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Associate category manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical associate category manager skills. We ranked the top skills for associate category managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 8.3% of associate category manager resumes contained data analysis as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an associate category manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 associate category manager skills for your resume and career

1. Data Analysis

Here's how associate category managers use data analysis:
  • Conduct syndicated/panel data analysis to understand brand performance, competitive conditions, and category trends of the Company's seven categories.
  • Presented category reviews incorporating syndicated data analysis, consumer and category insights and strategies to Kmart/Sears.

2. Category Strategies

Here's how associate category managers use category strategies:
  • Review, reference & expand Mattel's shopper & customer insights research portfolios in developing recommendations for category strategies for Target.
  • Presented category strategies and product updates to internal customers / senior project team.

3. Category Performance

Here's how associate category managers use category performance:
  • Analyze YOY category performance on a weekly and fiscal period basis and provide recommendations to Category Manager and Category Director.
  • Maintained regular reports to track performance and identify impacts of variables on category performance against established metrics.

4. Vendor Relations

Here's how associate category managers use vendor relations:
  • Attend Outdoor Retailer for Top to Top meetings acquiring new vendor relationships.
  • Established and improved vendor relationships with a goal of being best in class with Microsoft, Adobe, Symantec and Intuit.

5. PET

Here's how associate category managers use pet:
  • Chaired Pet Care Category Cross Functional Team consisting of 40+ internal and external partners.
  • Granted multiple design patents for unique pet products; recently applied for utility patents.

6. RFI

RFI, short for Request for Information, is a preliminary business practice document used by the procurement industry to obtain general information about products or services, and to capture granular details of their procurement needs from experienced vendors in the market or the capabilities of various suppliers to enable purchasing decisions better informed.

Here's how associate category managers use rfi:
  • Developed RFP's and RFI's during vendor negotiations.
  • Provided in-depth analysis on RFP and RFI results along with benchmarking data.

7. Strategic Sourcing

Here's how associate category managers use strategic sourcing:
  • Cost Cutting: Achieved 79% Direct Import penetration in 2010 through Strategic Sourcing efforts.
  • Managed services category procurements and strategic sourcing with over $55 million in spend.

8. Track Performance

Here's how associate category managers use track performance:
  • Maintain regular reports to track performance of category or by vendor.

9. Product Assortment

Here's how associate category managers use product assortment:
  • Created category assortment to maximize product assortment to support operator needs while maintaining warehouse capacity and increasing total gross profitability.
  • Conduct detailed product assortment review and analysis.

10. Market Research

Market research is a collective effort to collect information related to a consumer's needs and wants. It is a systematic approach that involves recording and analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data. Market research helps a business to identify a target market correctly and identify the gaps in potential consumer's expectations.

Here's how associate category managers use market research:
  • Conducted market research (NPD, POS, focus group data) and analyzed trends to define consumer insights.
  • Envisioned and produced product design development strategies according to market research for private label and licensed branded products.

11. ROI

Here's how associate category managers use roi:
  • Conduct detailed POS and productivity analysis on POP, TV advertising ROI, ad plan analysis, inline and feature space.
  • Developed and executed markdown strategy, reducing aged inventory and improving ROI.

12. Growth Objectives

Here's how associate category managers use growth objectives:
  • Strive to achieve budget numbers and growth objectives.

13. POS

POS is an abbreviation of "Point of Sale" which is the time and place where a customer completes a transaction. It can either be a physical shop that consists of POS terminals or a virtual shop. A POS system helps simplify the retail functions and track important sales data.

Here's how associate category managers use pos:
  • Evaluated POS information, recommending and implementing strategies to improve product performance.
  • Collaborate with GDC and RDC Mdse Support Teams and Replenishment Planning and Development to develop POS plans and understand impacts.

14. Category Growth

Here's how associate category managers use category growth:
  • Executed marketing advertising strategy to deliver category growth and incremental revenue.
  • Created strategies to drive category growth through pricing and promotional events.
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List of associate category manager skills to add to your resume

Associate category manager skills

The most important skills for an associate category manager resume and required skills for an associate category manager to have include:

  • Data Analysis
  • Category Strategies
  • Category Performance
  • Vendor Relations
  • PET
  • RFI
  • Strategic Sourcing
  • Track Performance
  • Product Assortment
  • Market Research
  • ROI
  • Growth Objectives
  • POS
  • Category Growth
  • Market Trends
  • RFP
  • Gross Profit
  • Consumer Insights
  • Category Sales
  • Digital Marketing
  • Product Selection
  • Product Categories
  • Inventory Management
  • Retail Sales
  • Product Development
  • Trade Shows
  • Wine
  • Promotional Programs
  • Product Line
  • Cost Savings
  • Competitive Analysis
  • Market Data
  • Gross Margin
  • Commodities
  • Pricing Strategy
  • Channel Marketing
  • Brand Marketing
  • Strategic Direction
  • Product Life Cycle
  • Product Performance
  • Promotional Strategies
  • Apparel
  • Procurement Process
  • Global Sourcing
  • Store Operations
  • Distribution Centers
  • POG
  • Product Offerings

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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