Priyanka Balmiki
Summary
Fashion professional with extensive experience at Reliance Retail Ltd., specializing in women's wear trends and vendor management. Demonstrated success in margin optimization and sales tracking, driving product innovation and strategic sourcing. Strong stakeholder communication skills combined with analytical expertise enhance inventory management and improve category performance.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Manager – Buying
Reliance Retail Ltd.
05.2024 - Current
- Lead the development, sourcing, and merchandising strategy, ensuring the product range aligns with market trends, brand positioning, and seasonal objectives.
- Developed and executed range architecture (RA) based on sales data analysis, strategically phasing orders to align with Open-to-Buy (OTB) budget.
- Conducted comprehensive market surveys to benchmark competitors, focusing on product innovation, assortment, and pricing strategies to ensure competitive positioning.
- Collaborated closely with vendors through regular visits, facilitating sampling processes and engaging in co-creation initiatives to enhance product offerings.
- Managed and executed order rollouts in accordance with the approved OTB budget and planned RA, ensuring alignment with overall business objectives.
- Evaluated store layouts with respect to SPSF (Sales Per Square Foot) and visual merchandising standards by actively engaging with zonal teams to ensure consistency and effectiveness in displays.
- Coordinate with marketing and visual merchandising teams to highlight key looks and ensure effective in-store and online product presentation.
- Oversaw sales performance data to assess product movement and provide actionable insights to stakeholders, enhancing category performance.
Assistant Manager – Sourcing & Buying
Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail Ltd.
09.2020 - 03.2024
- Led sourcing allocation and buying activities in alignment with the Open-to-Buy (OTB) budget, including cost negotiations to achieve targeted margins and drive sales performance.
- Strategically phased orders in accordance with the assigned OTB budget to ensure optimal inventory management and assortment planning.
- Ensured timely placement and delivery of orders to maintain OTIF (On Time In Full) standards and support seamless operations.
- Monitored weekly sales performance, delivering actionable insights and recommendations to key stakeholders for informed decision-making.
- Collaborated with zonal teams to analyse product movement and gather customer feedback, enabling informed decision-making.
- Analyzed competitor offerings in product range and pricing to inform strategic positioning and enhance market competitiveness.
- Conducted vendor visits for sampling and actively engaged in collaborative product development through vendor co-creation initiatives.
- Coordinated with marketing team to identify and promote key looks, enhancing product positioning and visibility across channels.
- Conceptualized and developed western wear and party wear collections for leading e-commerce platforms such as Myntra and Flipkart.
Senior Design Merchant – Sourcing & Buying
Koelle Designs Pvt. Ltd.
01.2020 - 03.2020
- Developed innovative product concepts and new design directions in collaboration with vendors, fostering co-creation partnerships.
- Initiated design inputs and product development, curating a comprehensive range for new season aligned with market trends and brand direction.
- Managed costing processes and conducted commercial negotiations with buyers, ensuring adherence to timelines for timely deliveries.
- (Jaipur)
Senior Executive Merchandiser – Development
Arvind Lifestyle Ltd.
03.2018 - 05.2019
- Led product development activities for women’s and kids wear brands, aligning offerings with seasonal objectives and brand positioning.
- Facilitated roadshows and presented comprehensive range to stakeholders, clearly communicating design concepts and assortment strategies.
- Finalized product ranges based on design direction, commercial viability, and market requirements.
- Managed fit trials, ensuring accuracy and consistency of garment fit in development samples while upholding quality and brand standards.
Executive Merchandiser
Gokaldas Exports Ltd.
01.2016 - 02.2018
- Executed development sampling and prepared detailed costings to confirm orders and support commercial viability.
- Managed costing processes and conducted effective negotiations with buyers to achieve mutually beneficial terms.
- Processed bulk orders and closely monitored production timelines to ensure on-time delivery and operational efficiency.
- Coordinated trims and fabric bulk bookings to align with order quantities, ensuring material availability for production.
- Maintained accurate WFX system entries to support processing and tracking of bulk orders efficiently.
Trainee Merchant
Shahi Exports Pvt. Ltd.
07.2014 - 06.2015
- Executed development samples and prepared costings, aligning order confirmation with buyer expectations.
- Procured required trims and fabrics in accordance with design specifications to support seamless product development and production.
- Conducted costing analyses and negotiated with buyers to secure favourable commercial terms.
- Managed bulk order processing and monitored production schedules to ensure timely deliveries.
- Maintained CRM entries for bulk orders, documenting and tracking confirmed orders accurately.
Education
BSc Fashion Art and Design -
KLE College Bangalore University
01-2014
PUC -
Kendriya Vidyalaya Tinsukia
Tinsukia, Assam01-2010
SSLC -
Kendriya Vidyalaya Tinsukia
Tinsukia, Assam01-2008
Skills
- Market analysis
- Sales forecasting
- Inventory management
- Margin optimization
- Vendor management
- Negotiation
- Retail operations
- E-commerce platforms
- WFX
- Retail analytics platforms
- ERP/CRM tools
- Garment construction
- Fabric selection
- Analytical skills
- Stakeholder engagement
Projects
Graduation Project: Satin Saree with Contrast Border, 09/01/13, 02/01/14, Undertook a comprehensive six-month research project focused on design development, material exploration, and colour theory. Designed a collection of satin sarees featuring thoughtfully curated contrasting borders, emphasizing aesthetic balance, colour coordination, and contemporary appeal. The sarees involved satin for a rich appearance. The sarees were stitched by me.
Professional Highlights
- Successfully conceptualized and launched multiple seasonal collections for leading retail and e-commerce platforms.
- Streamlined sourcing and production processes, achieving consistent on-time delivery and OTIF targets.
- Enhanced category profitability by optimizing product mix, pricing strategies, and promotional activities.
Timeline
Manager – Buying
Reliance Retail Ltd.
05.2024 - Current
Assistant Manager – Sourcing & Buying
Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail Ltd.
09.2020 - 03.2024
Senior Design Merchant – Sourcing & Buying
Koelle Designs Pvt. Ltd.
01.2020 - 03.2020
Senior Executive Merchandiser – Development
Arvind Lifestyle Ltd.
03.2018 - 05.2019
Executive Merchandiser
Gokaldas Exports Ltd.
01.2016 - 02.2018
Trainee Merchant
Shahi Exports Pvt. Ltd.
07.2014 - 06.2015
BSc Fashion Art and Design -
KLE College Bangalore University
PUC -
Kendriya Vidyalaya Tinsukia
SSLC -
Kendriya Vidyalaya Tinsukia