Category Manager

Job Description

Category Manager Gifts
Salary upto £45,000 + car allowance + medical
Based in Bristol
One year fixed term contract

At Funky Pigeon our people are at the heart of everything we do. They are the ones that go the extra mile for our customers. The ones that enable our growth.

We now have an exciting opportunity for a Category Manager to join our Commercial team at our offices in Ashton Gates, Bristol for a one year fixed term contract.

The main purpose of this role is to identify trends and understand our on-going success stories, the team ensures our customers are constantly delighted with new and innovative products. Our product ranges are the backbone of our business and the buying and category management functions are incredibly fast moving. Self-proclaimed ‘retail geeks’, you’ll need creative problem-solving skills, a love of product, good sense of humour and a passion for delivering the best possible ranges for our customers.

Our product ranges are the backbone of our business and the buying and category management functions incredibly fast moving. By meticulously analysing performance, reviewing the market, identifying trends and understanding our on-going success stories, the team ensures our customers are constantly delighted by the ever-evolving product range. You’ll need excellent analytical skills, creative problem-solving skills, a passion for product and a good sense of humour combined with a desire to put the customer at the heart of everything you do to deliver the best possible ranges for our customers.

What you will be doing:
• Develop and deliver an ambitious range strategy for the Gifts category that meets the sales and profitability needs of the business by:-
meticulously and continuously reviewing range performance (sales, profit, customer feedback) to optimise the range with the customer needs and brand positioning at the heart of your plan
continuously monitoring competitor activity and wider trends to spot new range and product opportunities creating a roadmap to launch
continuously reviewing and benchmarking performance of existing supplier ranges and relationships, realising commercial improvement opportunities as you go
identifying and on-boarding new suppliers as required to fulfil the needs of the range strategy
working with the in-house teams to develop and launch own brand products to fulfil the needs of the range strategy
working with supply chain to ensure timely and efficient launch of new products and management of the existing range to maximise sales and minimise costs
• Monitor the delivery and performance of the range strategy against expectations and prior performance, adapting and shaping plans to deliver profitable growth

What we are looking for:
• Excellent range construction skills, a first class negotiator
• A creative thinker, passionate about retail
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, able to build effective relationships
• Ability to work autonomously and manage your workload in a fast-paced environment
• Advanced Excel and Microsoft office (ideally Pivot Tables / V-Lookups)
• Analytical mindset to confidently interpret and analyse data
• Experienced in product development with proven successes
• Ability to understand complex supply chains and identify areas for cost saving and efficiencies
• Understanding of licensing market is advantageous but not essential
• Competent in stock management and forecasting
• Experience in packaging design advantageous
• Minimum of three years in a retail buying role

How we reward our teams:
Hybrid Working Model from home and in the office (min 2 days office per week)
Competitive salary plus car allowance
Private Medical scheme
Flexible Working
25 Days holiday, plus your Birthday off, plus Bank Holidays with an opportunity to buy extra days holiday
Family Friendly Leave
Company Pension scheme
Sharesave Scheme
Annual Bonus based on company and personal performance
Staff Discount Card for stores and online

About us:
Our amazing Funky team specialise in helping our customers create memorable and keepsake greeting cards and gifts, with a personalised touch, for any occasion.

Today, we’re based in Bristol with fulfilment centres in Guernsey and Swindon. Wherever you join us, you’ll need to bring a creative approach, loads of ideas, and the ability to get stuck in when things get busy. In this fast-paced online business, there’s plenty of opportunity for innovation and creativity to make sure our customer experience and every card and gift we sell is extra special!

A household name for personalised cards and gifts, it’s a hugely exciting time for Funky
Pigeon. Turnover has rocketed and we’re building our tech and digital capability to take our rapidly expanding ecommerce business to the next level. It’s a collaborative team environment, fast- paced, creative and fun, and you’ll be surrounded by passionate people with a ‘one team’ approach.

Funky Pigeon are a part of the WHSmith Group. Celebrating 230 years, we’re proud to have grown and evolved into a globally recognised brand present in over 30 countries around the world, and we’re proud to be that air of familiarity people love and trust on their journey, both in life and through life. As a diverse group of over 12,000 colleagues, we are all on the same journey to a better business through our commitments to our planet, people and the communities we serve.
WHSmith are proud to be an inclusive employer, we want our colleagues to feel welcome, and free to be themselves with us.