Category Manager Duties & Responsibilities

The role and function of a Category Manager includes the following duties and responsibilities:

Research and analyze data and market insights
Search for insights into consumer needs and wants
Plan and implement long-term development strategies for product categories
Design exit strategies for unsuccessful products
Build and maintain long-term relationships with vendors
Place appropriate orders
Ensure product availability
Strategize positioning of a product category in order to maximize its visibility
Collaborate with the marketing team
Research competitors and suggest appropriate pricing and promotional activities
Work with customers and merchandisers and find new ways of expanding product categories
Calculate forecasts for product demand trends
Manage and track budget

Note that this is not an exhaustive list of Category Manager duties and responsibilities. Job functions for specific Category Manager roles may vary, depending on the industry and type of employer.

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