Category Manager (Apparels)

To drive growth, profitability, and market leadership of the category by developing and executing effective assortment, pricing, sourcing, and merchandising strategies aligned with consumer trends and organizational goals.

Key Responsibilities:

Category & Business Management

• Own the P&L responsibility for the entire category.
• Develop, plan, and implement annual business plans to achieve sales, margin, and inventory targets.
• Analyze consumer insights, buying patterns, and market trends to define category strategy.
• Monitor category performance through KPIs such as sell-through, inventory turns, GMROI, and contribution margins.

Product & Assortment Strategy

• Build a strong assortment mix across categories.
• Work closely with design, sourcing, and vendors to introduce new lines based on emerging fashion trends.

Vendor & Sourcing Management

• Develop and maintain strong vendor relationships with manufacturers, designers, and suppliers.
• Negotiate best terms on cost, quality, and lead times to optimize margins.
• Drive private label and exclusive brand partnerships.

Merchandising & Inventory Planning

• Collaborate with merchandising and supply chain teams to ensure right product availability across stores and channels.
• Optimize inventory through demand forecasting, OTB (Open-to-Buy) planning, and effective allocation.
• Drive visual merchandising standards to enhance customer experience.

Marketing & Consumer Engagement

• Partner with marketing teams to plan category campaigns, festive promotions, and brand collaborations.
• Leverage digital channels, influencer tie-ups, and content marketing to drive positioning.
• Track customer feedback and align product offerings accordingly.

Team Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Lead and mentor a team of buyers, planners, and merchandisers.
• Work cross-functionally with design, operations, supply chain, and retail teams for seamless execution.
• Present category performance reviews and business updates to senior management

Education & Experience:

• Must have Bachelor/Master’s degree in Retail/Fashion from NIFT (mandatory)
• Ideal experience should be between 10-15 Years