Category Manager - Furniture

Category Manager – Furniture | Job Description

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Category Manager to lead our Furniture category. The ideal candidate will be responsible for developing and executing category strategies that drive revenue growth, improve profitability, and enhance the customer shopping experience across our furniture portfolio — including living room, bedroom, dining, office, and outdoor furniture segments. This role requires a deep understanding of furniture trends, sourcing dynamics, and consumer buying behaviour.

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy Development: Define and implement comprehensive furniture category strategies aligned with business objectives, including assortment architecture, pricing tiers, and seasonal promotional calendars.

Market & Consumer Analysis: Conduct in-depth market research on furniture industry trends (e.g., sustainable materials, modular designs, smart furniture), competitive landscape, and evolving consumer preferences in home décor and furnishing.

Supplier & Vendor Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with furniture manufacturers, artisans, and distributors; lead negotiations on pricing, MOQs, lead times, quality standards, and exclusivity agreements.

Assortment Planning: Manage the furniture product assortment across sub-categories (sofas, beds, tables, storage, outdoor, etc.), including new collection introductions, range rationalization, and SKU optimization based on space productivity and sell-through rates.

Pricing & Promotion: Develop pricing strategies across good-better-best tiers; plan and execute seasonal campaigns (e.g., festive sales, new home/move-in promotions, clearance events) to drive traffic and conversion.

P&L Ownership: Own the furniture category P&L, monitor financial performance including revenue, gross margin, markdown rates, and inventory carrying costs; take corrective actions to achieve targets.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with visual merchandising, supply chain, logistics (especially for large/bulky item delivery), e-commerce, marketing, and store operations teams to ensure seamless execution.

Showroom & Visual Merchandising: Collaborate on in-store room displays, lifestyle vignettes, and online product photography/3D visualization to inspire customers and drive attachment rates.

Quality & Compliance: Ensure all furniture products meet safety standards, durability requirements, and regulatory compliance (e.g., fire safety, material certifications like FSC for wood).

Sustainability Initiatives: Champion sustainable sourcing practices, including responsibly sourced wood, recycled materials, low-VOC finishes, and circular economy programs (refurbishment, take-back schemes).

Performance Reporting: Track and report on key category KPIs — sales per square foot, average order value, return rates, delivery lead times, customer satisfaction scores, and market share — providing actionable insights to leadership.

Innovation & Trends: Stay ahead of furniture design trends (minimalist, mid-century modern, multifunctional, customizable), material innovations, and emerging technologies (AR room visualization, 3D configurators) to maintain competitive advantage.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Interior Design, Supply Chain, or a related field. MBA preferred.
• Experience: 5–8 years of experience in category management, buying, or merchandising within the furniture, home furnishings, or home improvement industry.
• Industry Knowledge: Strong understanding of furniture manufacturing processes, material sourcing (wood, upholstery, metal, engineered materials), and supply chain complexities including long lead times and bulky goods logistics.
• Analytical Skills: Proficiency in data analysis and reporting tools (e.g., Power BI, Excel, Google Analytics) with the ability to translate data into actionable category decisions.
• Negotiation Skills: Proven track record of successful vendor negotiations, including import/domestic sourcing and contract management.
• Commercial Acumen: Deep understanding of P&L management, markdown optimization, and inventory turn strategies specific to high-value, low-frequency purchase categories.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Design Sensibility: An eye for aesthetics, design trends, and the ability to curate collections that resonate with target customer segments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with private label/own brand furniture development from concept to launch
• Knowledge of international furniture sourcing (e.g., Southeast Asia, Europe, domestic manufacturing)
• Familiarity with e-commerce platforms, AR/VR product visualization, and digital merchandising for furniture
• Understanding of assembly, delivery, and installation service models for furniture
• Experience managing large-format or bulky goods logistics and last-mile delivery challenges
• Knowledge of interior design principles and space planning

What We Offer

• Competitive salary
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Professional development and growth opportunities
• Collaborative and dynamic work environment
• Opportunity to shape the furniture category and make a significant impact on business growth

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.