker is desirable
- High‑energy self‑starter with exceptional attention to detail: You thrive in fast‑paced, ambiguous environments, making quick decisions with imperfect information while maintaining meticulous accuracy and spotting problems before they escalate
- Tenacious communicator who gets things done: You influence stakeholders at all levels, push back when needed, and maintain a hands‑on mentality with natural prioritisation and urgency – always finding solutions rather than roadblocks
Category Manager, Home & Lifestyle employer: Zapp
Contact Detail:
Zapp Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Manager, Home & Lifestyle
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Zapp and its competitors. Understand their product range and market position. This will help you showcase your knowledge and passion for the role during your chat with them.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the Category Manager role. Highlight your analytical skills and project management abilities, and don’t forget to share specific examples of your past successes.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Zapp team. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
We think you need these skills to ace Category Manager, Home & Lifestyle
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Category Manager role. Highlight your experience in category management and any relevant achievements that align with our vision at Zapp. We want to see how you can bring your unique flair to our Home & Lifestyle category!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about the Home & Lifestyle sector and how your skills can help us disrupt the convenience retail market. Keep it engaging and personal – we love a good story!
Show Off Your Analytical Skills: Since data-driven insights are key for this role, don’t forget to showcase your analytical prowess. Mention specific tools you've used, like Google Workspace or Excel, and how you've leveraged data to make impactful decisions in your previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining the Zapp family!
How to prepare for a job interview at Zapp
✨Know Your Categories
Before the interview, dive deep into Zapp's Home & Lifestyle category. Familiarise yourself with current trends, popular products, and potential gaps in the market. This will not only show your passion but also demonstrate your analytical skills and ability to curate a relevant product range.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare examples of past supplier negotiations where you maximised profitability or minimised risk. Be ready to discuss your approach and the outcomes. This will highlight your experience and tenacity as a communicator, which is crucial for the role.
✨Data-Driven Insights
Bring along some data-driven insights or market trend analyses you've conducted in previous roles. Discuss how these insights influenced your decision-making and category growth. This will showcase your strong analytical skills and execution mindset.
✨Cross-Functional Collaboration
Think of examples where you've successfully partnered with other departments like Marketing or Product. Be prepared to discuss how you synthesised a cohesive customer offering. This will illustrate your ability to work cross-functionally and your hands-on mentality.