Aamir Rafiq, Sr Category Buyer

Aamir Rafiq

Sr Category Buyer

Saudi Co for Hardware (SACO)

Location
Saudi Arabia
Education
Master's degree, Marketing
Experience
17 years, 1 Months

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Work Experience

Total years of experience :17 years, 1 Months

Sr Category Buyer at Saudi Co for Hardware (SACO)
  • Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
  • My current job since November 2018

Key Highlights:

 Category growth 33% during FY 2019
 Successfully expanded stores network by 15 SIS stores during one year (2018-2019)
 Reduced lead time of product delivery and on time execution of pricing & promotion

• Being the ‘business owner’ for assigned categories, possessing a complete understanding (including strategic context) of variables that impact business including forecasting, monitoring, analyzing and reporting on the business.
• Focusing industry trend, seasonality and continually monitor competitor & industry developments.
• Maximize SACO’s business profitability and selection expansion opportunities by sourcing timely and cost effective products.
• Manage vendor relationships negotiate and secure marketing funds by creating plans for new opportunities
• Conduct financial analysis of business opportunities to meet and exceed revenue and profitability targets.

Category Manager at Xcite Electronics
  • Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
  • January 2017 to October 2018

Key Highlights:
 Boasted android business share by 13% within Mobile category FY2017
 Introduced three new brands to existing phone portfolio
 Expanded business for ecommerce trade through aggressive tactical offers by 19%

• Build & manage the Mobile category in terms of (Volume forecast, Category Turnover, Financial forecast, Stock management and Initiatives rollout) in order to achieve desired business objectives.
• Monitor, analyze, improve and develop the mobile category to gain sales, market share, margin and profit through a regular category review.
• The review is being supported with financials, and summaries on competitor performance, consumer insights, product design trends and sales performance/ feedback.
• Drive strategic supplier relationship management, by regular negotiations including everyday pricing/promos/offers, monthly, quarterly & annual rebate/incentive support programs, in store branding/marketing budgets.
• Sales and activity analysis, Analyze data to strategize profit growth opportunities for the category and suppliers.

Product Manager at AL- Haddad Telecom
  • Saudi Arabia - Jeddah
  • April 2015 to December 2016

Product Manager
• Analyze how allocated brand is positioned in the market and know targeted consumers insights whilst managing all product life cycle strategies and defining exit strategies for EOL range.
• Owns the performance of the product and responsible for ensuring that the product achieves its financial objectives (value/volume) & act to improve P&L
• Oversee marketing and advertising activities to ensure consistency with product line strategy Coach the team and get the best from everyone
• Coordinating across departments (supply chain, Channel operations, marketing, finance and distribution, develop and own the go to market strategy to maximize market share

Brand Manager-Delsey at Jumairah marketing (Bindawood Group)
  • Saudi Arabia - Jeddah
  • September 2011 to February 2015

Brand Manager (Delsey)
• Lead overall consumer demand by formulating the brand’s strategy and executing marketing plans.
• Defined brand’s pricing, packaging, merchandising, advertising & promotional strategies.
• Managed relation with principal (Delsey-France) for brand expansion plans, seasonal/non seasonal assortment selection, ordering and on time shipment, negotiating prices, marketing budgets, deciding the annual sales plans & targets, strategies to meet them.
• Brand Building
• Budgeting and Planning
• Advertising and Agency Management
• Market Research

Marketing Specialist at Bindawood Group
  • Saudi Arabia - Jeddah
  • August 2010 to September 2011

• Identify, develop, and evaluate marketing strategy, based on knowledge of establishment objectives, market characteristics, buying trends and consumer income information, cost and margin factors.
• Evaluate the financial aspects of product development, such as budgets, expenditures, research and development appropriations, and return-on-investment and profit-loss projections.
• Establish customer satisfaction programs, promotional packages with coupons and incentives as well as materials for media distribution, responsible for allotting the budget among marketing campaigns, advertising strategies and promotional tools.
• Formulate, direct and coordinate marketing activities and policies to promote products and services, working with advertising and promotion managers.
Evaluate / measure effectiveness of activities & investment
•Search and spin best practice marketing activities
•Conduct measurement and evaluation for promotions, responsible for management and control of advertising, promotion and trade marketing budgets
• Use sales forecasting and strategic planning to ensure the sale and profitability of products, lines, or services, analyzing business developments and monitoring market trends based on the information provided by research agencies.

Personal Banker at Standard Chartered Bank
  • Pakistan - Lahore
  • August 2009 to July 2010

Acquisition and growth of new Relationships, responsible for achieving allocated business targets, ensuring high quality customer service, internal and external compliance on all branch transactions, handling difficult customer situations and contributing to the overall achievement of business growth.

• Devise and implement a customer acquisition and retention program. Acquisition of new relationships for portfolio growth by meeting new customers in the market place and convince them to have business with SCB.
• Emphasis on fostering and deepening of the customer’s relationship through effective cross sale of asset and investment products from Global Group products.

Customer Charter
• Ensure high level of customer service. Manage difficult customer situations, whilst making certain transactions are processed with a high level of accuracy and commitment in order to satisfy customer needs.

Operations & Internal Control
• Making sure compliance to all operational documents like KCS/ KRI/OPS manual, by timely submission of internal and statutory returns, compliance with internal and external guidelines, adherence of all the policies and procedures in relation to money laundering prevention, compliance with these policies and procedures.

Retail Assistant at Sainsbury's
  • United Kingdom - London
  • March 2007 to July 2009

* Study, analyze and develop the marketing strategy/plans for the company’s products and services to achieve adequate market penetration/market share/brand positioning. Ensure their alignment with the overall objectives and business plans.
• Making sure that store meets sales targets, managing stock levels, analyzing sales figures and forecasting future sales and dealing with takings.
• Create store presentations, ideas, and concept to successfully promote store merchandises
• Analyzing and interpreting trends to facilitate planning, using information technology to record sales figures, for data analysis and forward planning.
• Aware of what our competitors are up to, as well as market trends and customer expectations.
* Oversee the organization of promotional activities, ensuring that they are carried out efficiently and within agreed budgets, to raise the profile of the company and increase sales.
* Coordinate all marketing plans and activities with the management team and staff in the company to ensure that the plans are delivered effectively.

Education

Master's degree, Marketing
  • at The Chartered Institute of Marketing
  • December 2006

Projects Done: Future of Mobile communication in UK Retail Market trends

Master's degree, Marketing
  • at Institute of Business Administration,University of the Punjab
  • April 2004

MBA is a 2years programme with 4 semmesters and 5module per semmester.

Bachelor's degree, Commerce
  • at University of the Punjab
  • September 2001

Bachelor of Commerce usually known as B.com is a two year degree specialising in Accounting,Commerce and Autiding/Business law

Specialties & Skills

Business Relationship Management
Consumer Product Development
Profit 26 Loss Management
Marketing Materials
Microsoft Office
Market & comeptitor Analysis
Retail Marketing
Strong communication skills(verbal/Written)
Computing | Ms Office & all business related softwares
Proactive, Able to initiate, and committed to work
Brand Management & Product Development

Languages

English
Expert
Urdu
Expert
Arabic
Intermediate

Memberships

The Chartered Institute of Marketing
  • Member
  • February 2005
The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • Executive Member
  • August 2009

Training and Certifications

Certificate of Attendance- NCR Middle East (Certificate)
Date Attended:
November 2010
Valid Until:
January 9999
Customer Chartership (Certificate)
Date Attended:
April 2009
Valid Until:
January 9999
Retail Banking Operations (Training)
Training Institute:
Standard Chartered Bank
Date Attended:
November 2010
Duration:
18 hours