CATEGORY MANAGER (BAGS & ACCESSORIES)

Herschel Supply Company; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Friday work-from-home option

Job summary

A company specializing in quality products is looking for a Category Manager to drive commercial success in their Vancouver location. This role involves transforming seasonal line plans into market-ready assortments, collaborating closely with design teams, and managing the full product lifecycle. Candidates should have 3–5 years of experience in Category Management, strong skills in assortment planning and market analysis, and proficiency in Excel. A post-secondary education in Business or Fashion Merchandising is an asset. Competitive salary and flexible work arrangements offered.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in Category Management.
• Fashion, Home Textiles, or Hardgoods experience.
• Skilled in Assortment Planning and Market Analysis.

Responsibilities

• Execute seasonal line plan development aligned with product vision.
• Maintain line list for seasonal assortment planning.
• Lead post-mortem analysis for category performance.
• Contribute to documenting SOPs and best practices.
• Lead cross-functional alignment with Merchandising, Sales and Planning.
• Analyze performance and adjust assortments post-season.

Skills

Category Management

Market Analysis

Assortment Planning

Excel

Google Sheets

Cross-functional communication

Global pricing schemas

Commercial insight

Education

Post-secondary education in Business or Fashion Merchandising

Tools

PLM

Pricing Systems

Job description

Welcome to Herschel Supply, where we make quality products for a lifetime of better journeys. Designed with timeless form and intuitive function in Vancouver, Canada, every piece is backed by our signature warranty for wherever you’re going next.

Since 2009, we’ve never stopped taking risks. We’re constantly innovating, growing our community and heading on new journeys. We’ve gotten lost in new cities, made lifelong friends all over the world, road tripped with no GPS, and explored a ton of creative pursuits along the way.

Putting yourself out there isn’t easy. It means stepping outside of your comfort zone and trying something new. It might be scary at first, but it also leads to the best parts of life. Inspiring others to take that leap is what we live for. Wherever you’re headed, we’re here to help you pack your future with possibilities.

So, come along for the ride, get inspired and Put Yourself Out There.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Category Manager is a key driver of commercial success, transforming seasonal line plans into a high‑performing, market‑ready assortment. You’ll refine the product mix with precision – ensuring every SKU in your category is commercially strong, strategically priced for global markets, and positioned across channels to achieve financial targets.

Reporting to the Merchandising Operations Manager, you’ll own the physical expression of your categories from end to end. You’ll make final decisions on assortment selection (style, colour, tiering), lead pricing strategy (including off‑MAP and promotional pricing), and oversee the full product lifecycle – from creating SKUs in PLM to recommending in‑season markdowns or re‑buys driven by performance data.

We are a community of creators who believe the best work happens when we’re together; that’s why we collaborate in‑person Monday through Thursday, with Friday being flexible to work from home.

A DAY-IN-THE-LIFE

Line Architecture

• Execute seasonal line plan development, including SKU counts, carryover strategy, cancellations, and newness – always aligned with the founder’s product vision and long‑term assortment strategy.
• Build and maintain the line list as the foundation for seasonal assortment planning and cross‑functional visibility.
• Collaborate closely with Design to finalize new silhouettes, feature sets, and product direction.
• Contribute to documenting best practices and building Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Product Creation & System Setup

• Create and maintain new styles in PLM, including style codes, naming conventions, retail pricing, and product hierarchy.
• Partner with Product Development and Design through prototype rounds to ensure cost targets, margin requirements, and commercial viability are met.

Pricing

• Build the seasonal price list for new and carryover SKUs for final approval and ensure timely, accurate price uploads.
• Recommend markdown strategies and end‑of‑life actions, and lead system execution.

GTM Merchandising

• Lead post‑mortem analysis for your categories – digging into performance, uncovering gaps, highlighting risks, and identifying opportunities for future seasons.
• Support Sales during sell‑in with product insights and pricing clarity.
• Partner with Visual Merchandising to shape retail assortments by category.
• Finalize compatible SKU selection for Retail and Ecommerce and share with Planning to inform buy strategies.
• Review buy files with Planning, addressing MOQs, surcharges, cancellations, and commercial considerations.

Pricing Execution & Inventory Management

• Analyze category‑level performance – including sell‑through, inventory turns, and regional trends – and share insights that influence cross‑functional decisions.
• Support ongoing performance reviews with deep sales and inventory analysis.
• Recommend promotional pricing for key commercial events (BFCM, Boxing Week, Luggage Sale), including system setup and validation.

DELIVERABLES & KPIS

• Timely execution of seasonal line plans, assortments, and system setup aligned to global strategy.
• Category revenue and sell‑through results that meet or exceed plan.
• High accuracy in PLM setup, pricing uploads, and assortment execution with minimal downstream corrections.
• Strong inventory turns and effective management of aged inventory.
• Clear, actionable post‑mortem and in‑season insights that strengthen future line plans and commercial decisions.

ABOUT YOU

• 3–5 years of experience in Category Management with a proven ability to grow a product category.
• Fashion, Home Textiles or Hardgoods experience is essential.
• Post‑secondary education in Business or Fashion Merchandising is an asset.
• Skilled in Assortment Planning and Market Analysis.
• Highly proficient in Excel and Google Sheets for managing line lists.
• Experience with global pricing schemas and multi‑currency environments.
• Strong commercial eye – balancing data, intuition, and aesthetic.
• Excellent cross‑functional communication and alignment skills.
• Confident working under pressure to