Baadal Ojha

• Spearheaded assortment strategy across 300+ pan-India stores for Skechers, Reebok, Adidas & Puma—aligning cut-option and full-option SKUs—maintaining a 75%-85% store fill rate and reducing stock-outs by 30%. Weekly and monthly sales/inventory analyses, utilizing advanced Excel to identify slow-moving SKUs and underperforming stores, triggering targeted replenishment that boosted sell-through by 20%. Streamlined OTB and budget management, forecasting demand enabling timely procurement of high-throughput products. Developed and executed automated replenishment plans, reducing lead times by 15%, minimizing aged inventory by 25%, and ensuring optimal stock levels across stores. Implemented inventory health metrics (turns, weeks of supply, aged stock %) and acted on alerts, cutting aged/obsolete inventory by 40% YoY. Collaborated cross-functionally with supply chain, planning & marketing teams to synchronize new-season launches and promotional events—improving forecast accuracy from ~70% to ~85%, increasing promotion ROI by 18%. Identified high-performing SKUs through weekly data reviews; partnered with brand teams to fast-track replenishment, reducing stock-outs by 30% and increasing sell-through rates by 18%. Orchestrated weekly store visits across top door outlets to evaluate in-store merchandising, promotional executions, seasonal floor sets, and brand display compliance—translating feedback into actionable improvements. Collaborated with marketing and VM teams to design and implement store-level offer signage and brand-specific displays, leading to 15% uplift in promotional engagement and enhanced in-store brand visibility.

I have consistently driven business growth through intensive market research, involving regular market visits to stay updated on competitor offerings in terms of margins, product designs, and commercial strategies. This has enabled the formulation of forward-looking strategies for upcoming product ranges. A core responsibility has been the sourcing and procurement of high-quality materials for footwear production, ensuring both cost-efficiency and durability. I have successfully sourced open and closed footwear across various price points from vendors across India, focusing on high-throughput styles and repeat performers.

My business planning approach emphasizes predictability by building robust capabilities and fostering strong collaborations with internal and external stakeholders. I have led the development of high-performance sports shoes across multiple verticals by leveraging deep insights into customer needs and market trends. These products are designed to offer exceptional comfort, style, and performance, meeting the expectations of athletes and sports enthusiasts alike. Responding to market demands, I also introduced leather footwear to diversify offerings and enhance our market positioning.

I have been actively involved in preparing buy plans based on Open-To-Buy (OTB) budgets, strategically prioritizing categories with high sales potential. My expertise in product costing and commercial negotiation has ensured the delivery of favorable margins while maintaining market competitiveness and customer acceptance. Quality management has been a key focus area, with all selected style materials sent for lab testing to meet stringent quality standards.

Additionally, I have played a crucial role in identifying and scaling high-quality, high-throughput styles, which has significantly contributed to increased market share through well-defined value propositions. I maintain full P&L ownership, consistently ensuring a positive contribution margin by aligning all business decisions with the company’s financial and strategic goals.

• Handling the Category P&L management and responsibility for the growth of category. Create an assortment of products which is in line with the company’s Sales and Margin Plan Improvement of Margins Keeping stocks in control / ample pipeline / request for refills. Responsible for the top line and bottom line for their respective category. Budgeting/Forecasting Responsible for mid to long term planning and buying directions/strategies Preparing merchandise plans and OTB plans aligned with AOP Conducting regular category performance reviews Responsible for key metrics like- Stock cover, GM%, Discounting, Ageing, Sellthru Successfully done buying of 2 lakh pairs of footwear in two OTB’s as per organisational AOP. Responsible for Market research, Competition Mapping and continuously looking for new demand Working with cross functional teams (product, finance, scm, marketing) to drive bigger strategic projects and initiatives

• Sales Forecasting/projections. Product development. Buying and costing on the basis of trend and color forecasts of the upcoming season Range/assortment planning for PAN India stores keeping in mind the demographics of different regions. Finalizing OTB(open to buy) with the planning team Vendor selection and TOT(terms of trade) finalization. Product selection and pricing(Markdown or markup as applicable) in sink with margin requirement of the organization Order placement and regular follow up’s on in different production stages. Planning promotions and events in coordination with marketing team. Maintaining right stock levels so as to achieve negative working capital. Formulating Import strategies/plans and buying from China and Thailand to maintain product differentiation. Coordinating with functions like supply chain management, marketing, store planning and store operations teams to achieve business goals. Monitor best seller and slow seller be it color wise, design wise, price point wise and make sure best seller reaches to its full potential. Responsible for New Vendor development, New Product development and finalization of commercial.

