Category Head- Hardgoods & Luggage

First Resource; Faridabad District; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 3,000,000; Full time

Job summary

First Resource is seeking an experienced Category Head / Senior Category Manager to lead the Hardgoods & Luggage business within Home & Lifestyle. This strategic role covers category planning, buying, sourcing, vendor management, P&L, inventory, pricing, product development and team leadership.

The ideal candidate has 5–8 years of retail experience in hardgoods/home decor, with proven P&L oversight, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to drive growth across online and offline channels.

Qualifications

• 5–8 years of Retail experience in Hardgoods / Home Décor / Home Accessories / Giftware / Luggage.
• Experience in Category P&L management.
• Strong buying, merchandising, sourcing, costing and vendor management.
• Experience in Inventory, Margins, Retail & Online/E-commerce channels.
• 4–5 years of Team Management experience.
• Strong commercial, analytical, negotiation and leadership skills.
• Exposure to Home Décor / Crafts / Textiles / Lifestyle products.

Responsibilities

• Drive category strategy, range planning, buying & business growth.
• Own category P&L, revenue, margins and GP targets.
• Lead product development, sourcing, costing and vendor negotiations.
• Build and develop a strong vendor ecosystem.
• Manage inventory planning, forecasting and stock rationalisation.
• Develop pricing strategies to maximise profitability.
• Analyse sales, trends, competition and consumer behaviour.
• Drive timely product launches, promotions and seasonal ranges.
• Work closely with QA, production, design, stores and business teams.
• Lead and develop the category buying/merchandising team.
• Drive online, retail and other channel sales.
• Regularly interact with stores/markets to understand customer preferences and product performance.

Education

B.FTech / M.FTech / B.E. Textiles / B.Sc Home Science / MBA / M.Sc Wood / B.Des / M.Des or relevant qualification.

Job description

We are looking for an experienced Category Head / Senior Category Manager to lead and grow the Hardgoods & Luggage business within the Home & Lifestyle category.

This is a strategic leadership role involving category planning, buying, sourcing, vendor management, P&L, inventory, pricing, product development and team management.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive category strategy, range planning, buying & business growth
• Own category P&L, revenue, margins and GP targets
• Lead product development, sourcing, costing and vendor negotiations
• Build and develop a strong vendor ecosystem
• Manage inventory planning, forecasting and stock rationalisation
• Develop pricing strategies to maximise profitability
• Analyse sales, trends, competition and consumer behaviour
• Drive timely product launches, promotions and seasonal ranges
• Work closely with QA, production, design, stores and business teams
• Lead and develop the category buying/merchandising team
• Drive online, retail and other channel sales
• Regularly interact with stores/markets to understand customer preferences and product performance

Ideal Candidate

• 1015 years of overall experience
• 5–8 years of strong Retail experience in:
• Hardgoods / Home Dcor / Home Accessories / Giftware / Luggage
• Must have handled Category P&L
• Strong understanding of Buying, Merchandising, Sourcing, Costing & Vendor Management
• Experience in Inventory, Margins, Retail & Online/E-commerce channels
• 4–5 years of Team Management experience
• Strong commercial, analytical, negotiation and leadership skills
• Exposure to Home Dcor / Crafts / Textiles / Lifestyle products will be preferred

Education

• B.FTech / M.FTech / B.E. Textiles / B.Sc. Home Science / MBA / M.Sc. Wood / B.Des / M.Des or relevant qualification.

Location

Faridabad

Compensation

Up to 30 LPA

About the Opportunity

Join a well-established, design-led Home & Lifestyle organization with a strong retail presence and a diverse product portfolio. This role offers an opportunity to own a high-impact category, shape product strategy, build vendor partnerships and directly influence business growth and profitability.