How can you develop a category plan for a category with low margins?
A category plan is a strategic document that outlines the objectives, strategies, and tactics for a specific product category in a retail environment. It helps you align your goals with the needs and preferences of your customers, as well as the expectations and capabilities of your suppliers. A category plan can help you optimize your assortment, pricing, promotion, placement, and merchandising decisions to maximize sales, profit, and customer satisfaction.
However, developing a category plan for a category with low margins can be challenging. Low-margin categories are typically characterized by high competition, low differentiation, high price sensitivity, and low customer loyalty. They often require high volumes and efficiencies to generate profit, but also face the risk of commoditization and erosion of value. How can you overcome these challenges and create a successful category plan for a low-margin category?