Robert H Vanderhoof III

Customer Focused Strategy:

·Develop a strategic vision for product categories and actionable plans that support overall objectives.

·Create new business concepts and products to grow and improve the in-store and online experience.

·Analyze and forecast category sales data to identify business growth opportunities and inventory liabilities.

·Analyze feedback and other sources to define and improve category strategies, product assortments, marketing, and pricing.

·Actively monitor, analyze, and report on business and market trends.

Vendor & Product Management:

·Develop vendor relationships that grow the business via market meetings, trade shows, thoughtful planning, and communication.

·Define private brand category priorities vs. vendor branded or vendor developed.

·Own inventory turns and manage the full product life-cycle from buy to disposal.

Team Leadership & Development:

·Develop, mentor, and lead a team of Associate Category Managers.

Cross Functional Collaboration:

·Partner with Marketing/eCommerce to share the product vision and strategy for a seamless customer experience.

·Partner closely with business partners in Marketing, Operations, and Merchandise Planning to drive in-store execution and presentation, as well as inventory management in stores.

·Develop and maintain effective working relationships with members of cross-functional teams (Product, Sourcing, Marketing, Pricing/BI, Inventory Flow Team, Stores, Distribution Centers, Safety).

Planning & Execution:

·Manage merchandise programs, vendor relationships, store merchandising, inventory management, markdowns, and marketing in accordance with the category strategic plan.

·Work with Product & Sourcing to manage the timeline & overall product designs, pricing, & minimum order quantities (MOQs) within a given category.

Customer Focused Strategy

·Assist in developing and executing customer-focused category strategies to drive sales, profitability, and market share

·Determine item lifecycles and exit strategies as well as identify items to maximize promotional and marketing strategies

·Participate in market research and competitive analysis to identify trends and product opportunities for future assortments

·Stay up-to-date on industry trends and best practices

Vendor & Product Management

·Develop and manage product assortments, pricing strategies, and promotional plans

·Work with vendors to negotiate pricing, terms, and product availability, and to address any opportunities in service levels

Cross Functional Collaboration

·Work with inventory and product teams to meet timeline and desired quality standards

·Interact with the Pricing Team to identify and address opportunities to strengthen the position in the market

·Partner with design and production teams to manage the timeline on all product development

·Collaborate with inventory team to manage inventory levels and ensure optimal stock availability

Planning & Execution:

·Execute and support strategy and merchandising guidelines for the online assortment, including product information, samples, photography, category information and website merchandising

·Execute to the merchandising calendar and strategic roadmap for assigned product categories in partnership with the Category Manager

·Analyze sales data, inventory levels, and customer insights to identify areas for improvement, and report findings to leadership as needed

Administrative Responsibilities:

·Create and run specialized reporting as necessary, or work with BI to do so

·Manage and maintain the integrity and accuracy of merchandise data

·Manage and maintain the integrity and accuracy of planograms (i.e., updates, samples, packaging, and price labels)

·Assist in category presentation prep work (i.e.create style boards and line packets)

·Support the Category Manager in various tasks and projects