Makeup Category Manager

Job description / Role

Merchandise Financial, Strategic and Assortment Planning of the Makeup Category
* Negotiating BDA(Business Development Agreements) with suppliers as per the business requirements in terms of rebates, visibility, marketing spend as per the approved rate cards and other fees (listing and store opening) * Maximize sales and profitability for the department/category.
* Determine, propose the annual sales & margin plan by month, store wise & category wise considering the seasonality of historical performance to establish trends and opportunities.
* Prepare and maintain department/category merchandise MIS analytics based on actual sales, sales forecasts, supplier service level, inventory checks, forth coming events & replenishment needs.
* Prepare merchandise plans for the category based on insights gained from merchandise analytics, customer preference, historical trends and future outlook projected for the business. * Assist in discussing, deciding and freezing the department/category merchandise strategic plans around the following factors:
* Financials - Sales, Stock, Margins, stocks days cover.
* Store - Sub category level Sales, Order Quantity, Allocation, Replenishment
* Assortment - Brand / Option / Depth & Price points.
* Markdown Analysis
* Communicate the merchandise strategic plan to buying team for necessary execution
* Participate with store operations to set the standards of Merchandise procedures, store layout, category adjacencies and Methodologies are maintained and kept Uniform.
* Complete category management in terms of Assortment & Gap Analysis.
* Special intervention for poor performing SKUS, taking action to manage category margins through in store promotions, liquidation and returns to suppliers.
* Monitoring Aging of the inventory and recommending corrective measures.
* Weekly Sales and stock turns and the Management guide for stock performance.
* Aging Report based on receipt of inventories.

Inventory Stock Optimization
* Setting up, freezing and reviewing the MBQ (Minimum Base Quantity) on periodical basis taking in consideration stores stocks, DC , on order &in-transit stocks.
* Ensure optimum category inventory levels are maintained keeping in mind store requirements as well as working capital constraints
* Ensure at all instances the category is well stocked all time without any discrepancy on part of merchandise planning
* Ensure store replenishments are well managed to avoid spill of stock in the warehouse and there is proper adherence to the aging policy.
* Ensure store replenishment is done as per the concept directives.
* Classify the assortment based on sales to Core, A, B and C and ensure the core & A are always stocked well in each sub category level. Ensure there is no out of stock situation on the fast moving items. Price revisions should be done periodically based on performance of the merchandise.

Category Promotions
* Determine , propose assortments for the monthly promotion with sales value, volume and margin forecasted VS actual performances and discuss it with stores / VM and marketing for the approval.
* Securing the marketing budgets from the supplier to finance the discounts and leaflets expenses.
* Analyze the effectiveness of the promotions in achieving the targeted levels of sales and margins.
* Analyze the existing stock levels and liaise with the Stores/VM/Marketing team for timely roll out of promotional campaigns to achieve targeted sales.

Requirements

- Education: Graduated in any discipline preferably Business or commerce.
- Experience: 4 years’ experience in category management from Buying/Merchandise planning from a cosmetics/makeup retail or FMCG background.
- Personal Skills: Deep understanding and awareness of Makeup and Colored Cosmetics brands, products and suppliers.
- Computer Skills: very good in MS office particularly Excel and power point.
- Communication Skills: Good command in English is a must and Arabic preferably.

About the Company

When WHITES entered the Health and Beauty market, our mission was not to complete the existing traditional retail models; we want to be the revolutionizing concept that will change the way people shop.

Our vision is held with passion. Productivity is tempered with creativity.

We are continuously introducing and developing categories in order to always capture an ever-evolving generation of shoppers.

WHITES dominates the market by championing an innovative commercial spirit… one that is young, fashionable, and always ahead of the curve.