NITIN TANWAR
Noida
Summary
Dynamic and result-oriented Business Head & Senior Merchandising Manager with 18+ years of experience in export merchandising, product development, and strategic business operations across home furnishings, Textile bags, leather goods, Clutches and accessories. Proven expertise in managing global accounts, driving sustainable growth, leading cross-functional teams, and executing high-value programs for top international retailers. Strong background in sustainable sourcing, compliance, product innovation, and international buyer engagement across Europe, the US, and the UK.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Business Head – Bags, Home & Accessories
Meenu Creation LLP
10.2024 - Current
- Expanded category penetration in fashion bags, functional home organizers, and sustainable accessories, leading to increased buyer retention and average order value.
- Led end-to-end onboarding of new international clients from RFQ to shipment execution, ensuring seamless compliance with destination-specific regulations and quality standards.
- Created market-segmented product strategies—developing capsule collections for fast fashion, premium lifestyle, and eco-conscious retail chains.
- Collaborated with in-house R&D and design team to introduce 30+ new SKUs quarterly across bags and accessories, balancing innovation with production feasibility.
- Drove implementation of packaging optimization strategies, resulting in a 12% reduction in logistics costs and improved carbon footprint.
- Strengthened audit readiness and ethical compliance processes, successfully clearing BSCI, SEDEX, and customer-specific social audits.
- Developed visual line plans and sales toolkits for overseas buying teams to streamline decision-making in virtual sourcing environments.
- Optimized vendor development protocols—shortened sampling cycles, implemented vendor scorecards, and ensured dual-sourcing for risk mitigation.
- Championed digital transformation across merchandising functions—adopting PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) software to boost development agility.
- Built cross-functional synergy with finance and logistics teams to ensure tight cost controls, smooth LC processing, and timely dispatch.
Merchandising Manager – Bags, Home & Accessories
R.K & Company
03.2009 - 09.2024
- Oversaw end-to-end merchandising for a diverse portfolio including fashion bags, leather accessories, and home textile products, catering to high-street retailers and premium lifestyle brands in Europe and the U.S.
- Led seasonal product development cycles, curating 300+ SKUs per season through close collaboration with design, sampling, and production teams—translating global trend forecasts and buyer briefs into commercially successful ranges.
- Executed detailed cost engineering and margin optimization strategies, negotiating FOB with global buyers while maintaining factory profitability.
- Championed sustainable material sourcing—integrating certified raw materials (GRS polyester, BCI cotton, GOTS organic cotton, OEKO-TEX dyed fabrics), with robust chain-of-custody documentation and traceability protocols.
- Spearheaded compliance readiness and maintained 100% audit clearance across REACH, CPSIA, BSCI, SEDEX, and FAMA standards by partnering closely with QA/QC and documentation teams.
- Managed detailed TNA calendars and WIP trackers, ensuring milestone adherence, reduced lead times, and 95%+ on-time delivery performance.
- Built and sustained strong buyer relationships through proactive communication, timely sampling, and responsiveness to design changes, contributing to repeat business and larger seasonal order volumes.
- Developed and implemented competitive sourcing strategies across India and select vendors in South Asia for new developments and urgent programs.
- Collaborated with design teams to co-create lookbooks, mood boards, and digital swatch libraries for key client presentations.
- Trained junior merchandisers and interns, fostering a performance-driven team culture and succession planning within the merchandising department.
Assistant Merchandiser – Garments
Orient Craft Ltd.
06.2006 - 01.2009
- Supported merchandising operations for woven and knit garments for global retail accounts.
- Coordinated with sampling and production teams for timely execution of buyer styles and approvals.
- Tracked orders using TNA sheets, followed up on lab dips, trims, and pre-production samples.
- Interacted with international buyers for sample status, approvals, and tech pack clarifications.
- Assisted in preparing cost sheets, BOMs, and vendor quotes for commercial orders.
- Gained hands-on exposure in fabric development, strike-off approvals, and basic quality documentation.
Education
B.Com - Commerce
Delhi University
Diploma - Export
Trade Development Centre
Diploma - Apparel Merchandising
International Institute of Fashion Institute
Skills
- Export Merchandising & International Business
- Home Décor, Fashion Bags & Accessories
- Strategic Sourcing & Global Supply Chain
- Buyer & Vendor Relationship Management
- Product Development & Assortment Planning
- Fabric & Material Sourcing (GRS, BCI, OEKO-TEX, Organic)
- Sustainable Product Lifecycle Management
- Costing, Pricing & Profitability Optimization
- Category Management & SKU Rationalization
- ERP, PLM & TNA Systems
- Leadership & Team Management
- Compliance & Quality Assurance (REACH, CPSIA, SEDEX, BSCI)
- Market Trend Forecasting & Season Planning
- Sample Management & Approval Processes
- Visual Merchandising & Retail Readiness
- Sales Analytics & Sell-Through Monitoring
- Product Innovation & Value Engineering
- Critical Path & Production Planning
- Buyer Presentation & Trade Fair Representation
Language Abilities
English
Hindi
BRAND'S WORKED FOR
ZARA, PULL & BEAR, NEXT, OYSHO, LC- WAIKIKI, MARKS & SPENCER, RIPCURL, AMUSE, ROXY, ORIGINAL MARINES, LU- ELLE, BILLABONG, MUDPIE, PURAVIDA, FAT FACE, S.OLIVER, ALDO, FOREVER-21, URBAN OUTFITTER, LITTLE BURGANDY, CHARMING CHARLIE, EXPRESS, CLARIES, KIABI, ENCHANTE ACCESSORIES, ETAM, PIMKI, MONOPRIX, ELCORTE, OVS, CENTRIC BRANDS, QVC ETC.
Accomplishments
- Increased export turnover by 20% through market and product category expansion.
- Launched eco-conscious product lines using sustainable, certified materials (GRS, BCI, OEKO-TEX, GOTS).
- Reduced sampling lead time by 25% through process automation and cross-team coordination.
- Onboarded 5+ international buyers, delivering custom collections and cost-effective sourcing solutions.
- Improved gross margins by 12% through strategic negotiation and material efficiency.
- Maintained 95%+ on-time delivery rate, enhancing client retention.
- Led transition to digital sampling, virtual showrooms, and remote buyer presentations.
- Developed private label programs for European retail giants, fostering exclusive buying partnerships.
- Enabled multiple vendors to achieve SEDEX/BSCI certification, unlocking access to premium accounts.
- Reduced product development costs by 10–15% through value engineering and smart vendor utilization.
Timeline
Business Head – Bags, Home & Accessories
Meenu Creation LLP
10.2024 - Current
Merchandising Manager – Bags, Home & Accessories
R.K & Company
03.2009 - 09.2024
Assistant Merchandiser – Garments
Orient Craft Ltd.
06.2006 - 01.2009
Diploma - Export
Trade Development Centre
Diploma - Apparel Merchandising
International Institute of Fashion Institute
B.Com - Commerce
Delhi University
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