Kushal Saket
Bengaluru
Summary
Dynamic Senior Category Manager with ~10 years of experience driving substantial growth and profitability across diverse product categories. Expertise in e-commerce strategy, P&L management, and strong negotiation skills has consistently resulted in remarkable top-line performance and market share expansion. Demonstrated ability to lead teams and cultivate partnerships, ensuring alignment across planning, finance, and marketing functions. Proven track record of implementing innovative category plans that resonate with consumer demands and enhance brand visibility. Passionate about leveraging insights to foster sustainable growth and operational excellence.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Category Manager
Sports Footwear (Fashion) - Flipkart
12.2023 - Current
- Directed inventory purchasing and marketplace activities for a sports footwear portfolio valued at around INR 900 Cr featuring leading brands such as Asics, Skechers & Asian
- Achieved overall top-line growth of 15% and improved profitability by 10%
- Managed yearly joint business plan (JBP) and exclusives, enhancing category and brand profitability through strategic assortment
- Improved and maximised 2P market share for the branded portfolio, thereby seeing a 10% year-over-year improvement
- Established marketplace channel for brands Asics & Skechers, achieving consistent over 100% YoY growth
- Managed category plans in coordination with the planning team, finance, product, and marketing to ensure that launches and replenishments happen with low out-of-stocks
Senior Category Manager
Home Improvement Tools (Home) - Flipkart
12.2022 - 12.2023
- Lead the buy side of the business (Inventory Buy and marketplace) of approximately INR 500 Cr for the Home Improvement Tools category.
- Guided business towards a sustainable growth path, thereby achieving 20% YoY in top-line & improving bottom-line for the business by 40%
- Mentored and developed team members, thereby enabling accountability, agility & adaptability within the team
- Guided & worked with team for launch & design of E commerce channel strategy for brands like Fevicol, Polycab, Goldmedal, etc.
- Partnered with marketing to ensure execution of all online marketing programs and initiatives to drive sales and profits for the category, including: ATL, BTL, Paid search, SEO, affiliate marketing
Senior Category Manager
Home Furnishing (Home) - Flipkart
07.2021 - 12.2022
- Spearheaded inventory buy operations exceeding INR 150 Cr for Home Furnishing category.
- Solved working capital for the org by >100% for 55% of OR business. Improved SOR share from 20% to 50%
- Expanded exclusive business share from 15% to 25%, acquiring notable brands like Raymond Home, Trident, Moca by Monte Carlo & several private labels.
- Implemented strategic introduction of microfiber bedsheets online to offset rising cotton costs, mitigating 60% of revenue risk.
- Successfully launched brand extensions like Moca by Monte Carlo & Line extensions like Puma Bath towels, Raymond Home curtains, carpets, Monte Carlo comforters, thereby solving for additional 25% revenue
Key Account Manager
Home Furnishing - Flipkart
07.2019 - 06.2021
- Oversaw total business of approximately 50 Cr for the Home Furnishing Category.
- Established Bath towel vertical on Flipkart portal end to end (Both market place & Inventory based model)
- Managed key brands like Raymond Home, Trident, Monte Carlo & market place for key HF sellers like IWS, Chhavi India, Metro Living
- Grew exclusive share for the category by 12% YoY by locking brands like Raymond Home & Trident & locking key market place sellers like Metro Living, IWS, Chhavi India, La Verne, etc.
- Grew branded share for the category by 20% YoY by launching exclusive brand Moca by Monte Carlo, NovaHome, Jockey towels
Key Account Manager
Trident Group
05.2016 - 06.2019
- Managed Nordic Region & responsible for growth of more than 30% in the region. Achieved 10% of revenue by developing channel partners
- Presented Trident product portfolio at international levels and closed deals with on ground market research and business development done in Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden & Estonia
- Maximised sales revenue in the region through market research, up-selling, and developing channel partners in new markets.
- Gained business insights and finding opportunities in customers' product portfolio through gap analysis
- Analysed demographic variables of the region to gain insights and pitch product to customers
- Negotiated with customers on program finalisation including prices, delivery and payment terms through proposal presentation
Education
PGDM - Marketing
Institute of Management Technology (IMT)
Ghaziabad04-2016
B.Tech - Metallurgy and Materials
Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology-VNIT
Nagpur05-2012
XII - CBSE
D.A.V Public School
Ranchi04-2007
X - ICSE
St. Anthony’s School
Ranchi04-2005
Skills
- E-Commerce
- Negotiation
- Leadership
- P&L Management
- Business Development
- Channel Development
- People Management
- Microsoft Office
Rewards & Recognitions
- Kool and the Gang, 2023
- Ace Alliance, 2022
- Ace Alliance, 2021
- Instant Karma, 2021
- Kool and the Gang, 2021
- Instant Karma, 2020
Hobbies and Interests
- An ardent cricket lover
- Travelling
- Music
Timeline
Senior Category Manager
Sports Footwear (Fashion) - Flipkart
12.2023 - Current
Senior Category Manager
Home Improvement Tools (Home) - Flipkart
12.2022 - 12.2023
Senior Category Manager
Home Furnishing (Home) - Flipkart
07.2021 - 12.2022
Key Account Manager
Home Furnishing - Flipkart
07.2019 - 06.2021
Key Account Manager
Trident Group
05.2016 - 06.2019
PGDM - Marketing
Institute of Management Technology (IMT)
B.Tech - Metallurgy and Materials
Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology-VNIT
XII - CBSE
D.A.V Public School
X - ICSE
St. Anthony’s School
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