Hi, I’m
Buyju Balakrishnan
Summary
ABOUT ME Fashion professional with 19+ years of cross-functional and international experience in challenging roles encompassing Operations and Planning, E-commerce, Retail, and apparel. Analytical professional with technical knowledge and critical thinking skills to thrive in data-driven environments. Tackles challenges with positivity and drive to overcome. Works great alone or with others and consistently exceeds expectations.
Overview
15
years of professional experience
Work History
RFG LIFESTYLEMumbai
Consulting Assignment
10.2022 - 02.2023
Job overview
- Connected coordinated and closed the work scope with third party for Website,Marketplace and third party for warehousing including the commercials and customization as per brand requirement
- Finalized Logistics partner till Last mile delivery
- Finalized the CRM partner,for digital marketing and customer acquisition,brand building etc
- Created the design & concept and tech packs with the designer as per the brand language ,vision&mission
- Built complete buying and Assortment plan while connecting with all the relevant category vendors.
- Organized meetings between stakeholders to discuss project details and timelines.
APEX RETAILBangladesh
Business Head
02.2021 - 09.2022
Job overview
- Relaunched Maverick(Men's casual wear) & Sprint(Sportswear brand) (Apparel& footwear) with a new look and feel and expanded to 100 SIS
- Structured the complete apparel business online and offline with setting up prime business goals to achieve a sustainable growth path and setting up a team in Buying & merchandising, 55 sales staff and manager in operations and building online team&business hand in hand,training and refresher training of seasonal product and B.A.U to each staff
- E-Com Provided Merchandise support to E commerce platform as per the sale targets and OTB
- Revamped the B2C website and provided UI and UX inputs to the tech team to create a seamless customer experience
- Retail: Managed business, buying including P&L, business planning, content strategy & development, promotional campaigns & other online marketing activities,buying, OTB, and fulfillment of all the brands,Logistics & supply-chain
- Merchandise assortment planning, contribution planning category wise,supply chain&logistics
- Assigned category wise sales targets and ensured achieving brand wise sales and monitored merchandise planning
- Monitored timely season launch to maximize sales opportunity & aging wise merchandise markdown planning.
- Luxury concept Launched One-of-a-kind luxury/ premium shopping destination 'Galleria'- with all the must have international brands and a having a service-oriented approach
- Finalizing the store concept,location,brand placements,staff training,project management till store launch
- Spearheaded successful tie-up and launch of brands like Nike,Asics,Triumph,Boggi-Milano, etc
- Handled the complete assortment planning and buying as per OTB and business plans,imports (direct&agent),distribution.
ASORT.COM
Head E-com
10.2017 - 11.2019
Job overview
- Created implemented SOP's for smooth functioning of designing, buying, sourcing, retail and website operation in organization and worked closely with Product, Design & Marketing team to provide best in class revenue generating products
- Managed and negotiated with Vendors regarding the terms of trade, buying, production capacity planning & delivery
- Researched and identified potential market trends, monitor competitor activity, and make Monitored sales figures and analyzed how online activity can be improved to increase revenue
- Generate and implement new sales and marketing initiatives to increase sales and profitability
- Managed relationships with brands to ensure products list based on season
- Worked closely to ensure market leadership and managed brand partners to ensure they deliver a demonstrable ROI
- Selected products, Delivered on sales plan, gross margin plan, inventory refills and overall profit and loss
- Responsible for achieving desired top line & bottom Line for E commerce Business,Planning YOY Sales Strategies & Growth Plans in line with organization strategy
- Accountable to maintain and grow business volumes with an eye on business margins and customer delight
- Aggressively working on expansion of Business through new customer acquisition & expanding territories
- Working with Marketing team in planning and executions of all Marketing initiatives
- Active Participation in exhibitions to increase market presence and customer reach
- Working closely with HR in Manpower Planning, Hiring, Goal settings, Incentive schemes and development initiatives
- Leading, coaching, empowering & Developing Pan India Key accounts team to achieve desired target and business goals.
BUDDIES CLOTHINGDelhi
MD (Retail/ E-comm) consultant
03.2016 - 09.2017
Job overview
- Started my own venture with a vision to provide service through my expertise in buying, merchandising, and designing to manufacturers with a goal to create their own brands and sell on marketplaces.(Amazon,flipkart,etc.) Handled client business with retail brands like Spencers, VMM, V-Mart, Globus, Bigbazaar.
LANDMARK GROUPOman & Dubai
Manager Planning & Buying
07.2014 - 01.2016
Job overview
- Managed the Business plan,Buying Plan,P&L, and Margins for Oman territory for Baby shop
- Monitored and executed the total yearly buying & business plan and then the merchandise planning for the planned sales budget,merchandise assortment planning, contribution planning category wise and store wise
- Launched Seasons successfully to maximize sales opportunities and reduced the contribution of discounted sales
- On time Aging wise merchandise markdown, sale, liquidation planning and implementing them with the department heads.
Bagittoday.com (India Today Group)Noida
Category Buyer
11.2012 - 06.2014
Job overview
- Identify potential market trends, monitor competitor activity
- Created a complete apparel catalog on websites having international & domestic brands and private labels
- Managed relationships with brands to ensure products list based on season
- Working closely to ensure market leadership and managing brand partners to ensure they deliver a demonstrable ROI
- Selected products, Delivered sales plan, gross margin plan, inventory refills and overall profit and loss.
FASHIONANDYOU.COMGurgaon
Key Account Manager
08.2011 - 10.2012
Job overview
- Meeting with brands,suppliers and managing the sourcing of stock, by negotiating cost prices, ordering stock, agreeing timescales and delivery dates, and completing the necessary paperwork Liaising with brands &suppliers to attain best possible commercial terms with highest product quality
DEBENHAMSGurgoan
Assistant Manager Buying and Merchandising
01.2008 - 07.2011
Education
I.C.F.A.I
P.G.D.M from Retail management
01.2008
Shri Shivaji college of Engg. & Tech
from Textile Technology
01.2004
Interests
INTERESTS AND HOBBIES: , Traveling, Reading and Studying about different cultures of India and world.
Languages
Timeline
Consulting Assignment
RFG LIFESTYLE
10.2022 - 02.2023
Business Head
APEX RETAIL
02.2021 - 09.2022
Head E-com
ASORT.COM
10.2017 - 11.2019
MD (Retail/ E-comm) consultant
BUDDIES CLOTHING
03.2016 - 09.2017
Manager Planning & Buying
LANDMARK GROUP
07.2014 - 01.2016
Category Buyer
Bagittoday.com (India Today Group)
11.2012 - 06.2014
Key Account Manager
FASHIONANDYOU.COM
08.2011 - 10.2012
Assistant Manager Buying and Merchandising
DEBENHAMS
01.2008 - 07.2011
I.C.F.A.I
P.G.D.M from Retail management
Shri Shivaji college of Engg. & Tech
from Textile Technology
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