Bijal Gandhi
Mumbai
Summary
Experienced professional with 18 years in the jewelry industry, skilled at guiding diverse teams to excel in competitive markets. Strong in merchandising, product development, and hands-on experience in design, retail, and E-commerce. Committed to driving innovation and growth while prioritizing customer satisfaction and brand integrity.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Category Manager - Product Lead
Orra Fine Jewellery Pvt Ltd
01.2023 - Current
- Led team of category managers for Diamond, Platinum, and gold categories, overseeing product strategies and execution.
- Responsible for analyzing industry and consumer trends, developing long-term strategies for product categories, and managing relationships with vendors.
- Managed end-to-end Product Development process, ensuring products meet quality and design standards aligned with brand aesthetic and target cost points.
- Identify assortment gaps for improvement within existing product lines and opportunities for new product development.
- Exit strategies for underperforming products to minimize non-moving inventory and maximize recovery of investment.
- Serve as the Creative Lead, orchestrating brand values, product design, curation, market research, and development.
- Coordinate with cross-functional teams, such as marketing, retail and manufacturing, to ensure smooth product development and launch procedures basis yearly product launch calendar.
- Collaborated with marketing team and Visual merchandising team to create compelling promotional materials that showcased key product features for upcoming collections. Adhere to timelines for all marketing campaign concepts, ensuring seamless execution.
- Lead co-development projects with vendors for New Product Development initiatives and driving successful outcomes.
- Identify and cultivate relationships with new vendors that complement company's objectives.
- Maintain close ties with SCM team and vendors to ensure punctual delivery, quality assurance, and cost efficiency.
DGM Category - Merchandising
BlueStone Jewellery Pvt Ltd
01.2021 - 01.2023
- Regularly researched market, competitors, and international trends to assess market dynamics.
- Collaborated with Designing, rendering, production, marketing and retail teams to develop practical and marketable products, ensuring alignment with customer needs and market demands.
- Reviewed and monitored retail and online category performance, identified gaps, and implemented action plans for New Product Development, while exploring avenues for expanding product categories.
- Provided monthly product recommendations to the Marketing team for social media, newsletters, emailers, new launches, and styling initiatives.
- Played an active role in retail store merchandise planning, new collection launches, display setup, and training on new products and collections.
- Managed communication with vendors to select new products for introduction into the market.
- Previously achieved a monthly goal of completing 300 unique prototypes and launching 150 designs.
- Continuously analyze the ecom catalog and implement actionable insights with guidance and direction.
- Design exit strategies for unsuccessful products
- Responsible for overseeing visual merchandising and display strategies for upcoming new collections.
Head Merchandiser
Digicom LLP - B2C Jewels
03.2016 - 03.2020
- Lead product development initiatives for B2Cjewels.com, US-based e-commerce platform specializing in diamond and bridal jewelry.
- Managed end-to-end processes for new product uploads on website, including market research, competition analysis, pricing, back-end operations, graphic design, content creation, website page design, and quality control.
- Conducted comprehensive competitor analysis and reviews, assessing competitor activities including ad placement, keyword usage, and landing page strategies.
- Collaborated with the marketing and customer service teams to execute monthly and seasonal promotions/newsletters, affiliate marketing programs, and social media uploads.
- Maintained regular communication with production factories and USA office to address and resolve jewelry order issues promptly.
Product Development Manager
Mohit Diamonds Pvt Ltd
05.2009 - 02.2016
- Lead Product Development process from Design to Finished sample and ensure that product meets quality and design objectives.
- Identify latest jewelry trends through Internet, magazines, trade shows, customer inputs and direct it to the design team
- Provided direction to the Design/CAD/MODEL team, overseeing product design and development processes.
- Coordinated with customers and marketing to gain clear understanding of product requirements, develop project plans, and ensure timely execution.
- Managed assembly of merchandise, visual displays, and creative materials for both local and international trade shows.
Product Development Executive
Goldstar Jewellery Ltd
01.2005 - 04.2009
- Executed designs based on customer-provided concepts and in-house development directives from project manager.
- Research and analysis of various markets for new concept development.
- Maintained regular follow-up with CAD operators for model modulation and implementation, overseeing model-makers and checking models at every stage until completion
- Reviewed and corrected products for technical accuracy throughout th entire development process, from the first prototype to final client approval.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology
SNDT University
Juhu, Mumbai04.2005
Diploma - Jewellery Design And Manufacturing
Jasani Department of Jewelry Design & Manufacture
SNDT, Juhu, Mumbai03.2005
Skills
- Creative and Innovative
- Product Roadmapping
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Vendor Relations
- Data-driven
- Product Assortment Planning
Languages
English
Hindi
Gujarati
Marathi
Travel History
Hold Valid USA Visa - Valid till May 2034
- Hong Kong International Jewelry Show - March 2024
- Hong Kong International Jewelry Show - September 2015
- Hong Kong International Jewelry Show - February 2012
- Hong Kong International Jewelry Show - September 2011
- Hong Kong International Jewelry Show - September 2010
- China factory Visit - September 2010
- Hong Kong International Jewelry Show - September 2009
- JCK Show, Las Vegas - June 2009 (USA Visa Valid till 2017)
- Basel Show - March 2009
- London Customer Visit - March 2009
- Vicenza Oro - January 2009
- Hong kong International Jewelry Show - September 2006
Personal Information
Address: B-709 Dheeraj Garden, Poonam Nagar, Andheri East, Mumbai
Date of Birth: 06/27/1984
Timeline
Senior Category Manager - Product Lead
Orra Fine Jewellery Pvt Ltd
01.2023 - Current
DGM Category - Merchandising
BlueStone Jewellery Pvt Ltd
01.2021 - 01.2023
Head Merchandiser
Digicom LLP - B2C Jewels
03.2016 - 03.2020
Product Development Manager
Mohit Diamonds Pvt Ltd
05.2009 - 02.2016
Product Development Executive
Goldstar Jewellery Ltd
01.2005 - 04.2009
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology
SNDT University
Diploma - Jewellery Design And Manufacturing
Jasani Department of Jewelry Design & Manufacture
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