Santhosh Paulose
Bangalore
Summary
Experience of 20 years in handling various facets of Retail Operations inclusive of Retail Set Ups / Operations, Sales, Business Development, Project Management, Visual Merchandising, Distribution Management, Client Relationship Management and Team Management. Displayed proficiency in administering retail functions with involvement in sales & business development operations and attaining the pre-designated business targets. Holds the credit of exploring new markets, standardizing operations, initiating restructuring business activities for escalating turnovers & achieving goals; handling all the retail operations - detailed market analysis, range & product selections, visual merchandising, marketing and client servicing. Worked towards the expansion of the overall retail network and demonstrated ability of leading diverse teams of professionals to new levels of success in cutting-edge markets, and fast-paced environments. Possess excellent relationship management and communications coupled with abilities in leading and motivating teams.
Overview
1
1
Language
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Area Manager
Stovekraft Ltd (Pigeon)
01.2025 - Current
- Retail professional with years of progressive experience across accounts, sales, store management, and multi-store leadership. Proven expertise in regional operations, new store expansion, P&L management, SOP implementation and team development. Successfully managed 20 stores across Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, including 12 new store launches, driving profitability, operational excellence and brand compliance.
- Key Roles & Responsibilities
- Strategic & Regional Operations
- Led end-to-end regional retail operations across multiple locations, ensuring alignment with company strategy and revenue goals.
- Developed and executed annual business plans, sales forecasts and expansion strategies for assigned regions.
- Monitored region-wise performance metrics, identifying gaps and implementing corrective strategies to improve topline and bottom-line results.
- Sales, Revenue & Profitability
- Owned regional P&L, driving revenue growth while optimizing operating expenses.
- Set sales targets and KPIs for Store Managers; tracked daily, weekly and monthly performance.
- Improved store profitability through better inventory planning, manpower optimization and cost control initiatives.
- Expansion & New Store Development
- Headed new store expansion projects, including location readiness, manpower planning, vendor coordination, inventory deployment, and launch execution.
- Ensured new stores achieved break-even within defined timelines.
- Coordinated with real estate, project, supply chain and finance teams for smooth store rollout.
- People Leadership & Capability Building
- Built and led large, multi-level teams including Cluster Managers, Store Managers and frontline staff.
- Drove recruitment, training, succession planning and performance management systems.
- Conducted leadership reviews, coaching sessions, and engagement initiatives to improve retention and productivity.
- Process Excellence & Governance
- Designed, implemented and monitored Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) across the region.
- Ensured compliance with audit, cash management, statutory, and company policies.
- Reduced inventory losses and shrinkage through tighter controls, audits, and accountability frameworks.
- Franchise & Stakeholder Management
- Managed franchise partners, ensuring adherence to brand standards and profitability benchmarks.
- Resolved escalations related to operations, manpower, inventory and financial discrepancies.
- Acted as the key liaison between Head Office and regional teams.
- Marketing & Customer Experience
- Drove regional marketing initiatives, promotions and local activation programs to increase footfall and conversion.
- Ensured consistent customer experience, VM standards and service quality across stores.
- Analyzed customer feedback and implemented service improvement plans.
- Reporting & Leadership Communication
- Reviewed and presented regional MIS, dashboards, and performance reviews to top management.
- Provided data-driven insights and action plans for business improvement.
- Supported leadership in policy formulation and operational decisions.
Store Manager
Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail LTD
10.2023 - 01.2024
- Leading 17 stores & managing a team of over 60 staffs.
- Establishing sales targets and performance goals for individual stores.
- Analyzing profit and loss statements to optimize store performance.
- Tracking and evaluating KPIs to measure store performance and operational efficiency.
- Managing sales activities and overseeing inventory control and merchandising.
- Leading data collection efforts and implementing strategies for Customer Relationship Management (CRM).
- Conducting RFM analysis to segment customers and tailor marketing strategies.
- Performing periodic mystery shopper audits to maintain service standards.
- Monitoring and improving NPS to enhance customer satisfaction.
- Ensuring adherence to operational processes both offline and online.
- Supporting in hiring, training, and development initiatives to build and empower store teams.
- Managing Management Information System (MIS) reports.
- Assist in the recruitment and selection process for store managers.
- Conducting regular visits to retail stores to assess operations and provide support.
- Facilitating training sessions on Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and conducting audits to ensure compliance.
Store Manager
Hamleys
09.2022 - 10.2023
- Spearheaded 3 stores across Bangalore with a total staff strength of 40 plus staff (including store managers and below ranking staff).
- Have actively been involved in analyzing the business on a monthly – Quarterly and time to time to get involved in the layout and handling the retail in a dynamic method to ensure all potential opportunities been taken into account to increase the business by +60% growth Year on Year and always surpassed the annual budgeted figures.
