1. Martin J. Smith
8 Harrold Close
Taverham
Norwich
Norfolk
NR8 6UE
Mobile : 07766 132024
martin.smith110205@gmail.com
PROFILE
I have been working as a category manager for 6 years and in that time I have
successfully merchandised our company catalogue and website in order for our
customers to select and buy products quickly and easily resulting in increased revenue
and profitability. I strive to consistently achieve company targets, KPI’s and deadlines. I
am looking to undertake a new challenge as I feel I can make a contribution to help a
company grow and to also use the skill acquired whilst studying for my certificate in
Leadership and Management. I also have extensive product knowledge in both the
electrical and ironmongery industry since passing the ONC Electrical Engineering and
the Ironmongery GAI levels 1 and 2 qualifications
EXPERIENCE / KNOWLEDGE OF SYSTEMS
Advanced knowledge of MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint and MS Internet Explorer.
Knowledge of Lotus Notes, Kerridge, SAP Business 1
CAREER HISTORY
Jul 10 - Present
Ironmongery Direct – Category Manager
As a Category Manager I am responsible for planning and developing specific product
ranges to meet the needs of target customers. This includes managing the product
throughout the product lifecycle, gathering and prioritizing product and customer
requirements, defining the product vision and working closely with the purchasing
department and suppliers to deliver winning products. This resulted in increasing the
section profit, recruiting new customers and engaging existing customers. It also
includes working with the customer contact centre, marketing and purchasing
department to ensure revenue, profitability and customer satisfaction goals are met.
Key Responsibilities
• Delivery of relevant budgeted sales and margin contribution for the product
ranges
• Defining product strategies and roadmaps
• Present business cases for product range development
• Introduce new product ranges within the given timescales
• Develop the core positioning and messaging for the product
• Project manage the introduction of new product ranges from inception to delivery
• Merchandise products through the catalogue and web site to achieve maximum
product performance
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2. Key Skills
• Able to motivate and lead in a team environment with experience gained as an
inventory team leader in a previous role
• Good communication skills in leading team briefings and also a proven ability to
influence cross-functional teams
• Good teamwork skills through helping colleagues with stock queries, range
review ideas and technical information
• Good time management skills to ensure key milestones and KPI’s are met
• Excellent product knowledge gained not only from key personnel within the
business but also from the GAI courses
• Good analytical skills in order to analyse data, draw conclusions and set strategic
actions to meet revenue and profitability goals
Key Achievements
• Instrumental in adding a range of own brand locks to offer customers a good,
better, best option. I conducted market research to ensure the pricing was
competitive, designed the packaging and how to stock the product with minimal
stock levels. This resulted in a 40% sales increase in the first 12 months and a
93% sales increase in 3 years. This was achieved by project managing a team
from all departments to ensure product was ready for the catalogue launch
• Restructured the door closer range so that customers could make an informed
choice easily and quickly by introducing a range system from low to heavy duty
with a colour rating scheme with features and benefits of each range. This
resulted in a 30% sale increase over a 12 month period
• Introduced a range of locks from a supplier, Nichols & Clarke, to become the
UK’s only national distributor of RADAR locks. This has resulted in Ironmongery
Direct selling more units than Nichols & Clarke which encourages customers to
purchase other products
• Worked as part of the team to deliver a range of products designed for the uPVC
market, to develop a range aimed at our core customer, how the product would
be delivered to market in terms of marketing material. This was achieved in 3
days with completion of all milestones well before the agreed deadline
• I have now been leading the quality review team to enhance how we respond to
customer returns and to respond back to the management team with ideas and
suggestions to make the process easier to identify critical issues and to resolve
them quickly
• Instrumental in launching a brand new electrical catalogue from inception to a
completed publication in 6 weeks.
Previous Employment
Oct 09 – Jul 10
Capital Q Security Systems – Purchasing Manager
As purchasing manager I was responsible for all the product purchases for the company
in order to satisfy the requirements of the site engineers.
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3. I also managed the warehouse team to ensure the stock was accurately booked in and
that scheduled deliveries were sent to site on a just in time basis due to the nature of the
client
Oct 95 – Jun 09
WF Electrical – Various Roles
I started my career as an inventory controller and I was responsible for the purchase and
stock control of certain supplier products. I was also involved with sourcing new products
to increase the product portfolio in line with company objectives. I negotiated cost prices
and rebates.
I was then promoted to the position of inventory team leader, reporting to the inventory
manager and was responsible for a team of 8 inventory planners to ensure that the
department KPI’s were met, resolving any departmental disputes, leading team
meetings, ensuring new team members were coached and trained in order for them to
confidently carry out their duties.
My last position was Product Manager for the lighting departing reporting the Lighting
Director. My main duties included ensuring that our branch network of 96 branches
carried the correct stock to service the customers, the removal of slow and non selling
lines, the introduction of new lines to appeal to the required customer base. I was also
tasked with ensuring that the prices were competitive to the local market and to actively
orchestrate pricing promotions
Professional Qualification
Certification from the Institute of Leadership and Management - Current
GAI Level 1 & 2
HNC Electrical Engineering
QUALIFICATIONS
English Language O Level
English O Level
Mathematics O Level
Hobbies: Socialising with family & friends, motor racing, music, DIY
and gardening.
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