PRAKASH SHRIVASTAVA
Buying & Merchandising
Gurgaon
Summary
Senior Retail Leader | Buying & Merchandise Planning Expert | P&L Owner | Fashion & Lifestyle Specialist A seasoned professional with 15+ years of proven experience in Buying, Merchandising, and Business Strategy across leading fashion retail brands. Currently heading the Buying & Merchandising function at Blackberrys, managing over 5.5 million units annually across multiple retail channels and driving data-led profitability. Past leadership roles at Reliance Retail, Shoppers Stop, Indian Terrain, and Max (Landmark Group) have reinforced a strong track record in strategic planning, inventory optimization, markdowns, and omni-channel retail.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Lead – Buying & Merchandising
Blackberrys
07.2022 - Current
- Spearhead Buying & Merchandising across EBOs, LFR, E-com, MBO, and Value Channels
- Lead team for Promo Analysis, Sell Through, GMROF, EBITDA and Stock Mix
- Own annual buying of 5.5M+ units; lead OTB, pricing, and markdown strategies
- Collaborate with demand planners and operations for AOP delivery
- Streamlined excess inventory in Ecosystem and brought it under MUDA logic
- Driven Inventory turn upward by 47%
Senior Manager – Retail Merchandise Planning (Trends Small Town)
Reliance Retail Ltd
03.2019 - 07.2022
- Drove Planning & merchandising operations for TST formats
- Managed dispatches, stock planning, and promotional strategies
- Led biweekly performance reviews and corrective actions for underperforming stores
- Successfully handled key sales periods including festive & EOSS
Buyer & Merchandiser – Men’s External Brands
Shoppers Stop Ltd
05.2018 - 03.2019
- Managed premium menswear brands including LP, Allen Solly, Indian Terrain, and US Polo
- Aligned assortment planning and vendor negotiations with company targets
Buying & Merchandise Planner – Menswear
Indian Terrain Fashions Ltd
08.2012 - 05.2018
- Oversaw merchandise planning across retail formats
- Also served as Regional Manager – West, with strong front-end leadership experience
Buyer & Merchandiser – Fashion & Lifestyle
Max Retail (Landmark Group)
10.2010 - 08.2012
- Managed buying cycles, assortment mix, pricing, and sell-through
Education
Senior Secondary -
Marwari College
RanchiSecondary - undefined
Cambridge School
RanchiBachelor of Fashion Technology -
National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)
Kolkata07.2009
Skills
- Microsoft Excel (Advanced: Pivot Tables, Lookups, Conditional Formulas )
- SAP – Retail Buying & Merchandising Module
- Tableau & Increff (ARS, Dashboards)
CORE STRENGTHS
- Strategic Buying & Planning
- P&L Management & Budgeting
- Inventory & Demand Forecasting
- Multi-Channel Retail (EBO, LFR, E-com, MBO)
- Promotions, Pricing & Markdown Strategy
- Team Leadership & Capability Building
- Store Planning & Seasonal Launches
- Stakeholder Management
- Industry Focus: Fashion & Lifestyle | Growth-Stage Retail | Omni-Channel Business|Travel
Timeline
Lead – Buying & Merchandising
Blackberrys
07.2022 - Current
Senior Manager – Retail Merchandise Planning (Trends Small Town)
Reliance Retail Ltd
03.2019 - 07.2022
Buyer & Merchandiser – Men’s External Brands
Shoppers Stop Ltd
05.2018 - 03.2019
Buying & Merchandise Planner – Menswear
Indian Terrain Fashions Ltd
08.2012 - 05.2018
Buyer & Merchandiser – Fashion & Lifestyle
Max Retail (Landmark Group)
10.2010 - 08.2012
Secondary - undefined
Cambridge School
Senior Secondary -
Marwari College
Bachelor of Fashion Technology -
National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)