Description
Warner Bros. Consumer Products license the intellectual property rights of the Warner Bros portfolio, including the Looney Tunes, Harry Potter, Scooby Doo, Batman, Superman, Tom & Jerry and Flintstones. We license these rights to manufacturing companies in return for a royalty.
Our business covers many categories spanning publishing, food, toys, apparel, housewares, accessories, personal care, domestics, gifts, stationery, promotions and interactive games.
The Category Manager - Retail and Hardlines is responsible for growing all non-softlines and non-FMCG product categories and retail marketshare. This position acts as the key Hardlines authority and resource in the UK and Ireland and exerts influence on internal staff, licensees, retail buyers and key promotional partners with enthusiasm, a spirit of collaboration and professionalism - to drive breakthrough Hardlines and Retail results.
KEY RESPONSIBILITES:
Retail:
- Manage key retail accounts
- Build relationships and ongoing business plan with each account that grows WBCP UK & Ireland retail marketshare; review with each account quarterly
- Build and monitor sell-in goals with each account in line with WBCP UK yearly revenue goals
- Build promotions, programs and events for WB brands across demographics with key licensing partners and other WB divisions
Hardline
- Ensuring that each licensee is able to meet the terms of their contractual commitment with WB
- Ensuring that each licensee executes against all the terms of their contracts - marketing spend, demographic targets, retail activation and product development
- Ensuring that local reps of global deals are fully informed about our local licensing plans against our brands to aid them in maximizing their revenue results
- Conducting quarterly business reviews with top licensee revenue drivers (80/20 rule)
- Meeting regularly with the top licensees (80/20 rule) to review business objectives and ensuring that targets are being met
- Prospecting new potential licensees regularly
- Building relationships with retail category buyers to ensure product and promotional placement
- Building long-range Hardlines plans
- Liase with other divisions and departments to maximize synergies in the company (ie theatrical, home entertainment, etc). Assist the General Manager in the overall development plans.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Drive revenue and achieve quarterly and annual budget targets by negotiating powerful deals successfully, building strong strategic plans and alliances with best-in-class licensees and developing contingency plans as necessary within the Hardlines category.
- Research and identify key companies as potential licensees for WBCP UK & Ireland.
- Present property opportunities to potential licensing partners and retail.
- Service licensees and co-ordinate development of licensed product lines, product assortment planning, creative direction, product display direction and marketing support.
- Liaise with licensee and internal departments to support licensee sales efforts, including promotions, public relations, special events, brand assurance, marketing/creative and retail business development.
- Monitor and aggressively stimulate licensee performance throughout contract term. Prepare ongoing category analysis - track retail sales of products, recap category revenue, track retail trends and competition as well as product gap analysis. Hold regular review meetings with key licensees.
- Maintain effective relationships with the key executives of WB locally and internationally. Build specific work relationships with category senior management in Burbank, appropriate executives at WBCP overseas offices and key global/overseas licensees to grow the business.
- Provide ad-hoc and regular reports (oral and written) to the MD to ensure his/her appropriate involvement in order to achieve the business goals and strategies.
- Co-supervise and coach 1 direct report
KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS
- Proven licensing experience required
- Proven experience managing a minimum £5M earned revenue target
- Strong proficiency with MS Word, Excel, & PowerPoint required.
- Must be RESULTS-oriented, SELF-STARTER and have an ability to work without supervision.
- Must be able to interface professionally with department, licensees, retailers and all levels of management
- Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment and prioritize work effectively.
- Extensive knowledge of the UK & Ireland Hardlines and retail markets and the practices in dealing in the entertainment and/or license industry
- Strong presentation and negotiation skills
- Strategic thinker
- Effective and tactful communication (oral/written) with licensees, clients, and staff personnel
- Accurate sales forecast and planning skills