Category Manager - Rugby & Cricket

Castore exists for one single reason – to make athletes better. Our ethos is built upon the philosophy of BETTER NEVER STOPS, an ideal deeply infused in our DNA and something we strive to live every single day. We utilise advanced engineering and unique technical fabrics to create the highest quality sportswear in the world for athletes who demand the very best. Designed with a passion for innovation with specialist features to help to optimise athletic performance in all conditions.

The founders’ vision is to build Castore into a brand respected across the globe for a deep and unrelenting commitment to engineering the highest quality sportswear in the world, with no stone left unturned in its search for innovation and performance enhancement.

The sportswear market has been dominated by a small clique of mass-market brands and the vision is for Castore to be a premium alternative to these, the natural brand of choice for discerning athletes who demand the very best.

What’s the Job?

Support developing and implementing category plan and managing segmentation/distribution in related channels (WHS, DTC). Supporting DTC first approach in merchandising.

To Develop and drive the GTM (Go To Market) plan for Rugby & Cricket across all distribution channels, ensuring category business success.

What will I do?

• Manage all aspects of range management for the defined categories, including segmentation and distribution.
• Establish pricing of the range to deliver target margins, volumes and value, including pricing harmonisation across all categories.
• Support sell-in to partners, sales and retailers where required.
• Create impact in respective category showrooms and sell-in setup.
• Develop defined parameter-level forecasting in conjunction with merchandising team , providing all relevant KPI reporting and provide any required scenario analysis related to respective category.
• Actively collaborate and support the marketing team in regards to brand assets and in-store activations.
• Continuously seek additional business opportunities to grow rugby & cricket business.
• Create ranges within the category from both an image and commercial point of view.
• Work closely with product management, design, development and partnerships for best in class product against target FOB’s and RRP’s.
• Define product launch calendar to ensure impactful launches and product flow.
• Analyse the success of the marketing activation plans across all communication channels and learn and improve.
• Competitor analyses in all relevant local markets.
• Manage key launch one page summaries to share with internal key stakeholders which includes objectives, targets and guidelines.
• Assist Senior Category Manager Teamwear to ensure leading exposure across the globe in brand relevant channels (DTC and WHS).
• Carry out go to market plans ensuring critical path timelines.
• Executional excellence in sales launches.
• Manage the line list creation for each of the teams at the start of the critical path process and share this with merch, PD & design to work from.
• Manage the concept creation process with clubs e.g. meeting with clubs prior to any design process starts to get their feedback and feeding this back to the design team.

What skills and qualities will I need?

Key Skills:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in product merchandising, product management or category management.
• Bachelors degree, preferably in marketing/business/textile/fashion.
• Advanced cross-functional marketing knowledge and market experience in sport and/or fashion/lifestyle categories (sporting goods industry preferred)
• Consumer-focused with deep product and range understanding

• Ability to work cross-functionally, liaising with peer groups across the business to drive efficiencies and results
• Experience in trade, vertical retail business model or sales is helpful

• Regional and global experience in both market and above market organisation preferred.

• Ability to work within strict deadlines and able to be adaptive to changes
• Comfortable in a fast-paced and ever-changing business environment
• Excellent planning and organisation skills
• Flexible approach and willingness to further learn & adapt in a fast pace growing business
• Advanced user of MS Office suite of products

• Fluent in English (writing and verbal), second language beneficial.

Personal Qualities:

• Strong attention to detail & a natural problem solver
• Organisation, planning, able to juggle multiple projects at once
• Strong collaboration and communication skills

• Knowledge/understanding of the rugby and cricket category.
• Experience in rugby and/or cricket preferred, not essential.
• Passionate about sports
• Expertise and/or interest in lifestyle and/or fashion.

• Confidence in own ability to challenge current ways of working, whilst delivering recommendations for improved process
• Be a team player
• Be results driven
• Share our ambitious outlook
• Have a Better Never Stops Attitude

What We Offer

• Competitive salary
• 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays)
• Modern city centre offices in Manchester
• An opportunity to work with global sporting partners
• Office and breakout space with pool tables, dart board and TVs
• A chance to build a career with a fast paced, high growth brand