Category Manager, Consumer Personal Systems:•Develop and implement strategies for the consumer personal systems category to drive sales and market share growth.•Conduct market research and analysis to identify trends, consumer needs, and competitive landscape.•Manage the product portfolio, including product selection, pricing, and lifecycle management.•Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and vendors to ensure optimal product offerings and terms.•Develop strategies to optimize sales and profit margins for the category.•Plan and execute promotional activities, including sales events, marketing campaigns, and product launches.•Ensure effective inventory management to balance supply with consumer demand and minimize stockouts or overstock situations.•Work closely with cross-functional teams, including marketing, sales, and supply chain, to ensure cohesive execution of category strategies.•Monitor and analyze category performance metrics, such as sales, market share, and profitability, and adjust strategies as needed.•Gather and leverage customer insights to inform product and category decisions•I am Category Manager for South-Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique, Angola, Nigeria and Ghana.

•Build and maintain strong relationships with retail clients.•Achieve sales targets and objectives for assigned accounts.•Develop and execute account plans to maximize sales and profitability.•Provide excellent customer service and support to ensure client satisfaction.•Maintain a deep understanding of the retail market and client needs.•Negotiation and terms with clients.•Manage the order process from order placement to delivery.•Track and report on account performance and sales metrics.•Plan and execute promotions, events, and marketing activities for assigned accounts.•Work with internal teams, such as product management, marketing, and logistics, to ensure client needs are met.•Managed various online retailers - including marketing, digital advertising, google shopping/search and add-words, virtual shopping, social media advertising and general online sales and marketing.

Retail Business Unit Manager Duties:•Develop and implement business strategies to achieve sales, revenue, and profitability targets.•Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance of the business unit.•Lead, mentor, and develop a team of managers and staff to meet business objectives.•Conduct market research to identify trends, opportunities, and threats.•Oversee product selection, pricing, and promotions to ensure competitive positioning.•Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers and stakeholders.•Develop and execute sales and marketing plans to drive business growth.•Track and analyze business performance metrics and adjust strategies as needed.•Ensure optimal inventory levels to meet customer demand without overstocking.•Ensure all operations comply with relevant laws and regulations and manage risks appropriately.

Lenovo Product Manager Duties:•Develop and execute the product strategy for Lenovo's product lines.•Conduct market research to identify customer needs, market trends, and competitive landscape.•Manage the product lifecycle from ideation to end-of-life.•Develop go-to-market strategies, including product positioning, pricing, and promotional activities.•Collaborate with sales, marketing, and customer support teams to ensure successful product launches and support.•Monitor and analyze product performance, sales data, and customer feedback to inform future product development.•Manage relationships with suppliers and manufacturing partners.•Engage with customers and gather feedback to improve product offerings.•Provide training and support to sales teams and customers on product features and benefits.

Retail Account Manager Duties:•Build and maintain strong relationships with vendors.•Achieving sales targets and objectives for assigned accounts.•Develop and execute account plans to maximize sales and profitability.•Provide excellent customer service and support to ensure client satisfaction.•Maintain a deep understanding of the retail market and client needs.•Negotiate contracts, pricing, and terms with clients.•Manage the order process from order placement to delivery.•Track and report on account performance and sales metrics.•Plan and execute promotions, events, and marketing activities for assigned accounts.•Work with internal teams, such as product management, marketing, and logistics, to ensure client needs are met.•I sold everything that includes Drive Control – PC, Print, Supplies, Memory/Storage, Accessories, Enterprise Software & Hardware, Networking Equipment.

•Develop and implement comprehensive category strategies for business technology products to drive growth and profitability.•Conduct in-depth market research and analysis to identify industry trends, customer needs, and competitive dynamics.•Manage the product portfolio, including product selection, pricing, positioning, and lifecycle management.•Establish and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and vendors to ensure competitive pricing, product availability, and favorable terms.•Develop and execute strategies to optimize sales and profit margins, including pricing strategies, promotions, and discount structures.•Plan and execute marketing and promotional activities, including product launches, sales events, and advertising campaigns.•Collaborate with internal teams, such as sales, marketing, procurement, and supply chain, to ensure seamless execution of category strategies.•Track, analyze, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) such as sales, market share, profitability, and inventory levels.•Gather and analyze customer insights and feedback to inform product development and category strategies.•Develop and manage the category budget, ensuring alignment with overall business goals and financial targets.•Ensure all category activities comply with relevant laws, regulations, and company policies, and proactively manage risks associated with the category.•Stay abreast of industry innovations and emerging trends to identify new opportunities for growth and differentiation.•Provide training and support to sales teams and other stakeholders on product features, benefits, and category strategies.•Identify and evaluate potential new suppliers and technologies to enhance the category offering

•Conducting market research to identify potential suppliers and assess market trends.•Evaluating and selecting suppliers based on quality, cost, reliability, and service.•Negotiating terms, prices, and contracts with suppliers.•Placing orders for goods and services, ensuring timely delivery and compliance with specifications.•Monitoring and managing inventory levels to avoid overstocking or stockouts.•Ensuring that purchased goods meet quality standards and specifications.•Managing the budget for purchasing activities and seeking cost-saving opportunities.•Maintaining accurate records of purchases, contracts, and supplier performance.•Building and maintaining strong relationships with suppliers.•Ensuring all purchasing activities comply with company policies, legal requirements, and ethical standards.•The categories I managed was Print, Supplies, Multimedia (Storage/Networking), Stationery and Peripherals.•Coordinating with other departments to understand their procurement needs and requirements.•Preparing reports on procurement activities, spending, and supplier performance for management review.

Range selection(Photographic, Photographic Memory, Photographic Accessories and Navigation)Marketing of ranged productsAdvertising sign offFinding new merchandising concepts and ideasDriving e-commerce sales and product enrichmentPresenting and managing business plans to fall in line with OTB and DFC.Sales and margin planning to budgets

Opened up a new store and were promoted right after opening.Project management - including management of vendors, contractors, staff and warehouses.New team member recruitment

Managing sales teamAchieving sales and margin targetsCost cuttings across all departmentsManaging stock levelsRetail space negotiations with suppliersArranging in store promotions and promotersOpening of new store (Amanzimtoti)Managing floor layouts for stocktakesAssisting other stores with merchandising and stocktakes