Karuthedath Liju George
Senior Manager - Merchandising
Bengaluru
Summary
Versatile Senior Manager specializing in customer relations and skilled at planning, implementing and overseeing key improvements to drive business growth and efficiency. History of cultivating an open culture with free exchange of information. Pursuing new professional challenges with a growth-oriented company.
Forward-thinking Senior Manager adept at managing teams of 20 plus employees with 6 direct reports to accomplish challenging objectives. Imparts clear vision to guide cohesive, high-performing teams.
Encouraging manager and analytical problem-solver with talents for team building, leading and motivating, as well as excellent customer relations aptitude and relationship-building skills. Proficient in using independent decision-making skills and sound judgment to positively impact company success. Dedicated to applying training, monitoring and morale-building abilities to enhance employee engagement and boost performance.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Head of Merchandising
Tarasafe International Private Limited
Kolkata
06.2023 - Current
- Boosted team member productivity by enhancing performance monitoring and instituting motivational approaches with a team consisting of 2 Managers, 1 Deputy Manager and 3 Senior Merchandisers driving year-on-year sales growth by Led team of 10 merchandising professionals who consistently increased sales growth, reaching 200Crore in financial year 2023 which is 66% increase in sales from previous year.
- Conducted performance evaluations, compensations and hiring to maintain appropriate staffing requirements. Created company culture initiative that raised employee satisfaction rates by 25% compared to previous financial year.
- Provided strong leadership to enhance team productivity and morale.
- Brainstormed and developed sales strategies to achieve short and long term sales revenue objectives.
- Developed and implemented new filing systems to improve organizational efficiency and productivity.
- Lead weekly production meetings and monitored material movement with planning, procurement and merchandising teams to achieve 95% on time rate with planned production start dates.
- Achieved 100% success with ontime shipments from Kolkata unit against customer requirement and 70% ontime shipments from Ahmedabad unit.
- Between June 2023 and September 2023 worked with planning department to allocate factory capacity according to order booking, which increased production efficiency by 20%.
- Headed the outsourcing program with production across 7 different factories across Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Bangladesh to achieve ontime delivery in peak months due to festive recess.
Project Consultant
Self-employeed
Bangalore
2022.02 - 2023.06
- Getting familiar with client's business environment in order to lead projects effectively, coordinating with relevant stakeholders, both inside and outside organization. Allocating tasks to project management team and providing regular guidance to team members
- Assisted business units with existing functioning projects by implementing set strategies to improve process productivity. Utilized fishbone diagrams and failure mode effects analysis to attack critical customer complaint issues.
- Evaluated current processes to develop improvement plans. Reviewed internal systems and organized training plans to address areas in need of improvement.
- Implemented 5S requirements in Merchandising, Store and Production floor. Used SIPOC and DMAIC process to initiate and lead problem- solving efforts.
- Created standard work instructions for assembly and material handling to improve workflow and productivity 50%. Updated processes and process maps to improve material flow throughout factory.
- Made recommendations to reduce waste, increase utilization and reduce costs via enhancements to procedures, business practices and systems. Gathered, documented, and modeled data to assess business trends.
- Created and optimized records management strategies to coordinate and protect information.
- Researched and identified new opportunities for product and brand development.
Senior Manager - Merchandising
Hirdaramani Group of Companies
Ho Chi Minh City
03.2017 - 06.2021
- Built strong team of 12 to cater budget of $40 million, overseeing multi-regional sales plans.
- Between 2017 - 2021, added 2 new customers, Nike and Amazon.
- Generated 20 - 25% increment in sales every year between 2019 - 2021 to reach US$40 million.
- 30% of budget included 100% knit Nike licensed products - NBA, NHL, NFL & MLB which included jackets, tees, pants, tops and shorts which were heavily embellished.
- 70% of budget included 100% knit Amazon kids and adults garments which includes tees, tank tops, dresses, skirts & shorts with embellishments.
- Developed working tool in MS excel to enable 2 costing team leads to arrive at product price mix for solids, prints and heather garments involving over 25 - 30 silhouettes.
- Created daily follow-up tool in excel which enabled 6 development and procurement team merchants to keep projects on track and tasks prioritized.
- Convened daily team meetings for 15 minutes to determine priorities and set policies for costing, production and procurement.
- Continuously worked towards maintaining left over to raw material cost at 1.5%
- Zero tolerance on air freights.
- Continuously monitored material costs, factory costs and product costs resulting with earnings per minute remaining above US$0.20/garment.
- Worked closely with industrial engineering teams to reduce cut & make costs thus helping maintain healthy ratio 30% between CM/FOB.
- Shortages of +/- 3% raw materials and finished garments were dealt with severely while ensuring on-time garment delivery.
- 100% real time tracking of raw-material and merchandise.
- Customer satisfaction index for teams totaled above 85% with customer being impressed about garment quality, sampling lead times, embellishment quality, interaction time and accuracy, on-time delivery and pricing.
