It’s the Wednesday or Thursday so to speak, before Memorial Day Weekend.

So burn some time and take a quick read. It’s the Seven Fun Facts of Category Managers, to get to that long weekend here just a little bit quicker! (Let’s hope!)

If not, just take a quick break.  It will make you more productive in the long run. So it really can’t be that bad, can it?

Just tell your boss you are reading another fabulous Ms. Category Management Blog! Not only will it make you look smart, it might even get you a promotion! (kidding).

Have ideas for another Ms. Category Management blog? Drop me a note below, I would love to hear your thoughts! And provide valuable content. Or let me know your long weekend plans.

Don’t want to flip over all these stupid boxes? Then check out the information below in blog form.

Blog Version

7. We get to hang out with cool people.

We have projects that are not only cross-functional but also global by nature. We work between geographies, functions and even executives. You don’t have to be a people person to work in Category Management, but it sure doesn’t hurt!

6. We Are All Grown-Up.

I’m not sure I’ve met anyone who wanted to grow up and become a Category Manager or Strategic Sourcing Specialist.  It just kind of happens.  And we have a diverse set of backgrounds to show for it.

5. We Have Cool Technology

We have access to company-wide spend. If you’ve charged it, created a PO or have sent in a non-PO invoice I can see it. Cool right? We can see everything!

4. We Report into Finance

Typically tend to report into finance, and since we sit near Accounts Payable (AP) or other functions, we have the inside track in getting things expedited!

3. We Have Legal Experience

Typically we work with legal enough to have written our own business terms at some point. We could easily become paralegals as a part-time job!

2. Constantly Shopping

Sometimes it feels like we are shoppers! Find innovative solutions? Check.  Get to review cutting edge technology? Check. All of this in a day’s work.

1. Other Days We are Undercover Detectives

One of the best parts of our job is gaining access to market research, intelligence or benchmark data.  It feels like we are FBI agents on a secret mission to find out what our competitors are doing!

Other Fun Facts

Side Note: Category Managers have lots of interesting facts about them. Especially given their diverse backgrounds. So are you interested in a role or learning more about them?

Then check out the other links on the side of this blog. Or feel free to contact me via email, twitter or LinkedIn. I’m always happy to share my experiences in working in the industry.

Want to know what a Category Manager really is? Well here is a definition for you – LINK