PRASANNA VENKATESH L
BANGALORE,KA
Summary
Dynamic Deputy General Manager with a proven track record at GOKALDAS EXPORTS LTD, driving business growth from $0.5 million to $22 million. Expert in effective merchandising strategies and KPI monitoring, I excel in team management and operational improvement, delivering exceptional results through data analysis and strong issue resolution skills.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Deputy General Manager
GOKALDAS EXPORTS LTD
BANGALORE
01.2013 - Current
- Manage and lead the merchandising team of 30 in the effective execution of business operations from end to end, including pricing closure and cost control.
- Key contributor to the business growth of the esteemed brand, adidas sportswear, from $0.5 million to $22 million over a span of 8 years.
- Brands Handled - adidas, Reebok, SanMar, Nordstrom, Kaporal, A&F, Superdry.
- Products handled – Woven Outerwear Jackets, Bottoms, Tracksuits, and Knitted T-shirts. (Polyester and Cotton). Products involving value-added services of embroidery, printing, quilting, and poly filling programs, washes, dry processes, and garment over-dye programs.
- Categories handled: Men’s, Women’s, and Kids.
- Monitor KPIs and deliverables.
- Conducted comprehensive research and data analysis to support strategic planning and informed decision-making.
- Capacity planning and factory allocation.
- Provided leadership, insight and mentoring to newly hired employees to supply knowledge of various company programs.
- Identified areas of improvement in operational processes and developed solutions accordingly.
- Served as main liaison between employees and leadership team to relay questions and concerns.
- Built and maintained loyal, long-term customer relationships through effective account management.
- Used strong issue resolution and communication skills to cultivate and strengthen lasting client relationships.
- Tracked quarter sales to generate reports for business development planning.
- Handling the speed orders for BCCI cricket programs for the Indian cricket team.
- Handling the shorter lead time programs for the international transfer orders (60 days).
Senior Merchandiser
Shahi exports Pvt ltd
Bangalore
11.2010 - 12.2012
- Handled a three-member team for the developments and production follow-up.
- Complete follow-up with the factory, buyer, and suppliers for the execution of orders.
- Product costing and price negotiation with the buyer.
- Taking all the approvals, and delivering the goods on time with the right quality.
- Presentation of products during the buyer meeting, and taking up inquiries to the next level.
- Addressing the product quality issues and resolving them with the buyer.
- Follow up and style review with the team for the on-time material ordering, sample approvals, and strike-off (Print, Embroidery), and wash closures, GPT approvals.
- Building a good rapport with buyers and smoothing the process of approval to avoid delays in the execution stage.
- Development of a new product through continuous discussion with technicians for the upcoming seasons.
- Buyers and Products Handled - Ann Taylor - Tops and Dresses (Women's) Knits.
Executive Merchandiser
Gokaldas Exports Ltd
Bangalore
05.2008 - 11.2010
- Handled the end-to-end process: proto samples, pre-sell, SMS, and bulk production.
- Costing: Negotiation and costing closure with the internal departments and with the customers.
- Material Ordering - Preparing the BOM for both fabric and trims, placing, and following up on orders with both national and international suppliers.
- Work on a time and action (T&A) plan, preparing Po pkts, and coordinating with the factory to deliver products with the right quality by meeting the customer's ex-factory.
- Approvals — print and embroidery strike-offs, heat transfer testing, GPT approval follow-up, protos/fit, size sets, sealers, closures, and shipment samples approvals before shipments.
- Customer communication.
- Brands and Products Handled: Puma Sportswear - Woven Polyester Tracksuits, Bottoms, Jackets (Men's & Women's).
Executive Merchandiser
International Clothing House –(Buying House)
Bangalore
06.2005 - 05.2008
- Buyer coordination - acting as a bridge between the factory and the buyers to ensure smooth communication and alignment on costing, approvals, and production processes.
- Costing - involves determining the cost of developed products by balancing and negotiating various factors to arrive at a competitive and profitable price with both buyers and factories.
- Material Follow-up - Follow up with factories on the material ordering for both fabric and trims (national and international) suppliers.
- Approvals - ensuring all parameters such as lab dips, strike-offs, protos, size sets, developments, sealers, and shipment samples get approved before bulk placement. Assisting the technical team on fit and style closure by ensuring the products meet the customer’s requirements
- Worked on a time and action (T&A) plan and coordinated with the factory to deliver products with the right quality by meeting the customer's ex-factory.
- Communication Hub - Act as an intermediate force between various departments through vital communication of design intricacies, style, and development.
- Identified new potential vendors to expand product offerings.
- Buyers & Products Handled - Akademiks (Men's and Women's), Ecko Kids - Knits, T-shirts, Polos.
Jr. Merchandiser
Kiran Exports
Tirupur
05.2002 - 06.2003
- Sample development and arranging fabrics and rims for the sample-making.
- Follow up for the sample approvals: Fit, Sealer samples, and Value-added process (Print and Embroidery).
- Preparing the PO packets for factories.
- Preparing trim cards for approvals.
- Buyer Handled - Walmart - Knitted Men's and Women's T-shirts.
Education
MBA - International Business Management
ANNA UNIVERSITY
COIMBATORE , INDIA09-2011
Master of Science - Apparel Technology And Management
BANGALORE UNIVERSITY
BANGALORE , INDIA06-2005
Bachelor of Science - Applied Science - Apparel & Fashion Technology
PSG Collage of Technology
Coimbatore , India04-2002
Skills
- Effective Merchandising Strategies
- Cost control
- KPI monitoring
- Data analysis
- Team Management
- Operational improvement
- Production & Capacity planning
- Issue resolution
- Business growth initiatives
Accomplishments
- Awarded as a Most Valuable Partner for 2018 and 2020 from the brand adidas for achieving the 97% MDP
Languages
Tamil
First Language
English
Proficient (C2)
C2
Kannada
Upper Intermediate (B2)
B2
Hindi
Intermediate (B1)
B1
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Deputy General Manager
GOKALDAS EXPORTS LTD
01.2013 - Current
Senior Merchandiser
Shahi exports Pvt ltd
11.2010 - 12.2012
Executive Merchandiser
Gokaldas Exports Ltd
05.2008 - 11.2010
Executive Merchandiser
International Clothing House –(Buying House)
06.2005 - 05.2008
Jr. Merchandiser
Kiran Exports
05.2002 - 06.2003
MBA - International Business Management
ANNA UNIVERSITY
Master of Science - Apparel Technology And Management
BANGALORE UNIVERSITY
Bachelor of Science - Applied Science - Apparel & Fashion Technology
PSG Collage of Technology
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