Head of Buying and Merchandising
Al Boom Marine LLC
Total years of experience :15 years, 3 Months
• Directed the timely creation, review, and execution of budgets and open-to-buy plans, ensuring alignment with financial sales and margin expectations
• Drove annual sales forecasts for diverse brands and categories, facilitating accurate resource allocation and inventory planning
• Collaborated with finance, commercial, and merchandising teams to ensure alignment on business priorities and strategies
• Approved buy quantification, ensuring comprehensive assortment plans aligned with merchandise strategy, capturing localization opportunities and maintaining financial responsibility
• Introduced advanced planning methodologies and continuous improvement tools/systems, leading to enhanced results in replenishment, distribution, allocation, and inventory management
• Built a collaborative planning process through cross-functional partnerships, increasing visibility and performance improvements to support corporate objectives
• Led initiatives to optimize inventory management, improving receipt planning and merchandise turnover
• Implement inventory management strategies to optimize stock levels and minimize stockouts. Develop allocation plans for effective distribution of products across retail and e-commerce channels. Monitor inventory turnover and take proactive measures to manage aging inventory
• Managed and mentored a team of 15 merchandising professionals, nurturing a culture of collaboration, innovation, and ongoing improvement. Established performance objectives, conducted periodic performance reviews, and provided constructive feedback to bolster team productivity and professional growth
• Act as a change leader to support company initiatives, actively participating in strategic decision making, proactively challenging status quo, presenting alternative approaches, and highlighting potential issues as needed
• Support the development and adoption of policies and procedures for the Planning function to effectively meet company objectives, targets in line with relevant controls and oversight. Key Achievement:
• Implemented best practices for stock flow, contributing to a remarkable 14% growth in sales.
• Collaborated closely with Brand Partners to develop a Replenishment Matrix, achieving desired stock cover and greater product depth. Orchestrated the successful launch of Direct Store Delivery (DSD) for Eyewear
• Assisted the Ecommerce team by providing essential analytical insights, facilitating the creation of daily MIS reports.
• Successfully introduced a new brand, resulting in substantial incremental sales.
• Executed an Option Plan for Brands, leading to an impressive 20% reduction in procurement expenses.
• Assist the Senior Planning Manager to manage the top line and the bottom line of the fashion group
• Pre-Season Planning, In-Season Monitoring & Post Season Analysis for Category & Suppliers
• Best Seller Implementation at Supplier Level by analyzing in depth consumer buying patter for Items
• OTB Management & Planning on MFP with recurring forecast for next 12to 18 months.
• Markdown Management for Bags & Accessories for DSF
• Attending Floor Walk with Buyer to give feedback on product and adjust ordering accordingly
• Implemented Supplier, Price Point Strategy for Category
• Supported in flow of data in Demand Planning module MFP
• Assist the Merchandising Manager to manage the top line and the bottom line of the Footwear and Cosmetics Division
• Sales Planning & Implementation of Buying Plan as per given OTB at Department, Class & Sub-Class Level
• Trend Analysis to focus on Potential Category
• Assortment Planning, Option Planning, Sales Strategy, Price Strategy & Markdown Strategy
• Pre-Season Planning, In-Season Monitoring & Post Season Analysis
• Attending Buying Trip for Season Buy & Season Launch in USA & Dubai
• Maintain Relationship with Brand Partner, Following Trade Calendar, Payment Management, SCM, Shipment Tracking, GRN Tracking, Store Visit & Weekly Call with Country Team
• In-Depth Product Feedback, Tracking Best & Worst Seller on basis of Sales, ROS, GMROI & Stock Cover Analysis Key Achievement:
• Developed and Implemented Reports / Process for 50 Brands across 14 Countries like: FP v/s MD Tracker, Promo Tracker, Comparative Report, Markdown: Budgeting, Planning & Tracking etc.
