Fish4Dogs has taken on a product portfolio manager – a new role for the business with to help unlock opportunities, attract new market segments and grow its market share through new product development.
Karen Hubbard has joined the Global Product and Supply team at the company’s head office in Rushock, Worcestershire.
She is responsible for reviewing market trends, analysing customer behaviour, identifying gaps in the product portfolio and undertaking competitor analysis to assist the positioning of the Fish4Dogs and Fish4Cats as premium brands.
In addition to NPD, her duties include managing the company’s well-established product range, identifying opportunities to expand the portfolio and keep it ‘fresh and exciting’.
Karen, who worked for architectural hardware manufacturer Assa Abloy in a similar role for 12 years, said: “As product manager for the Union brand of mortice locks I had responsibility for many new product introductions and a wide range of legacy products.
PORTFOLIO
“In comparison, Fish4Dogs has a very well-structured portfolio of products that meet defined purposes and type or age of pet. My role is to enhance this even further and provide solutions for our distributors, customers and most importantly our four -egged end users.”
After 32 years in the architectural hardware sector, having joined Ingosol Rand (formerly Newman Tonks) for a marketing role straight from school, she is delighted to be able to use her extensive range of transferable skills within the pet sector.
“My passion for pets was one of the reasons why I chose to join Fish4Dogs. Customers are more actively engaged in purchasing products for their pets and want to buy what’s best for them,” she said.
Having shared her life with many cats over the years, she is now keen to become a dog owner. In her spare time, she is a lover of outdoor pursuits including cycling, kayaking and travelling the countryside in her camper van with partner Rob. She also uses her planning skills to good effect and has been known to use spreadsheets to plan family projects with her four stepchildren, who are aged 13 to 31.
Fish4Dogs CEO Graham Smith said: “We are really pleased to have Karen join the team. She has significant experience of product management and appreciates how that dovetails into the strategic development of the business. She is sure to be a significant asset in our continued success and planned growth for the future.”
