Category Manager- Hoppes

Revelyst is a collective of makers who design and manufacture performance gear and precision technologies. Our category-defining brands leverage meticulous craftsmanship and cross-collaboration to pursue innovation and redefine what is humanly possible in the outdoors.

The role of a Hoppes Category Merchandising Manager, is pivotal in steering the direction and success of consumer-centric product solutions. This position demands a blend of strategic foresight and hands-on management through every phase of product development, from conceptualization to market launch. The core responsibility involves orchestrating annual line plans that are not only ambitious in terms of revenue, gross margin, and market share growth but also reflective of a deep understanding of market demands and consumer preferences. This strategic assortment of superior products underpins the company's competitive edge and its ability to meet and exceed customer expectations.

At the heart of the Category Merchandising Manager's role is the development and articulation of a coherent vision and strategy for the product segments under their purview. This vision must be grounded in a robust analysis of market trends, consumer behaviors, and the competitive landscape. It requires a keen insight into the return on investment each product is expected to deliver, supported by concrete market data and a clear roadmap for development and launch. The strategy must be comprehensive, covering all channels of distribution to ensure a cohesive and powerful market presence.

To bring this vision to life, the Category Merchandising Manager, must possess an intimate understanding of the brand, the business landscape, and the unique selling points of the product portfolio. This role is not just about managing products but also about storytelling - conveying the value and uniqueness of the products in a way that resonates with the target audience. By leveraging internal product teams and resources, the manager is tasked with delivering innovative solutions that align with consumer needs and preferences. Success in this role hinges on the ability to synthesize market insights, brand strengths, and creative product development to offer compelling products that captivate and satisfy the core consumer base.

This position reports to the VP, Head of Camp Chef & Primos (including Hoppes and Champion brands) and is based out of our Logan, UT office.

As the Category Merchandising Manager – Hoppes & Champion, you will have an opportunity to:

• Analyze target markets/segments and create a solid definition of the potential for new products.
• Position these new products in the marketplace, working closely with sales, marketing, and external experts to gain an in-depth understanding of each market/segment and the competition
• Deliver new product briefs
• Deliver clear communication and effective partnership to internal stakeholders, including design, development, marketing and sales team.
• Execute on the I2C (idea-to-consumer) pathway, preparing effectively for key waypoints and process gates, and delivering on follow up action items. In supporting the I2C pathway, participate in making it better.
• Identify and evaluate opportunities to innovate. Innovation in this role is not limited to product creation; it encompasses the processes and tools we deploy in our daily work. Partner with internal teams to take innovative ideas from concept to implementation.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders to align on deliver specifical product development goals and timelines.
• Become a leading expert on both Hoppes and Champion’s competition and the overall marketplace, integrating this insight to support forward-looking decisions.
• Maintain all relevant line plans completely and accurately. Support the future implementation of new product line and product information management tools, including PLM and PIM.
• Drive towards seasonal and annual sales and margin objectives. Participate in the up-front long-range planning decisions and deliver seasonal plans with a demonstrated path to achieving those goals. Monitor the actual progress towards those objectives and participate in near-term tactics and problem solving as necessary. This includes leadership and management of pricing, price promotions and product margin management.
• Develop strong working relationship with colleagues across teams, enabling and empowering others.
• Work with marketing to deliver product packaging designs, technical docs, user manuals, etc.
• Facilitate presentations and discussions with consumers and retailers to gather insights that inform product and collection development.
• Deliver effective sell-in presentations to individual customers and during larger global sales events
• Develop and maintain effective intellectual property strategies
• Trade marketing duties such as:
• Develop and executing the Trade Marketing promotional plan in line with sales and marketing objectives and managing the Trade Marketing budget
• Improve brand presence and campaign execution across trade through excellence in in-store planning, execution, and tracking in alignment with the annual marketing priorities
• Leading and implementing channel-specific marketing strategies and plans for assigned retailers
• Assist in the creation of an annual calendar for all marketing and promotional activities to drive brand building initiatives including new product launches, store openings and special events or holiday promotions
• Understand and comply with relevant policy and regulatory requirements

You have:

• College degree desired
• 5 years sales, product or marketing experience in wholesale, retail or direct businesses.
• Proven track record of Product Line Management for Consumer Brands, Products or Categories. Experience with Outdoor Products categories a plus.
• Experience across different channels (outdoor products or specialty retail channel preferred), CPG categories (related category/products preferred), company sizes (large CPG and smaller company or division), low penetration brand/products.
• Knowledge of product development process, merchandising and assortment planning.
• Strong verbal communication skills and the ability to deliver presentations to large groups.
• Working knowledge of personal computers with experience in the use of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Strong quantitative/analytic skills.
• Extreme attention to detail and the ability to establish and maintain schedules.
• Ability to manage ambiguity and make decisions with incomplete or qualitative data.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to lead a collaborative results-oriented team
• Ability to communicate effectively- verbally, written and visually - with a wide variety of people.
• Adaptable, resilient, flexible, fast-paced/sense of urgency, and a high level of multitasking ability.
• Demonstrated passion and personal commitment.
• Personal and professional values aligned with company values and culture, high integrity.
• Able to handle pressure of deadlines, multiple projects and financial performance expectations.
• Fast-paced growing company experience and/or demonstrated effectiveness in a small company/location where role includes both strategic and hands-on responsibilities

Specific requirements of the position:

Physical Requirements: Employee will be sitting most of the time, with some walking and standing. Minor lifting objects over 10 lbs., carrying, stooping, and kneeling to access books and reports, transport paperwork and materials, and to retrieve files. Some travel and work outdoors. Manual dexterity for extensive computer work and writing. Hearing, speaking, and vision are required.