Mritunjay Choudhary
Category Manager
Bangalore,KA
Summary
Results-driven Category Manager with over 15 years of experience in developing and executing category strategies that enhance profitability and market share. Proven track record in managing end-to-end product lifecycle, from market analysis and supplier negotiations to merchandising and pricing strategies. Adept at leveraging data-driven insights to optimize product assortments, increase customer satisfaction, and drive sales growth. Strong leadership and collaboration skills, with a history of building and nurturing relationships with cross-functional teams and key stakeholders. Committed to continuous improvement and innovation in category management to achieve business objectives.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Category Manager Buying & Merchandising: Private label brands
Lifestyle International Pvt Ltd
10.2018 - Current
- OTB and Channel-Based Profit and Loss for Online and Offline Stores
- Developed detailed sales forecasts based on historical data, allowing for proactive inventory management decisions.
- Analyzed sales performance and adjusted marketing strategies to optimize revenue generation.
- Managed a diverse portfolio of products, ensuring optimal mix between high-margin items and cost-effective options for customers.
- Mentored junior team members in category management best practices, contributing to a high-performing and collaborative work environment.
- Benchmarked category performance against industry standards, identifying areas for improvement and implementing targeted initiatives.
- Increased overall category sales by developing and executing strategic merchandising plans.
- Reduced inventory costs through effective vendor negotiations and optimizing product assortments.
- Monitored market to capitalize on latest trends.
- Maximized category turnover through proactive management strategies.
Buying & Merchandising: External Brands
Lifestyle International Pvt Ltd
04.2014 - 09.2018
- Achieve targeted annual NOT budget & GOLY for Ladies footwear external brands
- Achieve targeted gross margin through product performance monitoring at full price sell throughs and controlling markdowns
- Maintain inventory levels as per the sales and NOD norms
- Monitor brand staff availability at front end as per agreed norms
- Finalizing store-wise buys for all brands by planning store-wise assortments
- Season Launch: Achieving freshness on floor level by launching 30% of Season's inventory
- Ensuring Stock health with respect to fill rates against base-stocks and full sizes at store level
- Planning for promotional activities, Staff availability, VM collaterals on floor, Vendor Management.
Merchandiser
Lifestyle International Pvt Ltd
09.2011 - 03.2013
- Roll-out the initial allocation for the stores and RDC for necessary action
- Daily replenishment against requirement from stores for FMS
- Ensure timely dispatches from WH and track the same with regional whs to stores
- Maintain base stock level and product mix at all stores against store capacity
- Preparing and executing guidelines for stock consolidation at the end of season and during the season
- Highlight non-moving styles for proposing markdowns/liquidation plan
- Maintain a sell thru report on weekly basis
- Take necessary action on inter-store transfer and replenishment
- Ensure timely inward & outward of the stock as per season.
Associate Team Leader
Arvind Lifestyle Brands
12.2009 - 08.2011
- Achieve the sales and budget as defined for the respective store's month wise
- Ensuring display of merchandise on floor as per the VM norms, collection, and Story wise
- Planning the right merchandise as per the customer base for the respective stores
- Deep dive analysis in the brands to identify the fast moving and slow moving sku`s to increase the business
- Responsible for demand forecasting & ensuring optimum inventory levels to meet the market requirements
- Ensures the inventory on the floor is tally with the system
- Managing the Manpower available in the stores
- Training the staffs for new season merchandise and for customers handling.
Assistant Merchandiser and Production coordinator
LVK Babywear Pvt Ltd
09.2008 - 11.2009
- Developing new range for new & existing customers for season
- Interacting with factory and keeping a track on sampling & current production
- Have a strong follow up on sampling and meeting the deadlines efficiently
- Highlighting issues/pre alerts at sampling stage while executing if any, to take corrective measures at the time of bulk
- Taking approvals from customers for bulk at the time of sampling like - fabric, lab dips artworks, wash, trims etc
- Ordering fabric and trims for sampling and for production.
Skills
Strategic Sourcing
Sales Tracking
Trend knowledge
Supplier Relationship Management
Merchandising Strategies
Category development
Product Management
P&L Management
Accomplishments
- Highest LFL growth for the category for 3 consecutive years 15.4% in FY16-17, 11.2% in FY17-18 & 12% in FY18-19.
- Introduced new Buying Pattern which lead to higher sale thru and lower returns at brand level at the end of Season.
- Appreciated and awarded twice with 'Make a difference' & 'Value Cham' in work strategy.
- Awarded as a Best Team Leader
Personal Qualifications
- MBA, Retail management & Apparel merchandising, National Institute of Retail Management, 2008, 2010
- B.sc, Fashion and Apparel Design, ALT Training College, Bangalore University, 2005, 2008
- 10+2, J.N.K College, BIEC, 2003, 2005
- 10th, S.K.P Vidya Vihar, CBSE, 2003, 2003
Personal Information
Date of Birth: 09/05/1987
Timeline
Category Manager Buying & Merchandising: Private label brands
Lifestyle International Pvt Ltd
10.2018 - Current
Buying & Merchandising: External Brands
Lifestyle International Pvt Ltd
04.2014 - 09.2018
Merchandiser
Lifestyle International Pvt Ltd
09.2011 - 03.2013
Associate Team Leader
Arvind Lifestyle Brands
12.2009 - 08.2011
Assistant Merchandiser and Production coordinator
LVK Babywear Pvt Ltd
09.2008 - 11.2009