Category Lead
Officially Ethos
Gurugram, Haryana, India
JOB DESCRIPTION
Role Overview
The Category Lead – Luggage / Jewellery / Fashion will be responsible for developing and scaling the luggage / jewellery / fashion and travel accessories category within Ethos Lifestyle. The role will own category strategy, brand acquisition, assortment planning, commercial performance, distribution, and go-to-market execution across retail and digital channels.
The category will focus on premium and luxury luggage / jewellery / fashion, travel bags, business luggage / jewelery / fashion, backpacks, duffel bags, and complementary travel accessories, in line with the company's brand portfolio and business strategy.
The ideal candidate will have strong experience in premium or luxury luggage / jewelery / fashion, travel goods, accessories, or lifestyle retail, with the ability to build international brand partnerships, develop a compelling product assortment, and drive profitable category growth.
Key Responsibilities
A. Category Strategy & Business Development
- Develop and execute the category strategy and business growth roadmap for luggage / jewelery / fashion and travel accessories.
- Identify opportunities across luxury luggage / jewellery / fashion, premium travel bags, business travel products, backpacks, duffel bags, and related accessories.
- Develop annual business plans, revenue targets, profitability objectives, and category expansion strategies.
- Assess market potential, consumer preferences, travel trends, competitive positioning, and emerging product opportunities.
- Build a differentiated category proposition aligned with Ethos Lifestyle's luxury positioning and target customer profile.
- Identify opportunities to expand the category through new brands, products, retail formats, and distribution channels.B. Brand Acquisition & Strategic Partnerships
- Identify, evaluate, and onboard premium and international luggage / jewellery / fashion and travel accessory brands.
- Develop relationships with global brand principals, manufacturers, distributors, licensing partners, and brand owners.
- Lead commercial negotiations covering margins, pricing, distribution rights, exclusivity, marketing support, and partnership terms.
- Evaluate brand equity, product quality, pricing architecture, market potential, and commercial viability.
- Build a balanced portfolio of established luxury brands and high-potential premium travel brands.
- Develop long-term strategic partnerships to strengthen the category's market positioning and commercial performance.
- Explore opportunities for exclusive distribution, brand representation, and new market-entry partnerships in India.C. Category P&L & Commercial Ownership
- Own category-level revenue, gross margins, profitability, and overall business performance.
- Prepare annual budgets, sales forecasts, buying plans, and periodic business reviews.
- Monitor sales productivity, sell-through, average transaction value, inventory turnover, and stock ageing.
- Develop pricing strategies and identify opportunities to improve margins and profitability.
- Optimise inventory investments, replenishment cycles, product availability, and working capital.
- Track brand-wise and product-wise performance and implement corrective actions to achieve business targets.D. Assortment Planning & Merchandising
- Develop the category assortment strategy across luggage / jewelery / fashion sizes, product types, materials, colours, collections, and price points.
- Curate a portfolio suited to different customer needs, including luxury leisure travel, business travel, frequent flyers, and premium gifting.
- Lead buying plans, product selection, replenishment, inventory allocation, and assortment rationalisation.
- Evaluate product performance based on sales trends, margins, seasonality, customer preferences, and inventory productivity.
- Ensure the right balance between iconic products, new launches, core collections, and differentiated offerings.
- Maintain high standards of product quality, functionality, design, durability, and brand presentation.E. Retail Distribution & Omnichannel Growth
- Identify opportunities to introduce and scale the luggage / jewelery / fashion category across existing Ethos retail locations and suitable new retail formats.
- Collaborate with retail operations to optimise product placement, category visibility, store productivity, and visual merchandising.
- Develop category-specific retail guidelines and product presentation standards.
- Partner with e-commerce and digital teams to strengthen online assortment, product discovery, and conversion.
- Support new store openings, brand launches, product showcases, and category expansion initiatives.
- Monitor channel-wise performance and recommend strategies to improve sales and distribution efficiency.F. Marketing & Brand Building
- Partner with marketing, CRM, and digital teams to develop brand campaigns, category promotions, product launches, and customer engagement initiatives.
- Develop strategies targeting affluent travellers, luxury consumers, business executives, frequent flyers, and premium gifting customers.
- Plan exclusive product showcases, brand experiences, travel-led campaigns, and curated customer events.
- Identify cross-selling opportunities with luxury watches and other lifestyle categories.
- Leverage customer insights and purchase behaviour to improve acquisition, conversion, and repeat purchases.
- Ensure consistent communication of brand heritage, product innovation, craftsmanship, functionality, and luxury positioning.
G. Market Intelligence & Competitive Benchmarking
- Track developments in the luxury travel goods market, consumer travel behaviour, premium luggage / jewelery / fashion trends, and competitor activity.
- Benchmark international and Indian brands on assortment, pricing, distribution, product innovation, and customer experience.
- Identify emerging brands, underserved customer segments, and whitespace opportunities.
- Evaluate new product categories and business models for their strategic fit and commercial potential.
- Provide data-backed recommendations on brand onboarding, portfolio development, pricing, and expansion.H. Cross-functional Leadership & Governance
- Work closely with finance, retail operations, merchandising, supply chain, marketing, CRM, and e-commerce teams.
- Establish category dashboards, performance reviews, forecasting processes, and reporting mechanisms.
- Ensure disciplined buying, vendor management, inventory planning, and commercial governance.
- Coordinate with brand partners on product availability, replenishment, new launches, after-sales support, and warranty requirements.
- Ensure compliance with applicable import, labelling, product authenticity, consumer protection, and other relevant regulations.
- Drive timely execution of category initiatives and business priorities.
Desired Candidate Profile
Experience
- 8–12 years of relevant experience in luxury or premium luggage / jewelery / fashion, travel goods, lifestyle retail, accessories, category management, buying, or brand management.
- Demonstrated experience managing a category, brand portfolio, or category-level business.
- Exposure to international luggage / jewelery / fashion brands, premium travel accessories, leather goods, or luxury lifestyle products is strongly preferred.
- Experience in brand acquisition, commercial negotiations, assortment planning, and P&L management.
- Strong understanding of retail economics, inventory management, distribution, and margin optimisation.
- Experience in launching international brands, establishing distribution partnerships, or scaling a category in India will be an advantage.
Education
- MBA / postgraduate qualification in Marketing, Retail Management, Business Management, or a related discipline preferred.
- A graduate degree with substantial relevant industry experience may also be considered.