Senior Buying Manager

REDTAG ,BMA Intl Fze.,DUBAI ,U.A.E

​Dec2013-Dec2015 

TeamSize : 8 

Reporting : Business Head /COO                                                                         Categories :Menswear Fashion - Lifestyle Fast Fashion 

2Mn Sq.Ft / 200 Stores across G.C.C & East Europe

Total Turnover of U$150 mn p.a over 2000 skus  

 

Role & Responsibilities:

Total Sales + P&L Responsibility ,

Category ROI,Growth .

Brand Building & Market penetration .

Trend Forecast,Moot Board,Product design development.

Strategic Buying Intelligence,Buy Selection & Sign-Off.

Buying & Merchandise planning.

Team Leadership,Recuit,train,mentor.

Vendor Management ,Global Sourcing.

StoreWalk Throughs,VM,Planograms,Instore Displays

 

Achievements:                                          

LFL Growth of +16% YOY .GP% of 52%  & YTD of 12% Sales target achieved. 

”Turned around “ Menswear sales contribution from 7% upto 22% YOY

Successfully launched menswear into TOP &T30-Superstores

Increasing brand share and segmentation competing with new players   .

Turnover growth from U$90 Mn to 130$ Mn P.A.

Model Stores of Menswear INSTORE re-positioned to entrance based on ROS .

Successfully launched mens lifestyle sportswear and recorded growth of 22%

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Head of Buying & Merchandising​

Birla Century-Apparel Retail Divison,Mumbai,India

Nov2011-Nov2013

Team  : 12

Reporting : COO / President

Turnover ofU$ 100mn / 140+ Stores pan INDIA .

Categories: Mens -60 /Womens-40% Premium Apparel &  Accessories

Role & Responsibilities :

 

-Own the business P& L

- Merchandise planning ,OTB ,Forecast Sales and Buying  strategy with new product introduction and expansion of product portfolio.

- Build and fortify a strong business model.Deep dive best and worst sellers , understand where opportunities are and  build upon them.

- Know the customer: Research customer behavior, develop customer insights, know more about the customer than the customer

- Sense the market: Stay on top of trends in an ever-changing landscape, find opportunities and prioritize based on size, internal capabilities, etc.

- Brands and Vendor network management & operations

- Ownership of all category specific marketing activities ,promos ,Launches.

- Work with online & offline marketing, category & website teams to conceptualize and implement initiatives for category freshness

- Building category level shopper understanding and gaining deeper insights

- Analyse & Own Retail pricing strategy based on market potential, consumer insights, margins, competitive signals, etc. Drive necessary promotions

- Identify the growth areas and new business scope within the existing category

 

-Work with creative ,Visual Merchandising & marketing teams on planograms,Window displays ,Indoor and outdoor media  ,social media to increase brand awareness,impact 

People leadership :

- Build, retain and groom a strong team to deliver across functions

- Set goals, define KPIs and ensure team tracks effectively towards goals

 

-SMART-Systematic Measured Actionable Result Oriented Time bound goals .

 

Achievement: Responsible for Launch of Premium Stores 10 new locations 

+20 % YTD Sales  @ 60%GP.

Private Label Launches into premium mens and ladieswear .

Product Launches into Multi Brand Outlet’s , E-commerce and department stores.

MD reduced from 35 % to 21%YOY. LFL growth of 15% ACHIEVED             

         

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Senior Merchandiser

DSG Group ,INDIA (A Li& Fung Enterprise)

​May2010-Nov2011

Team: 4 / Reporting to Brand General Merchandise Manager 

Turnover =U$ 45 Mn /7 Mn pcs

Brands Handled :GEORGE,ASDA,Cherokee,Disney,Sams Club 

Categories   : Mens -20% /Ladies-50%/Kids -30%  Knit/Denim/Wovens 

 

Role & Responsibilities :

- Product Development ,Concept ,Moot Boards ,Merchandise Global Procurement

- Meet Budgeted OTBs by each category  GP% through effective-EDLC-Every Low Cost of  sourcing model with suppplier integration ,Global Procurement ,E-bidding.

-Review ,analyse, Daily ,Weekly Sell throughs and decide on markdowns ,phase offs with planning teams.

-Seasonal trend monitoring ,work with golbal offices for merchandise allocation and replenishments for EVERGREEN and FASHION lines.