• Category Development, Promotion & Assortment Planning. Sourcing & Vendor Management. Inventory Planning- Planning the merchandise mix and formulating right plan for the entire season on the seasonal line analysis. Business planning for the categories
• Target brands, GMV, Returns/Cancellations, ASP, Gross & Net margin, Assortment and Inventory Plan. Major Brand Collaboration to increase market share, pricing strategies, event activation & competition mapping. Based on sale history replenishment and maintenance of basic stock in core articles. Developed the catalogue Sanity of brands for making product more user friendly at homeshop18. Managed a competitive product portfolio that meets end user requirements as well as yields optimum profitability to the company. Coordinating for onsite banners/ e-mailers/ Facebook ads, contest btw brands/ agency & internal marketing team. Responsible for Pricing and Trade schemes of all the brands and ensuring their competitiveness by carrying competitor analysis. Have analysed customer buying patterns & managed plans for stock level.. Maintaining healthy relationships with Brands/Merchants Handling Market Place Key Brands at PAN India level and ensuring a proper communication and information flow from the brand. Ensuring the complete catalogue for Key Brands on website and discussing various commercials with them. To engage the various Key Brands for Co-Promotion and Marketing. Responsible for identifying range gaps & increasing market share in e-commerce space. Analyzing & understanding of the customer needs, both existing and potential, and use that knowledge to deliver product range that provide our customers with an unparalleled shopping experience Negotiation with vendors on margin & seasonal meeting with Brands for the new range of merchandise, Evaluation of suitability and analysis of supplier?s performance. Responsible for Sales, Promotion, Range planning, Uploads and seller relations for all brands in respective category. Showcase of Brands from Premium to Lifestyle to Mass

I was responsible for option planning and quantity forecasting to meet overall business demand while aligning with seasonal and financial objectives. I built and curated collections tailored to customer preferences, ensuring the product line remained relevant and aligned with current market trends. I conducted regular market research to track emerging styles, competitive pricing, and new product innovations. My responsibilities included placing orders based on Monthly Open-to-Buy (OTB) budgets and Full-Width Cover (FWC) goals to maintain optimal inventory levels. I ensured the timely allocation of newness to key store locations to drive sales and maximize sell-through. I also analyzed sales reports to manage stock movements and maintain healthy sales-to-stock ratios across stores. Additionally, I accompanied buyers on factory visits to gain firsthand insight into production processes and proactively resolved any supply chain or manufacturing issues. I prioritized product quality and safety through rigorous component testing and validation against industrial standards. Furthermore, I managed, trained, and supervised junior team members, while also leveraging customer feedback to optimize product strategies—focusing on factors such as pricing, color, and style to unlock the full market potential of bestsellers.

• JOB PROFILE : Buying & Merchandising Planning product ranges and preparing sales and stock plans in conjunction with buyers Liaising with buyers, analysts, stores, suppliers and distributors Working closely with visual display staff and department heads to decide how goods should be displayed to maximize customer interest and sales Forecasting profits and sales, and optimizing the sales volume and profitability of designated product areas Planning budgets and presenting sales forecasts and figures for new ranges Responsible for Market Research and fashion forecast and follow the market trend during development. Responsible for Sample development from vendors as per project and follow up the status. Responsible for presentation of gents category during major shoe line of AW AND SS twice in a year. Making Product Catalogue and Incorporate in System and generate product code. Responsible for distribution of Samples in all distribution Centre across India. Looking after the fitting, material, trend and fashion as per requirement of Customers Inventory management in advance as per the Season and demand for Product. Marketing Planning of the category, planning products as per Season and demand in the market. Analyzing every aspect of bestsellers (for example, the bestselling price points, colors or styles) and ensuring that bestsellers reach their full potential Monitoring slow sellers and taking action to reduce prices or set promotions as necessary Analyzing previous seasons sales and reporting on the current seasons lines Identifying production and supply difficulties and dealing with any problems or delays as they arise

I accompany buyers on visits to manufacturers to gain a deeper understanding of the production processes. My responsibilities include identifying and resolving any production or supply difficulties that may arise, ensuring minimal disruption to operations. I prioritize product quality and safety by rigorously testing and validating components to meet stringent industrial standards. Additionally, I manage, train, and supervise junior staff to maintain high performance across the team. Part of my role also involves gathering feedback on customer reactions to products and analyzing key aspects of bestsellers—such as optimal price points, popular colors, and styles—to ensure these products reach their full market potential.