Astral Adhesives - Category Manager

Category Manager

Role Purpose:

- This position is responsible to obtain long-term improvements in the efficiencies of the Retailors/Distributors, that leads to increased sales, an improved shopping environment and customer loyalty.

- Category Management provides the language, process framework, and metrics for communicating all strategic and tactical recommendations to the retailer.

- This role ensure that the right products are bought based on the analysis of the previous sales reports and current customer trends.

- This role involves in analyzing market trends in the category, competitor's strategy, and common strategy is implemented and communicated from Distributors to Retailors.

Key Responsibilities:

Product Planning & NPD:

1. Prepare product wise business planning

2. Drive product wise planning state wise

3. Identify new product requirement for the category| Improvement in the product category.

Product Performance Analysis and action planning :

1. Product performance analysis: Monthly analysis of state wise product performance and action planning based on analysis to drive exception

2. Users insight to improve the segment sale.

Marketing calendar :

3. Prepare quarterly calendar for the category and drive the calendar through team

4. Prepare market research calendar to conduct minimum one research every month to generate insights to understand users| retailer's feedback for product and initiatives.

Market intelligence & Tools :

1. Competition sale |pricing| scheme| promotion state wise

2. Maintain state wise month wise competition pricing and its supporting.

3. Present detail every month and circulate to all HO stake holders and take corrective action to counter competition

4. Prepare sales aid tools for sales and business development team to make the call effective

5. Prepare training content for sales

Product Management:

1. Drive product development and innovation initiatives based on market insights and consumer demand.

2. Collaborate with R&D and operations teams to ensure timely and cost-effective product launches.

3. Monitor product performance, analyze sales data, and identify opportunities for improvement.

4. Manage product lifecycles, including new product introductions, line extensions, and product discontinuations.

Sales and Marketing :

1. Execute comprehensive marketing plans to drive brand awareness and sales growth.

2. Collaborate with marketing teams to drive effective advertising, promotions, and trade marketing campaigns.

3. Analyze market trends, competitive activities, and consumer feedback to identify opportunities and challenges.

4. Work closely with sales teams to drive customer-specific category strategies and ensure effective execution.

Cross-Functional Collaboration :

1. Collaborate with internal teams such as sales, marketing, supply chain, finance, and operations to ensure alignment and effective execution of category strategies.

2. Work closely sales team to achieve sales targets and optimize category performance.

3. Coordinate with supply chain teams to ensure optimal inventory levels, product availability, and timely distribution.

Supplier and Stakeholder Management :

1. Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, negotiate favorable terms, and monitor supplier performance.

2. Collaborate with key stakeholders, including distributors, retailers, and trade partners, to drive category growth and maximize market penetration.

3. Conduct regular business reviews with suppliers and stakeholders to assess performance, resolve issues, and identify growth opportunities.