Nikhil Kaushik

• Seasoned Apparel Merchandising & Sourcing Manager with close to 15 years of experience in managing challenging assignments with eminent organizations.
• Handled different clients, especially from different regions and with distinct brand identities like US Clients (Club Monaco, Ann Taylor, Cold Water Creek) & UK Clients (Next, Debenhams, PerUna)
• Handled different categories across Men's & Women's wear for both Knits & Wovens
• Led various product development and production initiatives from conception to planning to execution and finally, fruition.
• Extensive 360° exposure to Apparel industry best practices, managing projects, clients, teams, operations and compliance while delivering on tight deadlines.
• A diligent and motivated professional who takes ownership of his assignments.

Strategic Business Development and Sourcing Management
Product Development Vendor Management Fabric Development, Sourcing and Allocation Pricing and Negotiation Sourcing Critical Path Management

• Over 14 years of experience managing Apparel and Fabric sourcing with focused approach towards customer delight, business growth, and profitability

• Handling Merchandising Operations, Product Development, Fabric Development, Costing and TNA planning

• Collaborate with Design team pushing to stay ahead of competition through

aggressive working on innovation.

• Coordinate with Buyer for Product developments, information flow regarding Fabrics & Trims requirement.

• Working on Sourcing strategies based on new sourcing opportunities.

• Working with design team on presentations, selection of fabrics and working on

the production feasible option.

• Vendor Managment, maintaining scorecards

• Assess new vendors and fabric suppliers based on Capacity, Product Strength and Innovation

• Innovate Supply chain process and Improve SOPs in Development and Production

Areas for Quality, Sustainability, and Speed

• Allocate development strategies considering the overall strength of sourcing regions and mills

• Lead the Fabric Development process, Support Innovations and re-engineering of fabrics

• Review and work on the final garment costing to maximize the profitability

• Negotiate Fabric Prices with mills while understanding cost reduction opportunities

• Aggressive Negotiations for Core Programs and Greige Pre Positioning.

• Understand and compare Raw Material trends and prices across the globe and keep a record

• Collaborate with other brands and Departments to find out cost leveraging

opportunities

• Monitor all Product Development, pre production and production activities to ensure all time lines are met. Also to rectify issues in prompt and sound manner.

• Implement and educate cross functional teams and vendors with any new SOPs implemented by buyer at any stage of supply chain related to approvals, production, testing etc.