🇫🇷 Limay, France · 17h ago
Category Manager - Everyday Hosiery (Socks)
Implus
LinkedInEnglish-friendly
The Category Manager owns the merchandising strategy, execution and performance of the Everyday Hosiery portfolio across assigned retailers and channels. This role translates consumer, category and customer insights into focused assortments, compelling product stories and clear seasonal priorities. The Category Manager leads account- and channel-specific initiatives from line strategy through market execution and in-market performance, partnering closely with Sales, Design, Product Development, Planning, Sourcing, Marketing and Operations. In addition to independently managing high-priority accounts and initiatives, this role sets a clear standard for merchandising excellence and drives timely, data-informed decisions that strengthen assortment productivity, portfolio performance and the long-term growth of their area.PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIESACCOUNT LEADERSHIP & RETAILER EXECUTION (25%)• Account ownership: Partner with Sales to lead merchandising for assigned retailers and channels, from line development and pricing through sell-in and execution.• Go-to-market planning: Shape account-specific go-to-market and sell-in strategies, including assortments, pricing, seasonal priorities and execution plans.• Retailer partnership: Build strong relationships with buying teams, anticipate needs and ensure timely follow-up and internal alignment.• Presentations and storytelling: Create and present persuasive seasonal assortments and strategy decks; recap retailer feedback and required changes to Design and Product Development.• Account opportunities: Assess retailer and Sales requests for viability before engaging Design; communicate clear requirements and lead inline, SMU and private-label opportunities.PORTFOLIO, LINE STRATEGY & PRODUCT CREATION (30%)• Seasonal strategy: Partner with Design and Product Development to set category strategy, line direction and roadmap priorities based on consumer, account and market insights.• Assortment development: Build focused ranges that balance core productivity, innovation, trend relevance, retailer needs and operational complexity.• Product optimization: Identify product improvements, additions and exits that strengthen relevance, productivity and commercial viability.• Cost and margin management: Set account-specific target costs, review samples against targets and partner with Sourcing to value-engineer products and improve margin.• Product execution: Guide products through item setup, sampling, costing, packaging, claims review, TOP approval and commercialization; maintain working knowledge of relevant production processes.• Packaging and displays: Lead packaging launches, refreshes, custom solutions and account-specific corrugate displays; create BOMs for retailer assortments.BUSINESS MANAGEMENT & INSIGHTS (25%)• Performance analysis: Evaluate sales, sell-through, productivity, inventory turns, profitability and forecasts; recommend actions by product, category and retailer.• Hindsight and foresight: Lead seasonal hindsight reviews and convert findings into future assortment, pricing, inventory and go-to-market decisions.• Forecast partnership: Challenge and validate forecasts with Sales and Planning, highlighting upside, risk and assumptions that affect inventory and profitability.• Market intelligence: Lead competitive shopping and category research across stores and digital channels to identify emerging trends, white space and changes in consumer expectations.• Decision communication: Translate complex data into concise recommendations, executive-ready updates and clear calls to action for cross-functional partners.OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE & MERCHANDISING STANDARDS (20%)• Calendar leadership: Own the merchandising critical path, clarify decision rights and proactively escalate timing, scope or resource risks that could affect launch readiness.• Data integrity: Set standards for accurate line sheets, product attributes, pricing, trackers and systems; ensure information is complete and decision-ready across the product lifecycle.• Sample and showroom standards: Ensure samples, archives and showrooms are retailer-ready and support efficient line reviews, sell-in meetings and seasonal transitions.• Process improvement: Simplify workflows, clarify handoffs and introduce tools or routines that improve speed, visibility and accountability across the team.• Merchandising standards: Model strong merchandising judgment, organization, communication and follow-through; provide direction and quality review when appropriate to ensure consistent, high-quality work.• Agile prioritization: Balance seasonal work, retailer requests and emerging business needs with sound judgment, urgency and clear communication of trade-offs.Sourced from LinkedIn. Relocantly aggregates public job postings; apply on the original site.