Job Purpose
As the Category Manager for Kids’ Apparel, you will own the end-to-end P&L, strategy, and growth of the children's clothing segment at Rozana. You will be responsible for understanding our unique rural and semi-urban consumer base, sourcing the right product mix (3-7 years), negotiating with vendors, and executing regional merchandising strategies. Your goal is to maximize sales, optimize margins, and ensure high inventory turnover across our digital platform and physical flagship fulfillment hubs.
Key Responsibilities
1. Sourcing, Buying & Vendor Management
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Assortment Planning: Build a robust, relevant, and budget-conscious product portfolio for infants, toddlers, and young kids that resonates with rural and Tier 2/3/4 markets.
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Vendor Onboarding: Identify, evaluate, and onboard reliable manufacturers, wholesalers, and regional brands capable of delivering high-quality apparel at competitive price points.
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Price Negotiation: Negotiate margins, credit terms, delivery timelines, and return policies (RTV) to meet or exceed company gross margin targets.
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Trend Analysis: Keep a pulse on regional preferences, seasonal demands (festivals, back-to-school, weddings), and local pricing sensitivities.
2. Merchandising & P&L Ownership
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P&L Management: Own the top-line revenue, bottom-line margins, and GMV targets for the Kids’ Apparel category.
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Pricing Strategy: Develop and execute competitive pricing and discounting models that balance volume growth with profitability.
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Digital & Physical Merchandising: Collaborate with the marketing and tech teams to ensure the category is visually appealing on the app/platform. Partner with field teams to optimize physical visibility and layout in flagship stores and fulfillment centers.
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Campaign Planning: Design and execute high-impact promotional campaigns, bundled offers, and seasonal sales events.
3. Inventory Management & Supply Chain Coordination
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Demand Forecasting: Utilize sales data and market insights to forecast demand accurately, preventing stock-outs of fast-moving items and minimizing aging inventory.
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Stock Health: Maintain optimum Inventory Turnover Ratio (ITR). Implement markdown strategies for slow-moving stock.
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Logistics Alignment: Coordinate closely with the supply chain and warehouse teams to ensure smooth inwarding, quality checks (QC), and timely distribution to regional hubs.
4. Data Analytics & Reporting
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Performance Tracking: Conduct weekly and monthly reviews of category performance against SMART KPIs (Sales, Margin, Stock Cover, and Customer Acquisition).
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Competitor Benchmarking: Regularly analyze competitor offerings, pricing, and strategies in the rural commerce and value-retail landscape.
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Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
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Category GMV & Revenue Growth
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Gross Margin % and Contribution Margin
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Inventory Days of Cover (DOC) / Stock Turn Rate
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Product Availability / Fill Rate
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Customer Retention & Repeat Purchase Rate within the category
Qualifications & Experience
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Education: Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising, Apparel Production, Retail Management, Business Administration, or a related field. An MBA is a plus.
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Experience: 3–7 years of experience in apparel buying, merchandising, or category management. Experience in value retail, mass-market apparel, or e-commerce platforms catering to Tier 2+ markets is highly preferred.
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Domain Knowledge: Strong understanding of fabric types, sizing standards, and costing structures for kids' wear.
Competencies & Skills
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Commercial Acumen: Excellent negotiation skills with a proven track record of managing a profitable P&L.
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Analytical Mindset: High proficiency in Excel/data tools to derive actionable insights from complex sales and inventory metrics.
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Agility & Ownership: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and drive initiatives independently.
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Cultural Fit: Understanding of rural consumer behavior and a passion for making organized retail accessible to Bharat.
