This week, Catch Group was acquired for $230 million. Before the big deal, we caught up with Carlo Cajili, category manager for fashion accessories, footwear and workwear.
What is your day to day role?
I am responsible for managing a team of buyers, planners and support staff to review, purchase, receive and merchandise fashion ranges on Catch.com.au for our customers. This means I manage relationships with over 250 vendors both locally and internationally, including the likes of Casio, Fossil, Adidas, Lacoste and Antler.
What is an initiative you have worked on that you are most proud of?
It’s always hugely rewarding when we work with large fashion brands who had previously been hesitant of partnering with pure play online retailers and proving that our channel is not only highly profitable, but also a fantastic way to market their brand and get their products into a far broader audience.
What is the most challenging aspect of your role?
This goes hand in hand with the above. It’s always a challenge to work with brands that have previously dismissed retailing their products online and don't immediately see Catch.com.au as a viable destination for their brand and products. Being able to open up their eyes to the greater opportunity and demonstrating to them the success of their competitors can be challenging but so rewarding when they realise the potential. Things are definitely changing, Catch.com.au has become a must have destination.
What is the most rewarding?
Seeing products that you have purchased sell out quickly is hands down the best feeling - I’ll never get sick of seeing my products fly out of the warehouse! It helps that I get to work with the best buying team in the country and have the tools to train and mentor a great team.
What do you see as the biggest change coming for fashion retail?
It's already happening - driving brands revenue through online retail sales. If you aren't doing double figure digits of your business online already, then you will not grow.