- Managed the function of all personal through direct and indirect supervision of staff.
- Monitored fast moving product/brand and reported to merchandizing team for re-filling and re-ordering.
- Prepared brand wise / category wise contribution report for analysis and to calculate future purchases.
- Administered project and stock related work for new stores opening.
- Served as a part of opening 2 new and 2 refits of stores.
- Distinction of being associated with successful opening of all new stores in Bangalore 2022 – 2023.
- Liaised with external vendors and suppliers for smooth functioning of internal project.
- Have been part of all the senior management discussion in terms of new launch initiative and been active member of advisory during key strategy meeting in terms of business expansion and developments.
- Was actively involved in identifying new location sites and mapping with the current business expansion, have initiated and presented the senior management in terms of increasing the foot print of the existing business and increasing the market share.
Store Manager
Reliance Trends
12.2018 - 08.2022
- Managed operations of the Reliance Trends Store at Phoenix Mall Bangalore, overseeing a 12,000 sq ft store with a team of 60 staff members.
- Directly communicated with the Area Manager, Concept Manager, and other counterparts at Bangalore Headquarters regarding daily business needs and activities.
- Interacted daily with the floor team, focusing on coaching and mentoring Assistant Store Managers and subordinate staff.
- Collaborated with various departments including Marketing, HR, Finance, and Logistics to support retail store operations effectively.
- Conducted monthly leadership meetings with a coaching emphasis to enhance team performance.
- Engaged in preparing reports with the IT department for weekly reviews with the Area Manager, ensuring comprehensive business understanding and strategic alignment.
- Executed various marketing activities to increase store footfall, leveraging support from the Marketing Department.
- Provided actionable competitor feedback to management, contributing to proactive product sourcing strategies.
- Played an active role in annual budget planning and forecasting, considering market trends and business dynamics.
- Achieved ~ 108% on YTD Targets – inspire low awareness of the brand, thru – actively involved in day-to-day store operations like – understanding the customer service requirements, coaching and delegating the team, support the business thru all my knowledge and expertise.
Store Manager
FBB Bangalore
10.2017 - 11.2018
- Managed FBB Store in Sarjapur Bangalore. (7000 sq ft store, with 22 staff).
- Reported directly to the Area Manager, Business Head, and other counterparts at Bangalore Headquarters regarding daily business needs and activities.
- Analyzed business performance weekly, monthly, and quarterly, providing regular updates and insights to both store and head office networks.
- Interacted daily with the floor team, coaching and mentoring Assistant Store Managers, Department Managers, and subordinates.
- Collaborated with departments such as Marketing, HR, Finance, and Logistics to support overall retail store operations.
- Worked closely with the IT department to generate reports for weekly reviews with the Area Manager, ensuring comprehensive business understanding and alignment.
- Organized mall activities in collaboration with the Marketing Department to increase store footfall.
- Provided competitor feedback to management to inform active product sourcing strategies.
- Participated in business review presentations during concept meetings, offering insights and observations aligned with regional competitor activities.
- Actively participated in annual budget planning and forecasting, considering business trends and the current market environment.
- Achieved 114% of SSIP YTD targets despite low brand awareness, actively contributing to daily store operations by understanding customer service needs, coaching and delegating tasks to the team, and leveraging my knowledge and expertise to support business growth.
Store Manager
Landmark Group (Max)
07.2016 - 10.2017
- Managed operations at the Max Store in VR Bangalore, overseeing a 7,000 sq ft store with a team of 22 staff members.
- Communicated directly with the Area Manager, Concept Manager, and other colleagues at the Bangalore headquarters, ensuring synchronization with daily business needs and operations.
- Conducted regular business analyses on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis, providing strategic insights and updates to both the store and head office networks.
- Engaged daily with the floor team, focusing on coaching and mentoring Assistant Store Managers, Department Managers, and staff to optimize performance.
- Collaborated cross-functionally with departments including Marketing, HR, Finance, and Logistics to enhance overall retail store operations and customer experience.
- Facilitated monthly leadership meetings aimed at coaching and developing team members.
- Prepared and presented comprehensive reports in collaboration with the IT department for weekly reviews with the Area Manager, ensuring thorough business understanding and strategic alignment.
- Organized various promotional activities such as roadshows and mall events in collaboration with the Marketing Department to drive foot traffic to the store, particularly during the mall's initial launch phase.
- Provided regular competitor feedback to management to support proactive product sourcing and market positioning strategies.
- Contributed insights and observations during business review presentations at concept meetings, aligning strategies with regional competitor activities and market trends.
- Played a pivotal role in annual budget planning and forecasting, leveraging market trends and business insights to guide strategic decisions.