 

Achievements: 

-Overall Cost savings achieved 3MN U$ by EDLC method of global procurement policy -Overall sales growth of 25% achieved in DISNEY,GEORGE,Cherokee brands 

-Evergreen bestselling lines NOS -NEVER OUT OF STOCK ,ROS rate of sale 88%

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Senior Merchandiser

Adidas Group ,INDIA

​Jun2008-Apr2010

Team: 6 / Reporting to Brand  Merchandise Manager 

Turnover =U$ 45 Mn /6 Mn pcs

Brands :Reebok,Porsche design ,Adidas Classic-Lifestyle Sportswear 

Categories   : Mens -30% /Ladies-50%/Kids -20%  Knit/Denim/Wovens    

 

Role & Responsibilities :

-Ensure OTB filled as per Budgets and GP% achieved as per targets.

-Overall responsibilities for Brand protetion policy  with vendors ,suppliers.

-Ensure Merchandise procurement ONTIME in full to stores to fulfill sales forecast

-Monitor Sales forecast within brands and categories to keep MARKDOWNS AND LOSSES under control and achieve optimum sles figures in multiple sales channels  

-Buy planning and Buy Fill rate to be monitored inline with the INSEASON sales figures to control and maximise budgeted OTBs.

-Overall merchandise assortment planning analysis to contain and improvise buying functions to serve the P&L for each category .

                  

Achievements:

Increased growth to 15% YOY for Adidas Lifestyle division out INDIA                             

Achieved LFL Store growth of 28% and YTD sales achieved +15% .  

Instrumental in growing the Lifestyle sports apparel category from India .

 

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Senior Merchandiser

Wal-Mart ,India 

​Jun2006- Jun2008

Team: 4 / Reporting to Brand General Merchandise Manager 

Turnover =U$ 35 Mn /7 Mn pcs

Brands Handled :GEORGE,ASDA,Cherokee,Disney,Sams Club 

Categories   : Mens -20% /Ladies-50%/Kids -30%  Knit/Denim/Wovens 

 

Role & Responsibilities :

- Product Development ,Concept ,Moot Boards ,Merchandise Global Procurement

- Meet Budgeted OTBs by each category  GP% through effective-EDLC-Every Low Cost of  sourcing model with suppplier integration ,Global Procurement ,E-bidding.

-Review ,analyse, Daily ,Weekly Sell throughs and decide on markdowns ,phase offs with planning teams.

-Seasonal trend monitoring ,work with golbal offices for merchandise allocation and replenishments for EVERGREEN and FASHION lines.

 

Achievements: 

-Overall Cost savings achieved 3MN U$ by EDLC method of global procurement policy -Overall sales growth of 25% achieved in DISNEY,GEORGE,Cherokee brands 

-Evergreen bestselling lines NOS -NEVER OUT OF STOCK ,ROS rate of sale 88%

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Merchandiser

Triburg /// ,India -Nominated Licencee buying agents

​Jun2003- Jun2006

Team: 2 / Reporting to Merchandise Manager/Regional Head 

Turnover =U$ 30 Mn /4 Mn pcs

Brands Handled:NAUTICA,Ralph Lauren,Brooks Brothers,Sean John, Liz Claiborne,

Categories   : Mens -30% /Ladies-40%/Kids -30%  Knit/Denim/Wovens 

 

Role&Responsibilities:

- Product Design & Development ,Concepts ,Moot Boards,Textile design 

- W.IP monitoring,global procurement,Cost,Gross Profits

- Seasonal Range Building on fashion rails ,New category development ,Sign offs

- Overall vendor Management ,Quality,Brand Management 

-Communication with global offices on finalising Buy plans

 

Achievements: 

- Successfully built brands like NAUTICA from concept to shelf with turnover of 5mns u$ 

- Parternered with Ralph Lauren product development teams to launch new categories

- Overall business growth achieved 12%

 

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Merchandiser

Atraco Ind.,Enterprises LLC,Dubai,U.A.E .

Turnover =U$ 30 Mn /5 Mn pcs

Reporting: Business Merchandise Manager

Brands Handled: A&F ,Hollister, J.C.Penney,Target,Kids R Us,

Categories   : Mens -40% /Ladies-30%/Kids -30%  Knit/Denim/Wovens 

 

Responsibilities:

- Product Design & Development ,Concepts ,Moot Boards,Textile design 

- W.IP monitoring,global procurement,Cost,Gross Profits.

- Assist in Technical product design,devlopment for marketing trips 

-Communicate with Brands,Buying teams to develop selling lines as per seasonal specs.

 

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