WHAT IS A CATEGORY MANAGER? Category Managers are responsible for related groups of products (for example, baseball equipment or laundry detergents) for a retail business. They use research, informati

WHAT IS A CATEGORY MANAGER?

Category Managers are responsible for related groups of products (for example, baseball equipment or laundry detergents) for a retail business. They use research, information and insights about the category to change shopper behavior and increase sales of the products in the category. They also work with the suppliers of the products in their category to ensure that good products and services are available to customers.

As a Category Manager, part of your role is to analyze data and information about how well a product is selling to help the maker of that product improve the product and consider introducing new products. Rochelle and her team at Alikay Naturals have asked you, the Beauty Products Category Manager, to review one of their products and determine where it lies in the product life cycle. Additionally, they have asked you to recommend ways to improve the product in order to increase sales.

Instructions

Click DOWNLOAD TEMPLATE and DOWNLOAD RESOURCES at the bottom for all of your assignment materials!

Question 1: Product Life Cycle

Review the Product Sales Report for Alikay Naturals Moisturizing Black Soap Shampoo. The Product Sales Report contains important information that will help you to identify where the product stands in the Product Life Cycle and give you clues about what changes customers might like to see. Respond to Rochelle and her team at Alikay Naturals based on the information in the Product Report.

Identify where Moisturizing Black Soap Shampoo is currently positioned in the product life cycle. Please describe the rationale for your position.

Question 2: Product Changes

Review the User Survey Summary outlined on the template.

What recommendation(s) do you have for Alikay Naturals to improve or replace Moisturizing Black Soap Shampoo? Please support your recommendation(s).

Question3: New Product Development

Read the New Product Proposal, which contains three examples of possible products that could be developed to replace Moisturizing Black Soap Shampoo. Based on the information in this proposal and the customer feedback in the Product Report:

If you had to recommend one product, which product would you recommend they create? Please explain your decision. Provide examples of the customer feedback that informed your choice. Determine which type of innovation this represents from among the four main types discussed this week. Briefly explain why you chose that type of innovation.

Question 4: Production Methods

Based on the product you chose in Step 3:

Determine which type of innovation this represents from among the four main types discussed this week. Briefly explain why you chose that type of innovation.

Question 5: Production Methods

Based on the product you chose in Step 3:

Determine which production method is most appropriate for the production of this product.

WHAT IS A CATEGORY MANAGER? Category Managers are responsible for related groups of products (for example, baseball equipment or laundry detergents) for a retail business. They use research, informati
Assignment #1 INSTRUCTIONS – Business 100 Make sure that you have also downloaded the Assignment #1 Template. You will answer the questions there and submit that file as your assignment. QUESTION 1: Product Life Cycle Background Information Needed to Answer Question #1: Review the Sales Report below for Alikay Naturals Moisturizing Black Soap Shampoo. As you recall from our learning, here are the four phases of the product life cycle: Go to the Assignment #1 Template and complete Question 1. QUESTION 2: Product Changes Background Information Needed to Answer Question #2: Review the User Survey Summary data below and form some opinions about the shampoo’s consistency, smell, effectiveness, and price. Based on this information you will be able to answer question #2. Go to the Assignment #1 Template and complete Question 2. QUESTION 3: New Product Development Background Information Needed to Answer Question #3: Review the three new product options and based on the survey results below determine which of the three new products you would recommend. Go to the Assignment #1 Template and complete Question 3. QUESTION 4: Innovation Review the following information from Week 2 on types of innovation. Helpful image from Week 2 Learn’s section for your review: Go to the Assignment #1 Template and complete Question 4. QUESTION 5: Production Methods Review the following information from Week 3. Go to the Assignment #1 Template and complete Question 5. Next step: submit your work Save your completed template (not these instructions) to your desktop. Navigation: Select File at the top, then select Save As > Browse > Desktop, select Save. Log into your class and select Assignment #1 on the left, scroll down and select Submit Your Work, click Browse My Computer, find your file on the desktop, click Open, then click Submit. If you have any issues please email me or call. I will provide you assignment feedback and you can then make any changes you would like and resubmit for grading. Congrats on completing assignment #1! Assignment #1 Instructions Page 7 of 7
WHAT IS A CATEGORY MANAGER? Category Managers are responsible for related groups of products (for example, baseball equipment or laundry detergents) for a retail business. They use research, informati
Assignment #1 TEMPLATE – Business 100 Name: Question 1: product life cycle What phase of the product life cycle is the Moisturizing Black Soap Shampoo currently in? Introduction. Maturity. Growth. Decline. Describe why you selected that phase using sales report data and what you know about the product life cycle in the box below: Question 2: product changes What recommendations do you have for Alikay Naturals to improve or replace Moisturizing Black Soap Shampoo? Please support your recommendations utilizing data from the User Survey Summary: Question 3: new product development If you had to recommend one product, which product would you recommend they create? Underline or highlight your answer: Organic Bloom Shampoo. Moisturizing Black Soap Shampoo with Dandruff Control. Coconut Protein Shampoo and Conditioner. Explain your decision. Provide examples of the customer feedback that informed your choice. question 4: Innovation Determine which type of innovation your new product represents from among the four main types discussed this week. Underline or highlight your selection: Sustainable (eco-friendly). Frugal. Sustaining. Disruptive. Briefly explain why you chose that type of innovation. Question 5: Production Methods Based on the product you chose in Question 3, determine which production method is most appropriate for the production of this product. Underline or highlight your answer: Job Production. Batch Production. Flow Production. Mass production. Explain your decision below: Next step: submit your work Save this completed template to your desktop. Navigation: Select File at the top, then select Save As > Browse > Desktop, select Save. Log into your class and select Assignment #1 on the left, scroll down and select Submit Your Work, click Browse My Computer, find your file on the desktop, click Open, then click Submit. If you have any issues please email me or call. I will provide you assignment feedback and you can then make any changes you would like and resubmit for grading. Congrats on completing Assignment #1!