- Achieved 99% of SSIP YTD targets despite low brand awareness, actively managing day-to-day store operations to maintain high customer service standards, empower team members through coaching, and utilize extensive business expertise to enhance overall store performance.
Store Manager
Landmark Group (Splash)
06.2015 - 07.2016
- Managed Splash Store in Doha Qatar. (23000 sq ft store, with 68 staff).
- Reported directly to the Area Manager, Concept Manager, and other counterparts at the Dubai Headquarters, ensuring alignment with daily business requirements and activities.
- Conducted regular business analyses on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis, providing strategic insights and updates to both the store and head office networks.
- Interacted daily with the floor team, focusing on coaching and mentoring Assistant Store Managers and subordinate staff to optimize performance.
- Collaborated across departments including Marketing, HR, Finance, and Logistics to support overall retail store operations.
- Provided ongoing coaching, mentoring, and performance management to enhance team performance.
- Conduct regular business analyses to assess performance and identify areas for improvement.
- Conducted various – Roadshow and other activities in mall to drive footfall to store – as the mall being new, thru – the Marketing Dept support.
- Monitored competitor activities and market trends to stay informed and adjust strategies as needed.
- Facilitate monthly leadership meetings to align team goals and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
- Achieved 95% of YTD targets despite low brand awareness, actively managing day-to-day store operations to meet customer service standards, coach and empower team members, and utilize extensive business expertise to enhance overall store performance.
Store Manager
Levi’s Strauss & Co (Emdee Apparels Pvt Ltd)
09.2006 - 06.2015
- Led operations across three Bangalore stores with 40+ staff, achieving over 80% YoY growth and exceeding annual budget targets consistently.
- Analyzed business performance monthly and quarterly, optimizing store layouts dynamically to maximize opportunities.
- Managed personnel and supervised staff directly and indirectly.
- Monitored fast-moving products, coordinating with merchandising for replenishment.
- Prepared detailed contribution reports by brand and category for strategic purchasing decisions.
- Oversaw project and stock activities for new store openings and refits.
- Played a key role in opening three new stores and refitting three others in Bangalore.
- Collaborated with external vendors for smooth project execution.
- Contributed to senior management discussions and strategic meetings on business expansion and development initiatives.
- Identified new location opportunities aligning with business growth strategies, proposing expansions to increase market share.
Education
Masters in Business Administration -
Sikkim Manipal University
Bangalore, IndiaBachelor of Commerce - undefined
Saga Institute of Mgt.Studies (SIMS)
01.2009
Commerce (+2) Course - undefined
St.Thomas.H.S.S Erattayar
Idukki, Kerala, India01.2006
General Education Dept.Keral (S.S.L.C) Course - undefined
St.Thomas.H.S.S Erattayar
Idukki, Kerala, India01.2004
Skills
Well versed with AI, POS, MS Office, Internet and E-Mail applications, MS-DOS, Windows (98, 2000,), Tally, SQL
Timeline
Area Manager
Stovekraft Ltd (Pigeon)
01.2025 - Current
Store Manager
Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail LTD
10.2023 - 01.2024
Store Manager
Hamleys
09.2022 - 10.2023
Store Manager
Reliance Trends
12.2018 - 08.2022
Store Manager
FBB Bangalore
10.2017 - 11.2018
Store Manager
Landmark Group (Max)
07.2016 - 10.2017
Store Manager
Landmark Group (Splash)
06.2015 - 07.2016
Store Manager
Levi’s Strauss & Co (Emdee Apparels Pvt Ltd)
09.2006 - 06.2015
General Education Dept.Keral (S.S.L.C) Course - undefined
St.Thomas.H.S.S Erattayar
Commerce (+2) Course - undefined
St.Thomas.H.S.S Erattayar
Bachelor of Commerce - undefined
Saga Institute of Mgt.Studies (SIMS)
Masters in Business Administration -
Sikkim Manipal University
OTHER ACCOLADES
Functioned as a member with on-going Learning and Development – Landmark Retail School. Served as a part of various workshops for VM – Product Knowledge – Art of Selling – Management Bundle
PERSONAL SNIPPETS
- Date of Birth: 4th May 1984
- Correspondence Address: 4th Floor, Flat No.401, K&T Sai Balaji Residency Apts, Bettadasanapura Road, Doddathogur, Electronic City, Ph-1, Bangalore 560100, India
- Permanent Address: Mallan Villa House, Uppukandon P.O, Idukki, Kerala, India
- Linguistic Proficiency: English, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada and Tamil.
- Location Preference: Any Where.
- Passport No: Xq802369
- Marital Status: Married.
- Visa Status: Employment Visa – NOC can be obtained with release Valid UAE.
Reading Books
Self Help Books & Motivational Books