Category Trading Manager

Category Trading Manager

Location:

Gloucestershire – Hybrid Working

Salary:

£50,000 basic salary

Job Type:

Permanent, Full-Time

Sector:

eCommerce | KBB | Kitchens | Interiors | Retail

The Opportunity

We are recruiting for an exciting Category Trading Manager opportunity with a rapidly growing, eCommerce-led omnichannel retailer operating within the kitchen products, worktops and interiors market.

Established in 2009, the business has achieved consistent and profitable growth and today sells over 130,000 worktops every year. Its flagship brand has established itself as the UK's number one online worktop retailer.

The company also forms part of the materials division of a €1bn+ international group, providing access to an extensive portfolio of global surface and materials brands.

With ambitious plans to accelerate growth through new products, new categories and further development of its existing ranges, the business is now looking to appoint a commercially driven Category Trading Manager.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who loves products, understands what makes a category commercially successful and can identify where the next growth opportunity lies.

The Role

As Category Trading Manager, you will take responsibility for the commercial performance, development and profitability of key product categories.

You'll analyse what the business is selling today, understand what's performing and why, identify gaps within existing ranges and use market insight to determine where future opportunities exist.

This is a highly commercial role combining category management, buying, product development, supplier management, data analysis and trading strategy.

Key responsibilities will include:

Managing category sales, margin, performance and profitability

Identifying opportunities and gaps within existing product ranges

Conducting range reviews and recommending product additions, rationalisation and improvements

Identifying commercially viable new products and categories

Using sales data, customer feedback, competitor activity and wider market trends to inform category decisions

Leading new product development and supporting products from initial concept through to launch

Building and developing strong strategic supplier relationships

Leading supplier, pricing, contract and commercial negotiations

Securing competitive pricing, commercial terms and sustainable margins

Identifying opportunities for product innovation and differentiation

Working closely with Merchandising to optimise product ranges, availability and performance

Collaborating with eCommerce and Marketing teams to maximise product launches, promotions and online visibility

Monitoring competitor pricing, products and positioning

Maintaining appropriate product quality and compliance standards

Supporting the Head of Buying & Merchandising with longer-term category and product strategy

Exploring opportunities to collaborate with other businesses and brands across the wider international Group

About You

We are looking for someone who is commercially curious, analytical and product focused, with the ability to look beyond the numbers and identify where genuine growth opportunities exist.

You will ideally have previous experience within Category Management, Buying or Trading, preferably gained within retail, eCommerce, KBB, interiors, home improvement, building products or another product-led environment.

You should be comfortable managing both the analytical and relationship-driven elements of the role – from reviewing sales and margin data to negotiating directly with suppliers and identifying exciting new products.

The successful candidate will ideally demonstrate:

Previous experience within category management, retail buying, trading or product management

Strong commercial and financial acumen

Experience managing and developing product categories

Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales, margin and performance data

Strong Excel skills

Proven supplier negotiation and relationship-management experience

Experience conducting range reviews and identifying product opportunities

An understanding of pricing, margin and profitability

Strong awareness of customer behaviour, competitor activity and market trends

The ability to identify exciting products with genuine commercial potential

Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder-management skills

A proactive and entrepreneurial approach

The confidence to challenge existing ranges and make commercially driven recommendations

Experience of international sourcing and global supply chains would be advantageous, and there may be occasional travel as part of the role.

What's On Offer?

In addition to a £50,000 basic salary, the successful candidate will receive:

Hybrid working

25 days' annual leave + Bank Holidays

Holiday entitlement increasing with service to a maximum of 30 days

Additional Celebration Day

Company pension

Medicash health plan

Generous staff discount

Friends & family discount

The opportunity to join a profitable and rapidly growing business

Exposure to a major international group and global materials brands

Genuine opportunity to influence new product and category development

Why This Role?

This isn't simply about maintaining an existing product range.

The business has significant growth ambitions and wants someone who will challenge, innovate and identify what's next.

You'll have the opportunity to influence which products the business sells, how categories develop and where future investment is made – making this an excellent opportunity for an ambitious Category Manager or Buyer looking for greater commercial ownership.

For a confidential conversation, please contact:

Gemma Creasey

Managing Director | Oval Deene Recruitment

📞 (phone number removed)

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