Category Manager

The Accessories Business Lead will be responsible for end-to-end P&L management of the accessories vertical across all iPlanet offline and online channels. This includes 1st party Apple accessories, 3rd party accessory brands, and service-related value-added offerings. This role requires strategic vision, deep understanding of the category, marketing execution capability, strong vendor management, and cross-functional leadership to drive profitable and scalable growth.

Key Responsibility Areas (KRAs):

1. Business & P&L Ownership

Own and deliver the overall P&L for the Accessories category (Offline, Online, B2B, Education)

Define category-wise revenue, GP, and NP targets; monitor variance vs AOP (Annual Operating Plan)

Drive strategic profitability initiatives including margin expansion and cost control levers

Manage sell-in and sell-through planning across formats (APR stores, Ecom, Enterprise)

2. Product Portfolio & Category Management

Design the end-to-end accessory portfolio covering:

o Apple 1st Party (Cables, Chargers, Hubs, Covers, etc.)

o 3rd Party Apple-compatible (Cases, Chargers, Temper Glass)

o Premium Lifestyle Accessories (Marshall, Tucano, etc.)

Evaluate new product additions and rationalize underperforming SKUs

Lead lifecycle management: Launch, Peak Sales, Liquidation strategy

Benchmark competition regularly and plan competitive assortments

3. GTM & Channel Strategy

Plan and execute launch GTM strategy for each product/SKU (by region, by channel)

Define channel-wise mix strategy: Retail, B2B, Online, Service Centers

Drive bundling and value-pack innovation across categories

Ensure availability across key sales points through regular demand planning with SCM

4. Marketing & Campaign Planning

Co-create marketing calendars (offline & online) with brand & retail marketing teams

Develop accessory-specific campaigns focusing on:

o High-margin push o Conversion boosters

o Festive promotions & new launches

Execute category marketing plans with targeted ROI and performance benchmarks

5. Vendor & Brand Management

Manage direct vendor relationships (Apple, Ingram, Reddington, 3P brands)

Negotiate better commercials, stock support, and marketing funds

Ensure timely planning and execution of MDF utilization

Engage with accessory brands for exclusive launches and store partnerships

6. Retail Training & Enablement

Create training modules and refreshers for store promoters and sales teams

Work with Training team to build strong attach story and bundle pitch

Conduct quarterly accessory knowledge sessions across regions

Monitor salesforce KPIs like attach rate, contribution per bill

7. Analytics, Forecasting & Insights

Use data to drive planning: weekly category dashboards, sell-thru rates, GM%

Forecast demand by SKU/region/store with coordination from Supply Chain

Analyze reasons for low attach, price mismatch or stock-outs

Present monthly performance with clear insights and actionable plans

8. Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work closely with: o Retail & Ecom for pricing, bundling, and display o SCM for stock availability and liquidation

o Marketing for campaign execution

o Service Team for attach of services like AC+ and PP+

9. Store Merchandising & Execution

Plan and drive accessory display norms by store format (APP, APR, ARR, Service Centers)

Drive standardization of visual merchandising across stores

Coordinate with VM team for accessory launches and seasonal displays