NIRAJ KARNIK

Number 8 General Trading is into Distribution in UAE for the FMCG product range in Organic and Healthy Food Categories.

Reporting to the CEO/Managing Director and been a part of the think tank - strategically, financially and operationally.

Managing the supply chain and distribution across the country.

Formulate and execute strategic plan.

Set and achieve key performance targets for sales, delivery, cost, expenses and other measurements of operational performance.

Identify, create, and develop new market opportunities, taking the lead on constructing a robust and successful business proposal that secure new deals, contracts and long term relationships.

Manage all sales related activities covering setting and strictly monitoring of sales targets and ensures accurate delivery of products in all sales channels.
Ensure timely collection of company’s money from the market.

Develop plan to minimize expiry products from the market.

Minimizes sales returns/damaged goods and short expiry goods by monitoring returns, developing a depletion plan and avoiding overstocking the points of sales.

Timely update and present competitors’ activities and provides market feed-back on new products, prices changes, new launches, etc to the top management.

Communicate operational/sales results, activities, etc. to Executive Management and provide recommendations and plans for ongoing improvement.

Representing the organization at trade exhibitions, events, demonstrations and other related activities.

Identify new opportunities and niche market products that can be introduced in the region and interact with new and existing suppliers to monitor and improve product development.

Supplier interaction from product selection, tasting, branding, packing and introduction of the brand in the UAE market.

Maintain a high level of confidentiality throughout: on current business activities, short-long term plans, proposals under scrutiny and any other activity related to the business.

Assisting the Managing Director/CEO of the group with expansion and restructuring of the businesses held by the company in Dubai and in Angola.
Engaged in restructuring of the companies current operational and sales functions to increase profitability and achieve higher sales levels, through implementation of processes and procedures for internal control, increase in productivity and customer satisfaction.
Developing and incorporating pricing, sales and sales channel creation, product development, cost reduction strategies and new business initiatives.

ZARA General Trading FZCO, with Dubai as it's head office, cater to ANGOLA market, having representative offices in Luanda, Lobito and Namibe, covering major cities like Luanda, Lobito, Namibe, Lubango, Huambo, Benguela, etc along with the surrounding provinces, with over 18 shops (wholesale and retail) and over 100 dealers.
Main concentration being FMCG and ELECTRONICS.
Working closely with the Sales and Purchase team in Dubai and Angola, for new product development and new business portfolios for the company.

 Handling Exports & Re-exports enquiries for Electronics brands like Sony, Sharp, Panasonic, Hitachi, LG, Samsung, Tefal, Moulinex, etc. Camera brands like Nikon, Canon, Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, etc. IT brands like HP. Acer, Canon, Scan Disk, Sony, Apple, etc. Mobile brands like Apple, Samsung, Nokia, Blackberry, etc.
 Targeting Exports and Re-exports to various countries like Afghanistan, Iran, GCC, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Libya, Nigeria, Angola, Kenya, Tanzania, Senegal, Mozambique, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and other CIS countries, through direct customers and local re-exporters / traders..
 Regular interaction with suppliers, in UAE, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc for sourcing of products and price negotiations.

Have been hand-picked by the Alghanim Management to start and handle the Operations in UAE, catering to export, trade and local market, I took this as a challenge to develop WANSA, an OEM electronics brand, in International markets. In beginning of 4th Quarter of 2011, the management decided to close down the Export and UAE operations.
Profile:
 Conducting Market study for introducing WANSA in Middle East, including identifying competitors’ brands, competition pricing, market gaps, operational challenges for product penetration, required product mix and pricing strategy.
 Identifying and establishing direct contact with high performing potential distributors and channels in UAE.
 Negotiating, establishing and signing sub-distribution contracts with Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ajman dealers.
 Assisting remaining distribution team in entering Levant and Africa markets, by introducing WANSA brand and conducting primary contacts with potential distributors in Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya and CIS countries.
 In-charge of planning and implementation of market strategy in UAE.
 Involvement in complete process integration, commercial operations, staff selections and appointments for the UAE office.
 Identifying and appointing third party logistics / forwarders for inbound outbound cargo.
 Interaction and regular communications with ESMA government body for product certifications and approvals.
 Streamlined and implemented the smooth transition of account receivables inventory process as per company rules and regulations.
Achievements
 Built WANSA brand in UAE
 Penetrated dealer, re-export and power retailers in UAE.