• Nine West: Corrected Stock Mix, Converted Negative LFL to positive with month on growth of 15%
• Flormar: Implemented Process for Stock Flow, Monthly OTB, Ach Sales growth of 5% to 8% on BP
• Parfois: Working with Brand with Replenishment Matrix which has resulted in controlling Flow of Inflows & to maintain stock at Optimum Level on Days of Holding (DOH)
• Clarks: Reworked on Price Strategy as per market, resulted sales increase of 12% on an avg. against Business Plan
• Legacy Project - Was Awarded Project to clear ageing inventory & successfully reduced inventory by 15% for 17-18
• Given responsibility for Training team for Processes of Company & also a Core Team Member of Budgeting Team for Overall International Business which is spread accords 14 countries with more than 50 brands & 300 stores
• Assist the Senior Planning Manager to manage the top line and the bottom line of the Home Division (Lifestyle)
• Utilize Planning tools (MFP) to accurately forecast business indicators such as sales, gm, stock covers, and GMROI
• Create department, sub-group, territory, and month level financial plans based on the analysis of historical data, customer preference, seasonal & current trends
• OTB preparation and plan Seasonal inventory for 13 countries Prepare & Monitor Buy Plans. Monitor store allocation as per Min & Max
• In-Season Planning - WSSI management, Sales & OTB Plan revision, Intake and launch tracking and sales tracking, Management Reporting
• Review trends and performance against the forecast. Prepare reports
• Sales Re-forecasting and Plan Budgeted Inventory Revisions
• Monthly OTB revision, Monitor and control buying against the Budget
• Weekly inventory scans, Propose & execute in-season discounting
• Prepare & maintain department category merchandise MIS analytics
• Identify Hi-Mid-Low performing stores and develop store grading
• Provide ad-hoc analysis on revenue, product performance, markdowns, and inventory levels Key Achievement:
• Successfully handled Business of $50 million with OTB Management of $27 million in a Year
• Successfully resolved Stock Issue for Key Category of Home Furnishing & Bedding by forecasting 90% Accurate Sales for Blanket & Throws for the season which has resulted in sales jump of 20% to 25% on LFL
• Implemented Process of Range Analysis, Item Planner, Strategy Review Format - Sales, Supplier, Price & Margin, and Option across 12 Department & worked closing with each Merchandiser for Implementation in his respective department which has resulted to have proper SOP for Merchandizing Team
• Detail Analysis of Loss-Making Department was conducted & took action like in reduction of Loss-making Area, reduction of Sub Class from 150 to 60 which resulted in quick decision for business at Sub Class Level, Removal of Supplier which did not meet Parameter like GMROI, Stock Turnover etc., and Conducted Weekly Trade Meeting along with implementation of Action Plan
• Increased Sales of Home Décor from 3% to 8% this department was contributing 40% to business for Brown Box
• Implementation of Markdown Strategy & Top 50 Best & Worst Seller at Division Level which has resulted to having right Product Mix in stores and giving discount at right time
• Assist the Buying Manager to manage the top line and the bottom line of the Mobile Category
• Implement financial objectives and budget plans with the buyer to drive sales
• Develop financial strategies for sales, inventory, markdowns & profit
• Review sales trends by store & inventory level and accordingly adjustments for future replenishment or allocation
• Maintain store assortment & inventory levels, report best sellers & projection by store
• Timely communication of planograms to store operations team for all SKUs in the product group
• Maintenance/Updating of subcategory plans across store types
• Maximization of Revenues & Profits for the product category
• Conduct price comparison, product gap analysis, identification of product need through market visit
• Forecast sales for Top suppliers based on past data and give projections to them for higher fill rates. Handled Brands like Samsung, Sony, LG, Micromax, Karbonn, HTC & Apple
• Sourcing Product for E-commerce & Home Shopping channel
• Negotiating with vendor for pricing & promotion and getting product in line with margin target
• Worked closely with technical team for successful launch of website from product listing till final look of Website
• Brought 50+ vendor on board for Website with launch of 5, 000 SKUs in Phase 1
• Planning & execution of events on online and home shopping platform
• Promotion: Developing promotional strategies for both E-commerce & On-Air programmed across different product life cycle stages
• Monitoring trend & pushing higher visibility of best seller products to drive sales on ecom
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external customers, vendors and other
• Other Responsibilities include: - competition mapping and tracking sales daily
• Preparing MIS reports and analyzing it to give recommended action plan for business
Also Diploma & Advance Diploma in Bio-Technoloy
Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing