FUNKY PIGEON Category Manager - Cards & Gifts

Job Description

FUNKY PIGEON Category Manager - Cards & Gifts Competitive salary + car allowanceBased in BristolAt 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.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 buyingand 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.What you will be doing:• Developing our growing ranges with target customer in mind• Managing supplier relationships and negotiating reductions in costs• Monitoring the delivery of income against forecast and previous months• Working with the Funky Pigeon development team to generate and deliver profitable propositions• Keeping abreast of market trends and competitor activity in a fast-paced environment, to help identify new opportunities• Managing yearly terms and conditions negotiations with key suppliers• Conducting range reviews and undertaking continuous improvement of the product offer through effective range analysisWhat we are looking for:• Previous Buying or category planning within retail, experience in product development and in greeting cards and or gifting industry is desired• You will have excellent range construction skills, be a first-class negotiator and competent in stock management and forecasting• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships• You will have an analytical mindset to confidently interpret and analyse data and a strong understanding of supply chain and cost management• An understanding of licensing market is advantageous but not essential• Advanced Excel and Microsoft office (ideally Pivot Tables / V-Lookups)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 onlineAbout 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’splenty 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 FunkyPigeon. 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 passionatepeople 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 truston 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.Required skills

• 1Buying
• 1Forecasting
• 1Product Development