PRIMA brand of XIAMEN OVERSEAS CHINESE ELECTRONICS CO. (XOCECO), based in Xiamen, China. Established in 1985, XOCECO is one of the TOP THREE CHINESE Television manufacturing companies. Prima International (Middle East) FZE (PIME) is a subsidiary of XOCECO, handling the Sales & Marketing of PRIMA brand in ME, Africa, CIS & Indian Subcontinent. PIME also caters and supports XOCECO’s OEM customers.

Launched and established PRIMA - LCD & PLASMA business in the MENA region. Played a major role in developing and maximizing sales and presence of PRIMA in UAE and other Middle Eastern, African & CIS Countries, by establishing distributors and trade partners.
Responsible for New market development, evaluating & appointing Distributors/Partners, regular end market visits and liaison with Re-Exports.
Held responsibility of local market development in UAE, in coordination with UAE distributors and liaised with major chain stores in UAE (Sharaf Group, EMKE Group (LULU), Geant, Hyper Panda & E-Max.)
Responsible for MIS reports generation, weekly & monthly sales forecast and stock aging reports, Sales and Order forecast and seasonality analysis.
Provided individual targets for customers/distributors sales team, in accordance with the goals and polices of the management.
Liaised directly with major OEM customers of XOCECO for pricing, product details and order planning, which includes Alghanim Group (WANSA), SANYO Gulf, Hyundai, EMKE Group (IKON), JUFALI Group (Kelvinator), CFEE (WestPoint & Sonai), MIRC Group (ONIDA) and other accounts.
Liaised with production teams in various factories, in regards to product planning and product pricing, which included contacting XOCECO and other outsourcing factories for various other product lines (AV products, LHA, White Goods, etc.)

Shankar’s Emporium Gulf Ltd, branch office of Shankar’s Emporium (PTE), Singapore, having a setup in Jebel Ali with sales & marketing office in Deira, Dubai and is into trading of all types of Electronic goods.

Handling customer enquiries for electronic goods, mainly consumer electronics and home appliances - branded and unbranded, in various countries like Afghanistan, Yemen, Oman, Lebanon, Syria, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Tanzania, Pakistan, India, Moscow, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and other GCC countries.
Handling re-exports enquiries for brands like Sony, Toshiba, Sharp, Panasonic, Hitachi, LG, Samsung, JVC, G-Hanz, Philips and other OEM brands.
Preparing Strategic-pricing structures for respective market, based on market survey and co-ordination with principals.
Finalizations of prices, payment terms and conditions with suppliers and customers, based on volume of business, market trends and stability. Assisting in sourcing and increasing the volume of business as per customer requirements.

Suashish Diamonds Ltd., with a turnover of over Rs. 500 Crores (approximately USD 140 million), is among the top exporters of polished diamonds from India.

Worldwide Image building and Market development for Loose Diamonds manufactured by the company.
Planning and control of marketing and advertising budgets, advertising in international magazines, trade fairs, new markets and promotional materials.
Travelled extensively to Italy, France, Hong Kong, UAE, South Africa, China and Korea for market research and customer development.
Preparing Sales Analysis, Sales Forecasting and Managerial Information Statements.
Trained for assortment of polished diamonds, as per the requirements of the customers, categorising it with the International GIA grading.
Active participation in acquiring ISO 9002 certificate for the Group and implementation of SAP-R/3 module.

Costa Cruises are Passenger Cruise liners in the Mediterranean and Caribbean waters.
Handling onboard PR activities related to cruise packages and excursions.
Interacting with Customers of various nationality.

Independently handling the front office cash department - Checkouts, Bill settlements of Individual guests and corporate guests.

Worked at the HOTEL RESORT, 5 Star Deluxe property in Malad, Bombay.
Handled Front office desk - Check-in's, Check-out's, Reservations, Night Auditing, Cashier desk.