Vanessa Lau
Brisbane,Australia
Summary
Senior category professional with 20+ years of experience across APAC, ANZ, retail, e-commerce, and global brand environments. Expert in category strategy, pricing, promotions, private label development, and supplier partnerships, with a strong track record of driving sales growth, margin improvement, and KPI delivery. Proven people leader with deep experience managing complex categories at scale, and delivering customer-centric outcomes through cross-functional collaboration.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Category Manager
Supercheap Auto
Brisbane, Australia
12.2019 - Current
- Role Summary: Senior Category Manager with end-to-end accountability for category strategy, commercial performance, and supplier partnerships across 324 retail stores in Australia and New Zealand. Lead customer-centric category strategies that deliver sustainable sales growth, profit optimization, and long-term business value across multiple high-value categories.
- Category Portfolio: Wipers & Electrical (2019-2021) Lubricants (2021-Mid 2025) Power Tools & Hardware (2025 Jun - Present)
- Led category strategy across multiple portfolios, including Lubricants (largest category), delivering 3.5 years CAGR of 11% while consistently meeting or exceeding sales and gross profit budgets.
- Drive pricing and promotional strategy across all channels, optimizing profitability through disciplined price management, promotional mix, and supplier funding negotiations.
- Lead range planning and range change execution, ensuring ranges are regularly reviewed, supported by inventory budgets, space plans, and store layouts to maximize sales productivity.
- Manage strategic supplier relationships, building strong, collaborative partnerships to unlock value, drive innovation, and improve category performance; coach and develop team capability in supplier engagement.
- Lead new product development (NPD), including private label strategy, working closely with local trade partners and international sourcing teams (China sourcing) to deliver differentiated, high-margin products aligned to category KPIs.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Finance, Legal, Marketing, Operations, Warehouse, Wholesale, and Space Planning to ensure seamless execution of pricing, promotions, catalogues, EDMs, planograms, and digital initiatives.
- Ensure pricing, promotional, and advertising compliance with Australian Consumer Law (ACL), maintaining high standards of accuracy and preventing errors that could impact customer trust or require remediation.
- Provide commercial leadership and mentoring to category team members, building capability and ensuring consistent execution of category strategies.
Assistant Executive
Hitachi China Ltd.
Hong Kong
05.2023 - 04.2025
- Role Summary: Assistant Executive supporting regional sourcing and commercial operations across Asia, coordinating supplier engagement, order management, and logistics execution.
- Worked closely with Japanese-based suppliers to ensure accurate pricing, timely deliveries, and efficient operational support within a cross-border trading environment.
- Supported regional sourcing and supplier coordination across Asia.
- Managed orders, pricing, quotations, and delivery follow-up.
- Prepared shipping and trade documentation including invoices and LC applications.
- Assisted with budget monitoring and departmental administration.
Senior Buyer
Umart Online
Brisbane, Australia
05.2018 - 12.2019
- Role Summary: Senior Buyer responsible for leading buying and promotional activities for one of Australia’s largest online retailers.
- Provided end-to-end ownership of category performance, pricing, promotions, and supplier partnerships across a broad multi-category portfolio within a fast-paced e-commerce environment.
- Senior Buyer leading buying, pricing, and promotions across multi-category e-commerce portfolio.
- Accountable for supplier negotiations, margin performance, and KPI delivery.
- Managed 6,000+ SKUs with responsibility for replenishment and availability.
- Conducted competitor pricing analysis to maintain market-leading price position.
- Delivered cross-functional execution across Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain, and Customer Service.
- Expanded product categories to strengthen assortment and drive growth.
Regional Sales & Merchandising Manager
Toys“R”Us Asia Ltd
Hong Kong
05.2006 - 03.2018
- Role Summary Regional Sales & Merchandising Manager with accountability for category strategy, merchandise assortment, pricing, and financial performance across the Asia-Pacific region.
- Delivered regional category leadership across 300+ retail outlets, driving sales growth, margin performance, and inventory optimization while leading and developing high-performing buying and merchandising teams.
- Regional category and merchandising leader across APAC (300+ stores).
- Owned category vision, assortment strategy, pricing, and financial performance.
- Delivered sales, margin, OTB, and inventory targets across multiple markets.
- Led regional buying teams and developed high-performing talent.
- Built strategic vendor partnerships to drive competitiveness and brand outcomes.
- Presented seasonal range strategies and performance reviews at regional level.
Visual Merchandising (PLV) Coordinator
Cartier – Richemont Asia Pacific Limited
, Asia-Pacific
04.2005 - 03.2006
- Role Summary: Visual Merchandising Coordinator supporting Asia-Pacific retail and wholesale networks through effective planning, coordination, and execution of point-of-sale and visual merchandising assets.
- Partnered closely with Cartier Paris Headquarters, regional markets, and suppliers to ensure consistent brand presentation, inventory availability, and on-time delivery across local and export channels.
- Coordinated visual merchandising inventory and display execution across APAC.
- Liaised with Paris HQ, suppliers, and regional markets on PLV planning and allocation.
- Supported logistics, stock replenishment, and new store requirements.
- Ensured brand compliance through store visits and guideline execution.
- Managed inventory reporting and ageing stock action plans.
Education
Bachelor of Business - Marketing
Queensland University of Technology
Brisbane, Australia01.2002
Year 12 Senior Certificate -
St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School
Brisbane, Australia01.1999
Skills
- Category management
- Range planning
- New product development
- Supplier relationship management
- Pricing strategy
References
Ms. Jo Hall Chief Commercial Officer
Toys R Us Asia Ltd, 8/F Li Fung Tower, 868 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, jo.hall@toysrusasia.com, (852) 6395 6650
Ms. Erika Leung Deputy Manager
Richemont Asia Pacific Ltd – Cartier Brand, 3/F Jardine House, 1 Connaught Place, Central
(852) 2532 0461
Awards
- 2024, Office Team Members of the Year, SuperCheap Auto
- 2024, Merchandising Member of the Year, SuperCheap Auto
- 2023, Team Member of the Month, SuperCheap Auto
- 2020, Team Member of the Month, SuperCheap Auto
Languages
- Fluent speaking and writing in English
- Fluent speaking and writing in Mandarin
- Fluent speaking and writing in Cantonese
Timeline
Assistant Executive
Hitachi China Ltd.
05.2023 - 04.2025
Senior Category Manager
Supercheap Auto
12.2019 - Current
Senior Buyer
Umart Online
05.2018 - 12.2019
Regional Sales & Merchandising Manager
Toys“R”Us Asia Ltd
05.2006 - 03.2018
Visual Merchandising (PLV) Coordinator
Cartier – Richemont Asia Pacific Limited
04.2005 - 03.2006
Bachelor of Business - Marketing
Queensland University of Technology
Year 12 Senior Certificate -
St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School