Sankalp Sharma

Sourcing professional with 20 yrs of experience in Sourcing & Managing Hardlines and Home categories from Indian subcontinent.
Worked with prominent US and European retailers like Target US, Crate and Barrel, West Elm, TJX, Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury's, Wilko etc. and dealt in all major categories like Home décor, Accent Furniture, Lighting, Table top, Kitchen, Bar and Entertainment, Housewares, Storage and Organization, Garden (Décor, Ironmongery, Garden Tools & Propagation), DIY (Door handles, Cabinet handles), Stationery ( Core Notebooks, Diaries, Kids Craft, Adult Craft, Writing instruments) & Pets

• Generated $10 Mn business in Decorative and Kitchen Plastic area to be executed from Bangladesh and India with an approx. savings of 15%. Business award to 2 yrs.
• Received Wilko's Award for Contribution to new business 2018-19.
• Wilko's Award for maintaining 100% On Time shipments in year 2019-2020.
• Converted Stationary business for Wilko – Core notebooks (16% savings), Mailer Bags (49% savings), Paper & Padded Envelopes (14% savings), Kids Activity Books (24%), Writing instruments- Permanent Markers and Highlighters (8% savings). Current business volume for Stationery area is 2.5 mn
• 3 fold growth in Wilko's Hardlines business since I took over for India Subcontinent region
• Creating robust supplier matrix ensuring consistent supplies despite challenges like Covid disruptions, exceptional raw material surges, disruptions due to inflated freights and Maintaining and balancing supplies despite huge reductions in Credit limits for all the FOB suppliers.

• Identifying sourcing opportunities, Research products categories & new vendors for FOB business conversions to drive profits in line with the company targets.
• Maintaining 98% On Time Shipping for vendors from Indian Subcontinent
• Optimizing vendor's expertise to bring out the best quality product at reasonable price by negotiating the best possible cost and quality for good margins/savings for the buying team and great value for end customer.
• Lead Sourcing Team, engage and guide them to perform and meet company's objectives.

• Ensuring healthy vendor matrix with backups at all times with suppliers having required capabilities/expertise/audit requirements and capacities to suffice company's sourcing requirements.
• Continuous Vendor assessment followed with specific feedback and coaching, always ensuring healthy vendor matrix to meet buying requirements.
• Onboarding new vendors – ensuring quick and correct onboarding of a vendor by connecting with appropriate teams and mitigating any roadblocks and ensuring that company's expectations are clear to the supplier.
• Creating strong relationships with the Vendors by maintaining regular communication to understand their challenges and providing them feedback wherever necessary ensuring they are aligned to company values.
• Onboarded 9 new suppliers for various categories like Core Bedding, Kitchen, Stationery, Décor, Garden & Pets for Wilko, we now have a healthy vendor matrix of 23 suppliers pan India and Bangladesh

• 98% On time shipments
• Ensure all key processes/project timelines are being followed and critical paths are being adhered to ensure seamless and on time deliveries. Identify potential issues and risks and work out plans and strategies to mitigate and resolve them.
• Maintain regular status with Cross functional Teams to ensure all the aspects are covered for seamless deliveries and to identify and mitigate any potential risk.
• Wilko-Achieved 99% On time shipment in 2019-20, Best On time shipment award

• Ensure team/vendor has good understanding of the buying briefs and objectives and accordingly have the vendors prepare presentations/displays and samples assortments in timely manner.
• Planning Itinerary for Buying trips- arranging supplier visits, prepping buyers and suppliers for critical discussions.

• Was conferred Superstar award - 2008 for excellence in sourcing Décor by Target's Global Decorative home team within 6 months of joining.
• Successfully sourced and executed business worth $ 8 Mn for D65 (Trends- Gifts and Decor) in year 2008-09 which was up by 30% comp 2007-08. This was highest growth in any department that year in Home and Hardlines at Target
• Collaborated with Global sourcing team in successfully identifying Indian vendors for Ironing board category on which Anti-dumping duty was levied on the incumbent vendor/country thereby mitigating potential risk for Target and ensuring continual supply to the stores. Was awarded MD Strategic Priority Award- 2013
• Global Strategic priority award-2014 to planning and seamlessly executing monthly business of $4mn/month from biggest Hardlines supplier based out of Moradabad.
• Successfully executed biggest Hardlines area D65 i.e., $ 26 Mn worth of business at Target in Hardlines & Home area 2015-16 with 100% On Time Shipment
• Successfully introduced Lighting category business for Mark and Spencer first time from India worth 0.6 Mn $ in year 2004-05
• Setting up of Home furnishing unit for Vallabh Metal Inc (2001), Noida with total strength of 60 workers and serving reputed clients like Walmart, Kohls in only second year of inception.

• Wilko Worldwide liaison office, Merchandising Manager, 15/09/16, 31/08/23
• TJX (liaison office), Senior Market Representative, 01/01/16, 08/31/16
• Target Sourcing Services (Liaison office), Market Representative, 10/01/07, 01/31/16, Home Decor Soft and Hardlines, Storage & Organization, Accent Furniture, Kitchenware, Stationery, Outdoor, Candles & Seasonal from India
• William E Connor Associates Ltd, Market Representative, 03/01/07, 10/31/07, US Retailers William Sonoma, West ELM, Neiman Marcus & Surla table, Kitchen and Tabletop, Accessories and Gifts, Garden & Bath accessories
• Spiral Product Design Pvt Ltd, Merchandiser (Hardgoods), 10/01/03, 03/31/07, UK based stores - Marks & Spencer and Sainsburys, Gifts, Kitchen, Bath, Home, Outdoor and Lighting
• Vallabh Metal Inc, Merchandiser Home furnishing, 06/01/01, 09/01/03

• Resilient and Adaptable
• Accountability
• Strategize
• Manage Talent

Date of Birth: 06/02/1978

Marital Status: Married

MBA International Business - Kurukshetra University (1998-2000)

BSc Engg- Electronics - Kurukshetra University (1995-1998)

Schooling- St. Gabriel's Academy Roorkee, Army Public School Roorkee

• Mr. Zaid Hasan, Country Manager-Multilines, +91 9958448786
• Mr. Shobhit Gupta, Director – Flair Rugs, +91 9810089441, +44 980963894