Category Manager - Homeware & Furniture

Key Responsibilities & Strategic Deliverables :

Assortment Planning & Curation :

Strategic Assortment : Lead the development of the annual and seasonal assortment plans, ensuring a balanced mix that meets both brand aesthetic and commercial goals across offline stores and e-commerce platforms.

Trend Curation : Utilize deep market knowledge and trend forecasting to curate and introduce trend-forward collections in furniture and homeware that resonate with the target premium consumer base.

Lifecycle Management : Own the end-to-end product lifecycle management (PLM), from concept and development through inventory optimization, eventual markdown, and exit strategy.

Margin Optimization & Pricing Strategy :

Pricing Strategy : Develop and execute dynamic pricing strategies (initial margin, retail pricing, promotional pricing) that maximize sales volume while optimizing overall category margins.

Profitability Focus : Continuously analyze sales, markdown, and inventory data to identify key profitability levers and implement corrective actions to exceed gross margin targets.

Vendor Development & Sourcing :

Vendor Strategy : Lead the strategic vendor development and relationship management across domestic and international sourcing hubs.

Commercial Negotiation : Negotiate commercial terms, quality standards, and supply chain agreements to ensure optimal costing, reliable supply, and quality control, which is vital for high-value furniture.

Growth & Channel Alignment :

Channel Strategy : Ensure the category strategy is seamlessly aligned between offline retail and digital channels (D2C / Marketplace), managing different assortment and pricing requirements for each.

Cross-Functional Leadership : Collaborate closely with Marketing (for launch campaigns), Visual Merchandising (for in-store display), and Supply Chain (for warehousing and logistics) to ensure flawless execution.

Ideal Profile & Qualifications :

Experience (Mandatory) : 12-18 years of dedicated experience in Category Management, Merchandising, or Buying within the retail sector.

Industry Expertise : Mandatory deep experience in Homeware, Furniture, or large-format Lifestyle Retail is required.

Analytical & Commercial : Proven ability to manage a category P&L, strong analytical skills in forecasting, inventory management, and markdown planning.

Soft Skills : Exceptional negotiation, vendor management, and leadership skills to drive results in a complex, multi-channel environment

(ref : iimjobs.com)