I have a high interest in tracking and following global sports and sneaker trends because both are dynamic, ever-evolving worlds that intersect in fascinating ways From the latest performance innovations in sports gear to the cultural shifts in sneaker design, staying updated on these trends gives me insight into how athletes, brands, and consumers shape and influence each other
DAMINI PURi
Bangalore,Karnataka
Summary
With over 19 years of experience in the retail industry (12+ years with top sports brand in the world ) I bring a wealth of knowledge in retaIl strategy development and execution & growing channels across consumer preferences . My contagious enthusiasm allows me to connect effectively with others and foster strong connections. Throughout my career, I have successfully led diverse teams in both offline and e-commerce sectors, managing P&Ls and spearheading the setup of new verticals. Putting the customer experience first is my passion, whether it be while building an international marketplace, evolving a brand's omni-channel strategy, or curating brand collections. As a globally mobile professional, I eagerly anticipate my next challenge to lead the Nike India Merchandising business
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of Strategy and Category Business
Myntra
01.2021 - 09.2023
- Lead Strategy and Category business for Myntra Social Commerce built the business 0 - 100
- Heading revenue, growth, analytics, strategy, and brand partnerships (part of core leadership team) for Myntra's influencer-led Social Commerce platform- including livestreaming commerce and on-demand content commerce
- Pivoted Social commerce to brand led monetized proposition, building a 5 Mn dollar revenue stream
Business Head International Brands and New initiatives
Myntra
01.2019 - 12.2021
- PnL Head of a $200Mn portfolio of categories across BUs & gender growing at +40% YoY
- Lead an 18-member team across business models outright, marketplace, global marketplace program & Local Production, Licensing
- Improved category contribution on platform by 2x, Grew consumer acquisition by 100% while improving LTV of shoppers improving repeat rates through CRM and other targeted campaigns
- Meticulously planned annual budgets ,Assortment in line with business plans and adeptly managed cash flow to ensure brand profitability
- Responsible for planning & driving the annual operating plan (AOP) by analyzing the trends, market size, growth rates & traffic data
- Demand Projection, Seasonal/Financial Budgeting, OTB & Range planning
- Decision making in terms of required product mix (brand x Category Wise) along with value growth
- Review and optimize Inventory plans to improve stock turn, seasonal sell thru, monthly NODs & stock aging
- Built and led the Mango India collection for knits and denims.Only partner in the world to do so
- Lead strategic relationships with 25+ exclusive and premium brands in India like H&M, Dorothy Perkins, Macy's, Next, PRL, Mango, Forever New, Urbanic, Misguided, Zalora, GANT etc & 50+ luxury brands
- Led the launch of H&M, the first marketplace outside of China
- Created and promoted the brand vision, strategized long-term growth plans for Brands on Myntra
- Aligned vision with leadership, marketing, revenue growth, finance, and central strategy teams
- Aligned leadership to build and spearhead the strategy & launch of Myntra Luxe on the Platform with the launch of The Collective
- As Business head for Luxe decided on assortment, pricing, services, store experience, marketing, engagement, Rate card for brands
- Led strategy and set up charter for Global BD business at Myntra & FK pitching to Launch and scale global brands in India through Myntra
General Manager Brand & Business - Performax
Reliance Retail
07.2018 - 07.2019
- PnL Head of a $28Mn Indian Sports Brand portfolio of categories; grew at +40% YoY.
- Lead the brand's strategy for Pnl , Growth , Design, Marketing , Product, Buying, Sourcing , business planning , Inventory , Operations
- Conceptualized and launched brands first footwear collection across running training and lifestyle
- Sourcing visits to China, HK , Europe markets to build successful collections through right vendor partnerships and Shoe development
- shoe line development is harmonized with the business concept and strategy
- Work closely with the Product Development and Manufacturing teams to continuously improve collections (designs, quality, and value) and maximize SKU's productivity
- Delivered gross margins , Built GTM strategy based on launches across channels , monitored sell thru, looked at competition mapping for global and domestic sports brands .
- Spearheaded the creation and promotion of the brand vision while formulating strategic long-term growth plans for the brands
- Act as the guardian of the brands' seasonal product portfolio, curating the optimal Product Mix with a deep understanding of consumer engagement and brand positioning. Provide clear direction to the Marketing team, overseeing brand awareness campaigns, managing marketing spends, and optimizing allocations.
