Category Manager, Haircare in New York, New York at Golden Meteors

About Golden Meteors:

A New York-based B2B sales agency focused on introducing fragrance, grooming & beauty brands to the North American market.

Launched in 2020, Golden Meteors has quickly grown into a preeminent player in the beauty B2B landscape.

Boutique in size yet influential throughout the North American market, our small but mighty team has deep, meaningful experience building commercial relationships from prestige to mass.

Our mission is to make it possible for every store to discover and stock the best products from the most interesting brands, both heritage & new.

We have always prioritized working with brands led by diverse and underrepresented voices, including women and feminine-identifying leaders, founders of color, LBTQIA+ innovators, as well as brands paving the way in regards to sustainability and ethical / conscious sourcing.

Position Summary

The Category Manager, Haircare is responsible for driving profitable revenue growth across the company's wholesale channels, managing relationships with key independent barbershops, salons, department stores, e-commerce pure players, and mass retailers.

This role owns the wholesale strategy for a select portfolio of brands (2-3 brands) end-to-end, including account management, new account acquisition, forecasting, assortment planning, pricing, and trade execution, while servicing as a brand steward.

The ideal candidate is both strategic and hands-on -- comfortable with meeting KPIs, closing accounts, managing day-to-day execution, and partnering cross-functionally to scale wholesale business thoughtfully and profitably.

Key Responsibilities

Wholesale Strategy & Revenue Growth

• Develop and execute the national wholesale strategy to drive sustainable revenue and margin growth across independent and department store accounts.
• Identify and prioritize growth opportunity by channel, account tier, and geography.
• Own annual and quarterly wholesale sales plans, targets, and key performance indicators (KPIs).

Account Management & Business Development

• Serve as the primary point of contact for wholesale accounts, maintaining and fostering strong, long-term partnerships.
• Drive new account acquisition with aligned retailers that fit the brand's positioning and distribution strategy.
• Lead assortment planning, launch strategies, and sell-in / sell-through initiatives by account.
• Negotiate commercial terms including pricing, margins, MOQs, payment terms, and promotional support.
• Develop and maintain a streamlined wholesale portfolio, including brand books, sell sheets, and core collateral.
• Assist the company owner with identifying, evaluating, and onboarding new brands that strengthen the wholesale portfolio and drive growth.

Forecasting, Planning & Analytics

• Own wholesale demand forecasting and collaborate with brand partners to align on US-based inventory needs.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for brand partners, maintaining and fostering strong, long-term partnerships.
• Track and report on wholesale performance vs. plan, highlighting risks and opportunities.
• Complete monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting per brand.

Trade Marketing & Education

• Partner with retailer marketing teams to support in-store storytelling, product knowledge training, launches, sampling programs, and retail activations.
• Ensure consistent brand presentation and merchandising standards across wholesale partners.
• Support and attend key industry events, trade shows, and market appointments, as needed.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with internal and external partners (Operations, Finance, Marketing, and Customer Service) to ensure seamless wholesale execution.
• Support leadership with ad-hoc analysis, reporting, and strategic initiatives related to wholesale growth.
• Assists with various projects and additional responsibilities, as needed.

Qualifications

• 2-5+ years of wholesale sales or account management experience, preferably in fragrance, beauty, luxury, or premium consumer goods.
• Proven experience managing national wholesale accounts, including independent specialty retailers and department stores.
• Strong understanding of wholesale economics, margins, forecasting, and retail math.
• Demonstrated ability to grow revenue while maintaining brand integrity and selective distribution.
• Highly organized, analytical, and comfortable working in a fast-growing, entrepreneurial, and start-up environment.
• Tech-savvy ie. CRM, Project Management software, and other modern tools, including AI
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally, as needed (approx. 10% - 40%).

Preferred Experience

• Experience working with haircare and/or men's grooming brands.
• Familiarity with independent retailer landscape and luxury department store buying structures.