Manager - Sales and Merchandising
Young Brand Apparel Pvt. Ltd
Chennai
03.2015 - 02.2017
- Increased sales to of US$15 million from US$3 million with 9 members, actively overseeing hiring, training, and professional growth of employees.
- 90% of sales budget was Marks and Spencers lingerie merchandise for department T71 (kids), T61(women) & T14 (men).
- 10% of sales budget included merchandise for Ed Hardy & Benetton
- Saved $10,000 by implementing cost-saving initiatives that addressed long-standing problems.
- Actively listened to customers' requests, confirming full understanding before addressing concerns.
- Oversaw daily operations to ensure high levels of productivity
- Devoted special emphasis to punctuality and worked to maintain outstanding attendance record, consistently arriving to work ready to start immediately.
- Zero tolerance for air freights.
- Engaged with industrial engineering and technical department to minimize operations while maintaining garment aesthetics and functionality in order to maintain minimum of 30% ratio between CM/FOB.
- Constantly working upon cost reduction methods to achieve earnings per minute of US$0.15/garment.
Brand Head
Leela Scottish Lace Pvt. Ltd (BRFL)
Bangalore
12.2008 - 02.2015
- Collaborated with design, development, sampling & washing teams to achieve final product outlook as required by customer.
- Performed duties in accordance with applicable standards, policies and regulatory guidelines to promote safe working environment
- Prepared variety of different written communications, reports and documents to ensure smooth operations
- Managed team of 15 employees, overseeing hiring, training, and professional growth of employees
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions
- Used Microsoft Word and other software tools to create documents and other communications.
- Resolved conflicts and negotiated mutually beneficial agreements between parties
- Received and processed stock into inventory management system.
- Maintained energy and enthusiasm in fast-paced environment
- Drove operational improvements which resulted in savings and improved profit margins
- Actively listened to customers, handled concerns quickly and escalated major issues to superiors.
- Product mix for Guru had both woven, knit & denim garments briefly categorized into - tops, dresses, jackets and bottoms, heavily embellished with various washes and dyes.
Senior Merchandiser - Manager Operations
Hi Fashion Apparel Trading LLC
Dubai
01.2003 - 10.2008
- Engaged in production activities across China, Bangladesh, Kenya and UAE with over 6 - 7 different factories and 2 regions.
- Products ranged from swim and board shorts to ski pants and jackets, padded and non-padded jackets and pants, wind breakers and running jackets.
- Sales amounted to US$3 million quarterly.
- While regional based increased, resulting with increased production capacity and increment in sales of 20% annually.
- Interviewed and worked closely with vendors to acquire and develop desired products, work on FOB's, garment quality, production and shipment plan.
- Cautiously practiced risk management regarding budgeting and expenditures
- Analyzed local markets and opportunities to improve marketing strategies
- Performed quality assurance procedures while analyzing projects, resets and backroom processes
- Worked closely with management in observing and actively monitoring sales
- Anticipated consumer buying patterns to create purchase and inventory plan
- Established strong vendor relationships to maintain and support business
- Negotiated prices, discount terms and transportation arrangements
- Established vendor performance metrics to evaluate service
- Planned and coordinated product availability for advertising and promotion purposes
- Actively involved with clearing and forwarding agents to work on container loads and vehicle movement to ensure on time cut-off at ports and terminals.
Imports Executive - Merchandiser
Gokaldas Images Pvt. Ltd
Bangalore
06.1997 - 12.2002
- Negotiated prices, discount terms and transportation arrangements
Education
Post Graduate Diploma - Garment Export Marketing And Merchandising
National Institute of Fashion Technology
Bengaluru 09.1999 - 11.2000
Masters - Costing And Taxation
Ramnarayan Chellaram College of Commerce
Bengaluru 03.1997 - 04.1999
Bachelor of Commerce - Commerce, Accounting
Chirst College
Bengaluru 03.1994 - 03.1997
Skills
Customer relationship management
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Quote
The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.
Walt Disney
Timeline
Head of Merchandising
Tarasafe International Private Limited
06.2023 - Current
Project Consultant
Self-employeed
2022.02 - 2023.06
Senior Manager - Merchandising
Hirdaramani Group of Companies
03.2017 - 06.2021
Manager - Sales and Merchandising
Young Brand Apparel Pvt. Ltd
03.2015 - 02.2017
Brand Head
Leela Scottish Lace Pvt. Ltd (BRFL)
12.2008 - 02.2015
Senior Merchandiser - Manager Operations
Hi Fashion Apparel Trading LLC
01.2003 - 10.2008
Post Graduate Diploma - Garment Export Marketing And Merchandising
National Institute of Fashion Technology
09.1999 - 11.2000
Imports Executive - Merchandiser
Gokaldas Images Pvt. Ltd
06.1997 - 12.2002
Masters - Costing And Taxation
Ramnarayan Chellaram College of Commerce
03.1997 - 04.1999
Bachelor of Commerce - Commerce, Accounting
Chirst College
03.1994 - 03.1997
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