Category Manager, Product Planning

The Category Manager, Product Planning will lead cross-category management for the customized goods and apparel businesses. The role covers category strategy, sales and profit planning, member management, operational support, and organizational improvement. It is intended for a leader candidate who can work as a hands-on manager while directly driving business growth.

The role will set merchandising policies and business plans to achieve sales targets across multiple categories. Responsibilities include managing team members toward their goals, supporting day-to-day work, strengthening team capabilities, using data to run PDCA cycles, and improving the efficiency of team workflows.

Product responsibilities include planning broader assortments and product specifications for the e-commerce services, setting selling prices, managing planned and actual sales and profit, and proposing or implementing site UI improvements to support promotion and purchase conversion in cooperation with development teams. The manager will also select products using market research and customer analysis, meet with manufacturers and wholesalers, negotiate purchasing terms, and manage the process from supplier discussions through product registration and maintenance of listed products.

The position belongs to the Raksul business division’s Custom Goods & Apparel organization and supports the planning and operation of the Raksul Goods and Novelties and Raksul Apparel and Uniform services. These services allow companies and individuals to create and order customized items with logos online, including stationery, bags, snacks, T-shirts, workwear, and uniforms. The services provide a free design tool that does not require dedicated software, small-lot ordering, and free nationwide shipping.

Required experience includes P/L management; handling the full process for multiple products from selection, ordering, and delivery-date negotiation through product planning, sourcing, and sales planning; achieving clear sales results with planned or developed products; numerical analysis and hypothesis development and testing; and leadership or member management experience. Experience at a startup or growth-stage company, web marketing planning, and responsibility for multiple categories in e-commerce, distribution, or retail are preferred. Candidates are expected to commit to plans, execute hands-on with speed, think beyond existing frameworks, consider members, suppliers, and customers, and work toward team goals.

The work location is the Azabudai office or a company-approved home or equivalent location for remote work. The work style combines remote work with office attendance several times a week. The premises are generally non-smoking, with designated smoking areas or rooms where applicable. Duties and work locations may change within the company’s defined business sites, including remote-work locations.