- Built channel wise growth plan for the brand, across Trends stores, Ajio & Myntra
Category Sales Manager/Merchandiser
Nike
07.2013 - 09.2017
- Developed & led the go-to–market strategy across channels & executed category vision by leading cross functional teams, including - sales, marketing, merchandising, retail
- Worked to build India collection for apparel across women's & men's , focusing on India , Bangladesh and Sri Lanka . Collaborated with Sourcing team , looked at vendor management pricing , channel strategy , Sell thru & competition mapping
- Led expansion in men's training by conceptualizing Nike Training Store at Jabong & Myntra , top grossing sports categories for Jabong, signed new sports distributors.
- Led merchandising for Nike Women's, Sportswear, Kids, skateboarding & cricket across channels, Nike Apparel & 200 Nike Stores across channels; brick n mortar & digital delivering on key metrics linked to optimized product mix.
- Won the Nike Maxim award for leading growth for tier 2&3 stores through right product & merchandising
Brand Merchandiser, Retail & Brand Marketing
Aditya Birla Retail
03.2009 - 10.2012
- Led merchandising and buying for 125 doors of Van Heusen for VDOT for an annualized business of $14 Mn.
- Setting & achieving gross revenue targets, managing gross margins & inventory management
- Brand Marketing head leading Offline and Online creation & execution of campaigns for Van Heusen ‘s sub brand VDOT.
Assistant Manager Buying - Apparel & Accessories
Puma
06.2006 - 06.2009
- Was a part of the core team that launched PUMA India. Set the foundation of the Apparel and Accessories business across channels in collaboration with the Global team.
- Set up a domestic vendor base for production & New Channel partners.
Assistant Manager Buying - Nike Stores
Sports Station India Pvt Ltd
08.2004 - 01.2006
Education
Graduated - Fashion Design and Information Technology
NIFT Delhi
01.2004
Graduated - undefined
The Shri Ram School
01.2000
Skills
- Leadership , Team Management , Mentoring talent with growth driven mindset
- Deep Product Knowledge & Assortment Planning especially sport lifestyle apparel & footwear
- PNL ,pricing ,cost & Inventory management across channels and categories
- Strategic Thinking & Brand positioning
- Go-to-market strategy : Strong cross channel understanding ; Ecommerce , Retail, Multi brand , Wholesale , brandcom , Marketplace ,Global Market place
- Data-driven decision-making
- Well traveled & wide exposure to global and domestic market trends and forecast
- Cross-Functional Collaboration across cultures with strong influencing skills
- Wide exposure to Consumer & Competition insights
- Sourcing & Product Development
Playing all kinds of racket sports , specifically tennis , Team sports , Scuba diving , Running
Being a sports and sneaker lover is all about the fusion of performance, culture, and style. From the adrenaline of watching a game to the excitement of scoring a pair of limited-edition kicks, it's a passion that spans both athletic achievement and street fashion. Whether it's the latest in sneaker technology for peak performance or the timeless appeal of classic designs, sneakers are more than just footwear—they're a statement of identity, history, and personal taste. For me, it's not just about the game or the shoe; it's about the stories they tell, the athletes they represent, and how they shape the worlds of both sport and style. It's a love for the craftsmanship, the innovations, and the culture that keeps evolving, making every game and every sneaker drop a new adventure.
Interests
Timeline
Head of Strategy and Category Business
Myntra
01.2021 - 09.2023
Business Head International Brands and New initiatives
Myntra
01.2019 - 12.2021
General Manager Brand & Business - Performax
Reliance Retail
07.2018 - 07.2019
Category Sales Manager/Merchandiser
Nike
07.2013 - 09.2017
Brand Merchandiser, Retail & Brand Marketing
Aditya Birla Retail
03.2009 - 10.2012
Assistant Manager Buying - Apparel & Accessories
Puma
06.2006 - 06.2009
Assistant Manager Buying - Nike Stores
Sports Station India Pvt Ltd
08.2004 - 01.2006
Graduated - undefined
The Shri Ram School
Graduated - Fashion Design and Information Technology
NIFT Delhi
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