Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Personal Information
Timeline
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Rujuta Deshmukh

Rujuta Deshmukh

Bangalore

Summary

Accomplished leader with 17+ years in the Indian Beauty Industry, driving strategic initiatives, brand development, and market penetration. Proven track record in optimizing e-commerce strategies and digital transformation across diverse categories including Jewellery, Watches, Sunglasses, Footwear, Beauty (Perfumery & Cosmetics), and Spa & Salons. Adept at leading cross-functional teams to deliver transformative results in dynamic, fast-paced environments. Expertise in collaborating with top management to enhance stakeholder relationships and achieve strategic business objectives.

Overview

18
18
years of professional experience

Work History

Head – Revenue & Space Planning

Reliance Beauty -TIRA
09.2023 - Current

Strategic Market Analysis and Competitive Insight

  • Drove market intelligence initiatives to identify growth opportunities and mitigate risks.
  • Provided strategic guidance to executive leadership based on competitive analysis and consumer trends.

Innovative Business Development and Project Feasibility

  • Led business development efforts, identifying new market opportunities and negotiating favorable terms with CEOs and other senior executives.
  • Conducted feasibility analyses for new projects, driving sustainable growth and market expansion.

Dynamic Merchandising and Promotional Excellence

  • Developed and executed impactful planograms and merchandising initiatives.
  • Led cross-functional teams in deploying targeted promotions and seasonal campaigns, collaborating closely with senior leadership.

Precise Inventory Management and Sales Forecasting

  • Implemented data-driven solutions to optimize inventory levels and reduce stockouts.
  • Developed accurate sales forecasts aligned with strategic product assortment planning, presenting findings to senior management.

Visionary Vendor Management and Supply Chain Leadership

  • Crafted robust vendor strategies and governance frameworks to ensure seamless operations.
  • Collaborated closely with supply chain partners and executive leaders to enhance product availability and logistics efficiency.

Strategic Store Layout Optimization

  • Drove innovative e-commerce platform and interface design strategies to optimize user experience and operational efficiency.
  • Utilized advanced analytics to inform interface design, enhancing shopper engagement and presenting insights to the executive team.

Category Head

Sephora
Bengaluru
09.2019 - 09.2023

Key Achievements:

Managing P&L - SEPHORA Digital & Offline Stores

  • Oversaw P&L for SEPHORA's digital and offline channels, for external brands driving overall business growth and profitability.
  • Enhanced productivity through strategic initiatives and optimized stock efficiency with higher stock turn rates.

End-to-End Category Management

  • Directed comprehensive category validation, including new item setup, inventory management, pricing strategies, and catalog designing.
  • Curated and executed annual Joint Business Plans (JBP) across various categories.

Channel Commercial Policies and Processes

  • Established commercial policies and processes for the channel, including AR/AP reconciliation, negotiation/signing of Terms of Trade (TOTs), and credit cycle implementation.

Promotional and Marketing Strategy

  • Led promotional and marketing spend adherence, ensuring ROI maximization.
  • Pioneered zero-budget marketing activities and micro-targeted marketing campaigns to enhance brand visibility and engagement.

Brand Launch and Scaling

  • Spearheaded the launch and scaling of brands across different operation models, ensuring successful market entry and growth.

Product Management

  • Conducted product gap analysis for new product introductions and portfolio rationalization.
  • Performed feature-benefit-advantage analysis for value engineering and curated ecommerce-exclusive commercial ranges to create a unique selling proposition for the platform.

Marketing and Consumer Journey Optimization

  • Planned and managed marketing budgets, optimizing the consumer journey through funnel management to drive sell-through and improve ROI on marketing expenditure.
  • Executed product launch and placement calendars strategically to maximize market impact.

Team Leadership

  • Led the content and catalog team, driving excellence in content creation and catalog management.
  • Managed high-stakeholders in international collaboration, ensuring alignment and successful project execution.

Space of Hire Income Management

  • Successfully managed space of hire income, contributing to overall revenue growth.
  • Increased stock turn rates, improving overall stock efficiency.

Category Manager- Beauty

Central
Bengaluru
09.2017 - 09.2019

Key Achievements

  • Redefined category assortments, leading to a turnaround and achieving double-digit like-to-like (LTL) growth.
  • Optimized ordering processes based on A, B, C analysis and sales trends, enhancing efficiency and reducing stockouts.
  • Rationalized space for non-moving brands/articles, significantly improving overall space utilization.
  • Extensively collaborated with national leaders in the cosmetics and beauty industry, strengthening partnerships and market presence.
  • Played a key role in operations and negotiations with large Indian beauty brand houses, ensuring seamless supply chain coordination and robust partnerships.

Category Manager – Beauty , Fashion & Specialty

Nuance Group India –Travel Retail
Bengaluru
04.2014 - 09.2017

Key Achievements

  • Launched New Brands Internationally: Successfully negotiated and launched L'Oreal France and Forest Essentials in the Nuance India market, a first-time achievement.
  • Achieved Highest Margins: Secured the highest margin earner status for the fashion category across Asia Pacific, showcasing exceptional profitability.
  • Expert in Duty-Free and Specialized Formats: Leveraged rare industry expertise in international duty-free formats to drive brand success and market penetration.
  • Strategic Performance Analysis: Conducted thorough performance analysis, implemented necessary amendments, and tracked weekly sales and margins to ensure continuous improvement and corrective actions.
  • Leadership in Training and Activations: Led the training of subordinates and front-end staff, managed regular display updates, and coordinated in-store activations to enhance customer engagement and operational efficiency.

Category Manager – Beauty & Accessories

Lifestyle–Landmark Group
Bengaluru
11.2013 - 04.2014
  • Joined lifestyle which added the cosmetics & perfumes category in my portfolio
  • I express this tenure as a learning experience for one new company and category where I been instrumental to start negotiation for increased margins and supports.

Deputy Merchandiser

Shoppers stop limited
Bengaluru
10.2006 - 11.2013
  • Revamped brand assortment and ranges, establishing Footwear category as a go-to destination for both Men’s and Ladies’ footwear.
  • Successfully introduced new private labels Haute Curry, V.F, and Life for the Footwear category
  • Generated remarkable results by enhancing the private label contribution for footwear, escalating it from 5% to 19%
  • Successfully negotiated the transition of outright brands to consignment model in the Watches department

Education

Diploma in Marketing Management -

Pune
01.2006

Bachelor of Fashion Designing -

Nagpur University
01.2004

Personal Information

Marital Status: Married

Date of Birth : 04/10/1983

Timeline

Head – Revenue & Space Planning

Reliance Beauty -TIRA
09.2023 - Current

Category Head

Sephora
09.2019 - 09.2023

Category Manager- Beauty

Central
09.2017 - 09.2019

Category Manager – Beauty , Fashion & Specialty

Nuance Group India –Travel Retail
04.2014 - 09.2017

Category Manager – Beauty & Accessories

Lifestyle–Landmark Group
11.2013 - 04.2014

Deputy Merchandiser

Shoppers stop limited
10.2006 - 11.2013

Diploma in Marketing Management -

Pune

Bachelor of Fashion Designing -

Nagpur University
Rujuta Deshmukh