Pratul Khosla
Category Manager
Mumbai
Summary
A passionate member of the retail industry for more than 6 years, transforming data into knowledge and strategic insights. My experience in a fast-paced environment has strengthened crucial skills of prioritizing tasks under pressure, time management and the importance of interpersonal skills when working with a team. The ever-changing dynamics of customer behavior instigates curiosity to understand these varying perceptions by analyzing and deep diving into data to obtain a conclusion, pattern or a story. Develops and executes category strategies, negotiates and awards supplier contracts and conducts commodity and supplier business reviews. Improves company profitability, asset management performance and supports improved customer delivery through thoughtful supply base network design.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Category Manager-Apple IPhone
TATA CROMA, INFINITI RETAIL LIMITED
04.2024 - Current
- Managing iPhones business of 4000 Cr for offline and online channels for Croma.
- Developed detailed sales forecasts based on historical data, allowing for proactive inventory management decisions.
- Conducted competitor analysis to stay informed about market dynamics and adjust strategic plans accordingly.
- Implemented data-driven pricing strategies to maximize profit margins while remaining competitive in the marketplace.
- Analyzed sales performance and adjusted marketing strategies to optimize revenue generation.
Category Manager-Android Smartphone
TATA CROMA, INFINITI RETAIL LIMITED
7 2023 - 04.2024
- Managing the smartphones sub 20 thousand category based on customer demand and market trends
- Conducted competitor analysis to stay informed about market dynamics and adjust strategic plans accordingly.
- Developed detailed sales forecasts based on historical data, allowing for proactive inventory management decisions.
- Develop category strategy to achieve an annual budget of sales and gross profit.
- Studied technical aspects of managed category to identify key quality attributes and cost containment levels.
- Analysis of market trends for threats and opportunity take action on range management for smartphone assortment under 20 thousand rupees.
- Manage the launch of new products into the market to ensure first to market for all major brands for sub 20k smartphones.
- Category P&L :- achieving sale and gross profit budgets while managing competitive pricing and offers for both online & online channels.
- Maximized category turnover through proactive management strategies.
- Established, initiated and optimized business development strategies based on company targets, product specifications, market data, and budget factors.
Assistant Category Manager- Premium Laptop
TATA CROMA, INFINITI RETAIL LIMITED
07.2021 - 07.2023
- Managing business of 750cr for segments of premium and ultra thin notebooks with contribution of 37% Vol & Val business for Croma notebook business.
- Liaisoning with major PC brand to drive business and working closely on implementing assortment and inventory planning.
- Driving online as well as online business by ranging assortment, managing inventory and buying based on customer demands and needs to achieve best in class experience.
- Category P&L and promotion :- achieving 104% of sale of budget and 100% gross profit budgets while managing competitive pricing and offers for both online & offline channels.
- Mitigated business risk and improved customer lead times through thoughtful supplier network design.
- Managing new launches and big bets with a 360 degree approach in terms of marketing and promotional activities.
- Maximized category turnover through proactive management strategies.
- Increased category sales by implementing strategic pricing and promotional plans.
- Analyzed sales and market data to identify new growth opportunities for the category.
- Worked closely with store operations teams to address any issues impacting category performance at a local level, tailoring strategies as needed for specific locations or regions.
- Optimized product assortment by regularly reviewing sales performance and making data-driven decisions on SKU additions or discontinuations.
Associate Catchment Optimization
TATA CROMA, INFINITI RETAIL LIMITED
12.2020 - 06.2023
- Modeling of Range count for the new store based on the catchment for KYBM categories.
- Identification of stores for range refresh and analyzing assortment to increase range freshness to drive effectiveness.
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.
Senior Executive Merchandising
TATA CROMA, INFINITI RETAIL LIMITED
07.2018 - 12.2020
- Weekly analysis & audit of purchase orders basis purchase requisition generated by the system.
- Planning & ensuring correct store inventory levels during promotional/festive periods.
- Reviewing non-moving inventory & facilitating timely liquidation action.
- Analyzing store range performance to optimize width of assortment.
- Worked closely with New store opening merchandising setup team.
- Identified issues, analyzed information and provided solutions to problems.
Education
Master of Business Administration - Operations and Project Management
SVKM's Narsee Monjee Institute OfManagement Studies NMIMS
04.2016 - 1 2018
Management & Engineering - Mechanical Engineering
Mukesh Patel School of Technology
01.2013 - 1 2016
Skills
Category Management
Vendor Management
Budget Planning
Inventory Management
Data Analysis
Product Marketing
Category development
Merchandising understanding
Budgeting and Allocation
Budgeting
P&L Management
Vendor Relations
Strategic Sourcing
Merchandising Strategies
Product Management
Promotional planning
Pricing Strategies
Category Planning
Languages
English — Professional
Hindi — Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Category Manager-Apple IPhone
TATA CROMA, INFINITI RETAIL LIMITED
04.2024 - Current
Assistant Category Manager- Premium Laptop
TATA CROMA, INFINITI RETAIL LIMITED
07.2021 - 07.2023
Associate Catchment Optimization
TATA CROMA, INFINITI RETAIL LIMITED
12.2020 - 06.2023
Senior Executive Merchandising
TATA CROMA, INFINITI RETAIL LIMITED
07.2018 - 12.2020
Master of Business Administration - Operations and Project Management
SVKM's Narsee Monjee Institute OfManagement Studies NMIMS
04.2016 - 1 2018
Management & Engineering - Mechanical Engineering
Mukesh Patel School of Technology
01.2013 - 1 2016
Category Manager-Android Smartphone
TATA CROMA, INFINITI RETAIL LIMITED
7 2023 - 04.2024
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