Merchandising Manager
Ethos Limited
Total years of experience :14 years, 8 months
Responsible to oversee the Buying & Merchandising process of luxury watch brands for pan India stores as well as duty free /
travel retail stores located in international terminals of major airports.
• Budget Analysis - demand & supply planning as per budgets & seasonal trends.
• Sales & stock analysis and order processing as per OTB to ensure that the stores are appropriately stocked with correct merchandise.
• Price Point Analysis, assortment planning & rationalization - managing luxury watch portfolio across all duty free & domestic stores.
• Promotion planning - GWP, Festive & seasonal discounting, liquidation schemes to maintain healthy stock turns.
• Negotiation of vendor margin for higher profitability & generating additional revenue by selling visual spaces.
• Identification of Aged stock for return and liquidation of blocked inventory.
• Managing agreements and execution of periodical Return to Vendor (RTV) process for SOR / Consignment brands.
• Handling of Import Process for Duty Free Shipments, process development & stabilization.
• Responsible to handle the merchandising process of luxury watch brands such as, Frederique Constant, Raymond Weil, Alpina,
Daniel Wellington, etc.
Responsible to oversee the entire store operations in an assigned area and thereby to contribute to the expansion plans of the
company.
• To coordinate & control the entire retail operations function of the assigned retail stores in UAE.
• Ensuring the Retail stores are operated in line with Standard Retail Operational protocols of the company, to achieve set budgets
• Budgeting of the stores, according to the real time potential of the store/location, and design and implement various action plans.
• Handling the entire buying & merchandising part of in-house brands & strategizing the upmost effective product mix.
• Identify, prioritize and pursue branch acquisition, relocation and disposal opportunities in liaison with the management
• Responsible for revenue, growth & cost management of each independent SBU in the assigned area.
• On time response & redressal of customer complaints, comments and feedbacks.
• Organizing special promotions, displays and events, and maintaining awareness of market & competitor trends.
• Planning the staffing and HR deployment, executing training & orientation programs and conducting periodical appraisals.
Responsible to oversee the day to day operations of 15 luxury boutiques under the division.
• Contribute to sales plans for the stores & brands; implement activities as per the agreed plan and carry out cost control measures
to achieve division’s set targets within UAE and on assigned geography.
• Sales forecasting & analysis, interpreting trends and capitalize on data to maximize sales and profit.
• Reviewing & overseeing the implementation of operational standards and monitor quality of customer service, ensuring retail
standards are maintained in all the stores and all procedures and systems are being followed.
• Manage and control all aspects of inventory, ensure adherence to brand guidelines and to achieve targeted stock levels.
• Responsible for Merchandising Planning & Buying of brands like Porsche Design, Pinieder, Tonino Lamborghini, LC Designs,
(Leather & Accessories), Kosta Boda, Salviati, Arthurprice, Mukul Goyal, (Home Décor) Nabucco, (Perfumes) Vilebrequin, Janavi
Shawls, (Fashion & Apparels) etc.
• Vendor management, preparation of documents related, executing agreements and renewals, preparation of LPOs, product
pricing & entering of inventory from suppliers in to system.
• Planning & execution of new store openings and organizing & implementing sales promotional and marketing activities in line with
operational policies and procedures.
• Responsible for staffing, preparation of daily roster, managing leave & attendance, payroll & Incentive processing.
• Executing training & development programs and mentoring store managers to maximize their capability and store’s contribution
towards overall targets.
Responsible to oversee the corporate HR & Operations functions of the company, including Sales, Service and Spares facilities spread
across the northern part of Kerala.
• Played a key role in ensuring the successful launch of company’s branches across the state.
• Completed the setting up of standard operating procedures for the smooth operations of the 3S facilities in various regions.
• Implemented centralized purchase system for branches as well as departments.
• Drafted job descriptions and KRAs for various levels & designations in the company.
• Formulated & Implemented Payroll Processing system with zero cost to company with a team size of more than 900 employees.
• Developed standardized organizational model to clarify authority & responsibilities.
• Introduced company’s first formal performance appraisal program, creating a flexible and well-received tool that was later adopted
company-wide resulted in reduction of employee attrition.
• Developed and executed Employee Incentive System for the company.
• Actively been a part with Top Management in opening company’s 3S Facility Showrooms in three regions.
• Acted as Corporate Office in Charge in the absence of Company Secretory heading the Office.
• Been a part of top management recruitment team to travel and recruit professionals for the company which includes, internal
auditors (CA), executives for finance, sales, service & spare parts & HR roles, skilled & semi-skilled manpower etc.
• Actively coordinated and contributed to the training programs by the company and the principal company Mahindra & Mahindra.
• Analyzed Training needs and Devising Training Calendars, modules and presentations for various branches of the company.
Responsible to manage the day to day operations of the brand’s boutique, including Sales, HR & Administration, Customer Service,
Accounts and Systems management etc.
• Converted the traditional retail concept of textile industry to a customer focused and aggressive stage, by proper benchmarking.
• Successfully launched company’s first boutique in the region & achieved tremendous sale figures from the initial stages itself.
• Developed a customer focused retail sales team and gained best results and feedbacks from the customers.
• Launched loss prevention programs that proved so successful in deterring theft, shrinkages & damages.
• Implemented Qualitative & Data bases Buying & Merchandising plans to ensure optimum inventory levels.
• Designed and initiated staff incentive program to maximize the turnover of the showroom and well as to improve the productivity
of employees.
• Made tie ups with corporate clients such as Fluid Control Research Institute of India, Koso Fluid Controls Pvt. Ltd etc. for their staff
uniform requirements.
• Initiated the implementation of training & development programs for retail staffs covering the aspects like customer interaction,
selling skills, product knowledge, and upselling & cross selling etc.
• Learned and developed myself as a multitasking retail management professional under the guidance of my Managing Director, a
self-driven & successful entrepreneur
MBA in HRM & Productions. Passed out as College Topper.