GAURAV SHARMA
Category Manager
Bangalore,KA
Summary
With 12 years of professional experience, including 9 years in the modular furniture industry, I bring a strong passion for design thinking. I have collaborated with esteemed companies like Godrej Interio, Kohler, Pepperfry, and Homelane. My skills encompass category management, marketing, operations, new product and brand launches, retail display management, customer experience enhancement, and front-end team product training.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Manager-Category
Homelane
02.2023 - 08.2024
- Program managed the addition of 32 new products to the modular range catalogue
- Scripted & organised the video shoot for in-house brands: Tyrox(hardware), Hydroguard+(core)
- Revised Tyrox range technical specifications to compete with market-leading German brands
- Negotiated 3 vendor-sponsored incentive schemes for sales of selected premium offerings
- Realigned shutter finishes for new vendors based on trend, cost, supply, and quality offered
- Product interface upgraded for all new product launch primer & marketing communications
- Launched a revamped range of kids' room furniture in 4 different design themes
- Introduced a new centralised complaint tracking system for in-house brands
- Product specifications upgrade and packaging revision to reduce QC rejections
- Shifted 3 vendor-sourced traded products to in-house for better customer pricing and margin
- Aligned service vendors with installation SOP for the new charcoal-based wall panels
- Planned retail display updates for any new launches and removed discontinued offerings
- Completed prototype execution for the storage beds, Puja unit and wardrobe design upgrades
- Managed the supply and delivery of the samples for retail display for all product launches
Assistant Manager- Category
Pepperfry
08.2021 - 01.2023
- Launched 10 studios in 8 months across 5 cities: display layouts conceptualisation & product configuration to budget allocation and timely execution
- Marketing campaigns for 5 cities in phases with reduced CPL and enhanced funnel conversions
- New hardware brands were added to the catalogue for a better pricing strategy
- Aligned pricing and sales offering to help increase AOV by 32% in 7 months
- Launched a new website (via Shopify) focussed on the modular furniture business
- Developed a new ZOHO platform-based CRM module focussed on Modular business
- Weekly lead conversion analysis and sales performance review to achieve the set targets
- Orders delivery & supply chain-related reviews to keep track of the project completion
- Region-based target-setting evaluation and incentives plan rollout for the sales team
- Conducted campus recruitment for 2 colleges by interviewing 54 shortlisted candidates
- Improved Service calls SLA to under 72 hours by onboarding a new service-only vendor
- Working with the pre-sales team for the lead qualification targets based on the lead channel
- Onboarded new vendors in the NCR region to reduce delivery lead time and service resolutions
Assistant Manager- NBD & Service
Kohler
02.2017 - 01.2018
- Led a 16-member service team for the North India region for Shower enclosure installations
- Delivered installation of 500+ units of shower enclosures for two builder projects in NCR
- Delivered 100+ service call resolutions from retail customers with a service SLA of 48 hours
- Streamlined the SOP and related KPIs of the service delivery team for enhanced productivity
- Launched Bathroom vanities and smart mirrors category, as an add-on catalogue item
- Functional customisation of products for the Indian consumer's usage
- Localisation of vendors for cost optimisation and supply time improvement
- Product launch events organised for channel partners, architects and designers' community
- Market research for the scope of Kohler branded Modular kitchens, storages in India
Assistant Manager- Category
Godrej Interio
12.2011 - 01.2017
- Trained 400+ channel partners and 50+ sales professionals for product design and sales pitch
- Executed the complete setup for 5 new modular kitchen ranges
- Completed project to evaluate the effect of shorter lead time on sales through express delivery
- Finalisation and delivery of 12 B2B project orders for customised kitchens
- Completed project to evaluate the effects on sales by systematic follow-up with enquiries
- Quarterly competition analysis for product portfolio development and promotional offers
- Schemes and discounts campaigns during the festive season and special occasions
- Cuisine Regale, a new premium brand, launched with showrooms in Bangalore & Hyderabad
- Organised complete photo shoots for print ad campaigns and marketing collaterals
- Developed AutoCAD-based software for kitchen designs & quotes for the sales team
- Created 'Kitchen Planner', a DIY format to involve customers conceptualising their kitchen
Senior Executive- Marketing
RGPL
02.2011 - 11.2011
- Developed 2 new clients for the key grinding tool requirement as an exclusive supplier
- Closed a major deal for non-standard grinding tools required by a client in Jaipur
- Onboarded two partner brands to expand price range and specification of catalogue offering
Executive- Marketing
Larsen and Toubro
08.2008 - 01.2011
- Explored business opportunities for refurbishment of rigs with Oil drilling rig companies
- Onboarded new vendors based on the types of requirements in projects
- Competition analysis (SWOT) for the pre-bid risk-review project evaluation
- Market Research and Analysis of E&P Operators in Southeast Asia & Brazil for partnership
Education
B.Tech - Mechanical Engineering
N.I.T. Jamshedpur
Jamshedpur, Jharkhand 01.2004 - 01.2008
SSC - undefined
Bishop Conrad Senior Secondary School
Bareilly, U.P.HSC - undefined
Bishop Conrad Senior Secondary School
Bareilly, U.P.Skills
Strategic planning
Certification
INSEAD certified Strategic Management and Business Essentials, 08/01/24, 02/28/25
Summary
10yrs experience, modular furniture, category management, marketing, operations, new product launches, new brand launches, retail display management, customer experience enhancement, product training for front-end teams
Timeline
Senior Manager-Category
Homelane
02.2023 - 08.2024
Assistant Manager- Category
Pepperfry
08.2021 - 01.2023
Assistant Manager- NBD & Service
Kohler
02.2017 - 01.2018
Assistant Manager- Category
Godrej Interio
12.2011 - 01.2017
Senior Executive- Marketing
RGPL
02.2011 - 11.2011
Executive- Marketing
Larsen and Toubro
08.2008 - 01.2011
B.Tech - Mechanical Engineering
N.I.T. Jamshedpur
01.2004 - 01.2008
SSC - undefined
Bishop Conrad Senior Secondary School
HSC - undefined
Bishop Conrad Senior Secondary School
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