Regional Sales Manager
Play Smart LLC
Total years of experience :27 years, 10 Months
Expanded company's client base in the region by identifying potential new clients and strategic partners.
Meticulous in reporting business performance, status and trends to assigned accounts.
Leading and managing huge value based premium accounts.
Increasing shareholder value and profit maximization by executing branding and marketing strategies.
Proactively projecting forecasts and forward cover towards planning for both internal stock plans and timely execution at customers end, as agreed per customers set marketing calendar.
Building relations with strategic creative partners, key accounts, and advertising agencies.
Playing a vital role in vendor selection; driving activities related to vendor management.
Key Highlights
Distinction held for achieving company targets with effective lead conversions and cross selling to existing clients.
Monitor and evaluate campaign performance; with effective report writing, recordkeeping, budget management and financial administration.
Instrumental in preparing monthly marketing score card and performance summary reports for overall business users to assess progress on marketing initiatives in key areas.
Successfully controlled multi-channel initiatives across sales, marketing, EDP fulfillment and logistics.
Instrumental in planning, briefing and executing projects from conception whilst effectively monitoring and handling overall operational challenges.
Implemented, redesigned operational systems, processes and policies that were in keeping with the company’s vision, mainly supporting better management reporting, information flow, business processes and organizational planning.
Manage and increase effectiveness and efficiency of support services i.e., HR, Finance, Sales, Logistics and IT through improvements in each function, as well as coordinate and communicate between support and business functions.
Organizational planning and implementing strategies, geared towards cost effective operational excellence by directing the team constantly in improving performance, productivity and above all profitability.
Ensuring merchandising is up to industry standards in our partners’ premises, that range from gas station convenience stores, specialty toys and stationery retailers and hypermarkets.
Effectively managed two warehouses, one each for toys and stationery; whilst maintaining industry set health and safety standards, proper handling of stock, and keeping shrinkage to a minimum pertaining to poor handling.
Conduct annual inventories by brand without hampering scheduled deliveries.
Oversee daily delivery schedules and oversee the route plan for the increasing network of convenience stores.
Implementation of the new ERP, data migration and creating different reports to assist each individual department varying from sales, purchase, logistics and finance teams.
Responsible for the development of the marketing strategies across the campsite’s portfolio with management of cost efficiencies, 3rd party negotiations, conducted a thorough market research within the International and Indian market sectors, including consumer behavior that results in effective marketing and advertising strategies to further transfer best practices to the management and teams with a strategic localized customer approach.
Analyzing capital expenditure and devising strategies towards long term improvement of bottom-line revenues.
Overall management of project and people for the construction of the campsite resulting in early completion (7 months ahead) with resultant financial gains. Simultaneously, carried out trainings for campsite staff and devised effective policies for management of the campsite and for ongoing and future development opportunities.
Sourcing and procuring of outdoor equipment with improved trade terms resulting in 18% cost savings.
Oversee a team of 20+ employees covering all operational aspects of running the business (including supervisory, kitchen, housekeeping, guides & trip leaders).
• Planning, buying, merchandising & stock management of brands sourced both global and local.
• Manage key brands: Nike, adidas, Reebok, Puma, private labels being Everlast, Lonsdale, Dunlop, Karrimor, Slazenger, Donney, USA PRO, Campri, No Fear
• Business plan by brand that delivered both volume and cash margins, maintained brand profitability by management of full price and mark down sales, intake margins, levels of mark down activity and terminal stock.
• Directly impacted product placement and selection through better planning also included other departments of the product and operations teams. Buying unified stories through sales history where available, through feedback and market research. Directly impacted trading by providing strong team direction, pricing, margin strategy and better negotiation terms and conditions with our partners.
• Ensure pricing of new products reflect both global and local market ensuring maximum competitive edge.
• Regular feedback meetings with partners keeping them involved, informed and active.
• Constantly working with partners for refresher product trainings to have the best informed sales personnel thus enhancing sales
¨ The TRU model analyses the business by categories. All products stocked fall into one of the six super groups. Namely: Babies R Us, Boys, Girls, Outdoor/Sports, Electronics (R-Zone) & Family.
¨ I currently manage the Electronics super group that comprises of 10 categories. Youth electronics, Gaming-Hardware, Software, Accessories, DVDs, Learning Computers, Handheld games and batteries. For most of 2008, I managed three super groups- Outdoor/Sports, Electronics and Family, which contributed to 60% of our total business.
¨ Identify products that suit the market and importantly our audience, always considering a range that is safe, ethical, one that enhances our end user’s experience of learning and entertainment while not causing offence to any ethnic group.
¨ Procure the latest/right products first, aiming at exclusivity with correct quantities for each market at most competitive prices and on time; differentiating us in the market with after sales support exceeding our customers’ expectations and setting the benchmark of our industry.
¨ Work in line with company set OTB (open to buy), keeping room for unplanned releases.
Increased the super groups performance by successfully negotiating better product margins increase between 2% to 5 %. Better payment terms translated to increase cash flow, all payment terms were increased varying now from 45days to 120days. Reduced our stock holding and increased inventory turn.
¨ Have built a strong rapport and relationship working closely with vendors building strategic partnerships, bringing creative ideas and securing the best deals in the market, benefiting both sides. Negotiated to return aging inventory & price protection to write down aging stock.
¨ Handled three very successful back to school seasons seeing record sales overseeing various promotions, the monthly WOW program. Bike month, gaming month and the summer promotions.
¨ Certificate in Travel and Tourism, Indian Institute of Travel & Tourism, Bombay. ¨ First Aid Course at St. John's Ambulance Centre, affiliated to the Indian Red Cross. ¨ Providing excellent customer service. I was awarded the Employee of the Month Award thrice.