Nikhil Chauhan
Bengaluru
Summary
Successfully created, launched & scaled new line of products & private labels in the past & has been handling and growing premium global brands today in India. With 12 years of Buying & Merchandising experience with Indian conglomerates and global brands. Currently heading the Tommy Hilfiger Mens Sportswear (knits) business, along with kidswear (approximately 40% of the total India business).
With a strong foundation in brand management, product strategy, and fashion buying, I bring deep expertise in driving growth for sports lifestyle and kids wear categories across diverse markets.
Beyond work, I’m an active sports enthusiast with a deep-rooted passion for football, fitness & swimming. I educate, refine & drive myself to be a better person & I really like to constantly upgrade myself & learn new things. A fashion technology graduate with MBA in Business Strategy & Marketing from a top Indian college, I enjoy meeting new people & hearing new perspectives.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of Buying & Merchandising – Sportswear & Kids
PVH - Tommy Hilfiger
Bengaluru
07.2022 - Current
- Heading: Buying & Merchandising Function of Mens Sportswear (Knit Categories) and Kidswear at Tommy Hilfiger, ~40% of total TH business in India
- Leading B&M for all revenue channels - EBOs, SIS, MBOs, Corporate Gifting & Online Market Places.
- Leading a team of 4 buyers and assistant buyers, consistently achieving top and bottom-line targets for the business.
- Leding and directing design, product architecture, fabrications, storytelling, and big bet product ideas for the TH Men's sports business, which comprises all active and lifestyle products, such as polos, tees, sweatshirts, tracks, and sweaters.
- Handled the top wear of Tommy Jeans menswear as well in the past, which has a different young and street vibe, and essentially is a denim/jeans-led sub-brand of Tommy Hilfiger.
- Key responsibilities span from managing the budget, OTB, store allocations, pricing, vendor negotiations, sample reviews, margins/multipliers, and retail product launches to devising product architecture and brand strategy for key moments in the life of a men’s sports consumer.
- Leading inventory management strategies with the right allocation across doors, targeted sell-through planning, and ROS checks.
- Frequent EU travel to meet global designers, merchandisers, and senior leaders to align on brand product strategy for India, and range alignment and reviews.
- Regular store and mall visits across India and key global markets to be closer to consumers and competition.
- I have worked closely with the CXOs of Tommy Hilfiger and CK brands on various projects related to finance, budget, and margin management, developing MIS and master management platforms, omni-channel integration (Store to Door project), and developing strategy documents at the brand level on pricing, sourcing, and buying.
Senior Manager - Buying & Merchandising
Tommy Hilfiger
Bengaluru
07.2020 - 07.2022
- Given to Lead Tommy Hilfiger Men's Sportswear line (Knitwear Categories) to absolutely dominate the Indian premium wear segment.
- Along with that heading Buying & Merchandising for Tommy Kids & CK Kids - two powerhouse brands that are leaders in India with the highest SSPD & profitability
Buying Manager - Kidswear
Tommy Hilfiger
Bengaluru
11.2017 - 06.2020
- Handling Kidswear business for Tommy Hilfiger & Calvin Klein Kids in India for all channels - EBO, SIS, Franchisee & Online.
- P&L management, responsible for top & bottom line achievement.
- Buying & Planning range (About 1400 options yearly) in 6 drops yearly for the brand keeping Buy plan, OTB, prices and margins intact.
- Driving season launch strategy, Product Pricing, Discounting & Full Price sell-thru management.
- Led the launch of Calvin Klein Kids in India in 2020.
Category Manager - Private Label
Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail Ltd
Mumbai
04.2013 - 10.2017
- Joined as MT under Stride Program & went on to become the youngest Manager in the company & eventually winning for the prestigious Aditya Birla Award for Emerging Professional & getting Nominated for Chairman's award.
- Managing Buying for Kidswear Private Label
- Building & Planning range (About 700 options yearly) for the Division keeping OTB, prices and margins intact.
- Vendor/order management, cost/ delivery negotiations as per business & brand requirements.
- Spearheaded systematic analysis of customer segments, lifestyles, price points, and fashion tiers to create balanced, differentiated and diversified product range and increase customer satisfaction.
- Collaborating with other members of Company's operation, such as Designing , Retail Planning, Sourcing, Marketing, VM, and store managers, to make the best decisions regarding the brand and to present the clothes to customers in the best possible manner so that brand can grow.
- Extensive vendor & market visits (Domestic & International – Dubai) ensuring I am updated with latest of market always.
Graduation Project
Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail Ltd.
Bengaluru
01.2013 - 04.2013
- Digitizing the booking process for Peter England.
- Worked on this project of making an iOS application that runs on iPad through which we can book orders for the new season and hence can improve our Demand Generation Process.
Education
MBA -
Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies
Bengaluru01.2020
Bachelor of Fashion Technology -
National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)
Mumbai06.2013
Intermediate(10+2) - Mathematics and Science
Vivekanand School Delhi
New Delhi05.2009
Skills
- Category Management
- Fashion Buying
- Product/Merchandise Strategy
- Budget Management
- Pricing/margin Strategy
- P&L Management
- Market/Sales Analysis
- Product Development
Hobbies and Interests
Sports - Football, Running & Swimming
Informative Reading, Biographies
Awards
- Nominated for prestigious "Aditya Birla Award" in 2017,
- Won 'Emerging Professional of the Year - 2016' in ABFRL,
- MVP at Retail Olympics in 2017 - Various Sports,
- Awarded student of the Year in XII for all-round performance
Timeline
Head of Buying & Merchandising – Sportswear & Kids
PVH - Tommy Hilfiger
07.2022 - Current
Senior Manager - Buying & Merchandising
Tommy Hilfiger
07.2020 - 07.2022
Buying Manager - Kidswear
Tommy Hilfiger
11.2017 - 06.2020
Category Manager - Private Label
Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail Ltd
04.2013 - 10.2017
Graduation Project
Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail Ltd.
01.2013 - 04.2013
MBA -
Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies
Bachelor of Fashion Technology -
National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)
Intermediate(10+2) - Mathematics and Science
Vivekanand School Delhi
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