Devaansh Tolani
New Delhi
Summary
Accomplished Category Management Professional with 6 years of experience in strategic planning, operations, and market expansion at leading retail brands like Reliance Retail and More Retail Pvt. Ltd. Proven ability to drive significant revenue growth and profitability through optimized category management, strategic sourcing, and pricing strategies. Expertise in utilizing consumer insights and Power BI for inventory management and operational efficiency. Skilled in launching market initiatives that consistently deliver strong financial results.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
City Operations Manager
More Retail
05.2018 - 10.2020
- Directed operations across 15 supermarkets, sustaining average monthly revenue of ₹10 crore
- Crafted strategic sales plans optimizing category mix and boosting Total Category Income by 12.5%
- Led a team of 150+ employees, mentoring 15 individuals into managerial roles and building a strong leadership pipeline.
- Implemented cost-saving initiatives, across all verticals, like aging inventory to optimize P&L and drive a 35% YOY increase in EBITDA.
- Led collaboration between More Hypermarkets and Amazon, launching Amazon Pantry integration to enhance customer experience.
- Implemented Innovative KPIs like centralized procurement, store re-planning, and optimized delivery schedules, reducing operational costs and boosting the bottom line by 2.5%.
New Store Opening Head
More Retail
11.2020 - 09.2021
- Formulated and implemented a strategic expansion plan, boosting supermarket network by 25% in the Eastern region within a year
- Coordinated cross-functional teams including legal, projects, operations, and HR for successful store launches
- Utilized market analysis tools to identify high-potential towns, driving consistent month-over-month sales growth and increasing Sales Per Square Foot (SPSF) in the first six months post-launch.
- Created tailored payback plans for stores, setting clear sales and operational targets, resulting in positive EBITDA and improved financial performance within timelines.
Category Manager for Farmiso
Meesho
10.2021 - 11.2022
- Drove strategic initiatives to increase category penetration, achieving a 14% sales growth in Fresh and Grocery in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
- Improved purchase power and demand fulfillment, to 98% while minimizing waste and optimizing inventory turnover.
- Established a competitive bidding pricing model, positioning the business as a price leader.
- Enhanced profitability by refining supplier and quality requisitions, driving a 15% gross margin in the Central region.
- Boosted NPS score by 25% through active customer interactions, short surveys, and same-day problem-solving initiatives.
- Developed SKU-wise sales plans, driving 9.5% sales growth and 3% margin improvement.
Category Manager for Ajio Business
Reliance Retail
11.2022 - 12.2023
- Led the Women's Footwear category pan india, driving strategic planning, product assortment optimization, and market expansion, increasing market share by 3%.
- Executed quarterly buy plans to address portfolio gaps, enhancing product diversity and availability across price points.
- Adjusted brand catalogs based on trends, boosting the product lineup and contributing to a 5% increase in sales.
- Optimized inventory management through aged inventory analysis and liquidation plans, reducing stockholding costs by 6%.
- Developed a marketing calendar and coordinated event-based product displays to drive visibility.
- Formulated margin strategies with event-based pricing and discount models, reducing liquidation costs and increasing profitability by 2.5%.
Founder
Grace Media
01.2024 - Current
- Championed a founder’s mindset, driving innovative process enhancements, and fostering seamless cross-functional alignment
- Streamlined departmental workflows and unified objectives resulted in a 20% increase in operational efficiency and accelerated time-to-market through improved project execution and collaboration
- Pioneered a sustainable, data-driven problem-solving framework, leveraging root cause analysis to preemptively resolve operational challenges, significantly reducing disruptions, and enhancing long-term business stability
- Developed a robust risk management strategy, mapping out interdepartmental dependencies, and crafting proactive measures that enhanced decision-making agility and minimized exposure to business risks
- Cultivated a high-performance culture, embedding principles of discipline and continuous improvement, driving a 30% increase in productivity, and positioning the company for scalable growth
Education
Master of Business -
KJ Somaiya Institute of Management
Mumbai04.2018
Bachelor of Commerce -
National PG College
Lucknow05.2016
Skills
- Market Assessment
- Market Penetration
- Process Optimization
- Strategic Planning
- Team Leadership
- P & L Management
- Power BI expert
- Category Management
- Operational Excellence
- Supplier Evaluation
- Market Research
- Assortment planning
- Brand management
- Data Analysis
- Sales Planning
- Risk Management
- Team Building
- Vendor Management
- Category planning
- Inventory Planning
Accomplishments
- Recognized as the Best Category Manager at Meesho within the first year of joining, demonstrating exceptional strategic and operational excellence.
- Awarded Best People Manager in Operations at More Retail Ltd., achieving top recognition across PAN India for outstanding leadership and team management skills.
Hobbies
- Enthusiastic badminton player
- Passionate food enthusiast
- Avid sports follower
- Adventure seeker with a love for biking and camping
- Having an exponential learning graph for me and my team
Timeline
Founder
Grace Media
01.2024 - Current
Category Manager for Ajio Business
Reliance Retail
11.2022 - 12.2023
Category Manager for Farmiso
Meesho
10.2021 - 11.2022
New Store Opening Head
More Retail
11.2020 - 09.2021
City Operations Manager
More Retail
05.2018 - 10.2020
Master of Business -
KJ Somaiya Institute of Management
Bachelor of Commerce -
National PG College
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