Saroj Bolar
Mumbai,MH
Summary
Experienced Brand Manager with 18 years of experience in retail Business in EBO, MBO & Deparment Models.
Brands: Victoria's Secret, Playboy, Malcolm modes, Bela-sous, Westside, Zara, W, Aura, Mango, and more than 30+ brands In Apparel Fashion, and Cosmetics.
Successfully introduced planning methodology, Principles, Buying Process, Policy, and Procedures for India, USA, Canada and MENA Region (UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon.
Worked with B2B, B2c, Online, and Offline retail, for national & international markets & E-com portals of Amazon, Shopify, Walmart, E-bay, Etsy, Tundra, Flaire, and 22 international E-com portals
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Merchandise Manager
M.H. ALshaya
Dubai
04.2022 - Current
- Merchandise planning and execution for MENA Region (UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon) covering 95+ Stores in over 9 countries for Victoria's secret brand
- Formulating the Annual Business Plan for the category on a Regional and territory‑wise level
- Responsible for the end‑to‑end P&L Management – spanning from strategic planning to execution
- Ensuring delivery on all core KPIs: Sales, Gross Profit %, Average Ticket Value, Conversion, Average Selling Price, Weekly Stock Cover, and cost control
- Directly managing a team of 20+ Back End & front ends teams (Asst Merchandisers, Logistic, Inventory team, Trainers & Retail Area Managers across GCC)
- Conceptualizing and executing brand marketing campaigns through ATL, BTL & Digital media, and blogger tie‑ups in line with each country’s requirements & guidelines
- Sync marketing calendars of principal with country retail calendar, seasonality, customer profile, geography mix, and targeted positioning
- Overseeing the inventory management function in line with the brand targets and ensuring high inventory turns
- Planning & Developing new launches for the GCC Market in line with market trends
- Mapping geography expansion plan ‑ evaluating store viability and new store opening execution
Brand Manager
Virventure
Mumbai
12.2019 - 02.2022
- ( WFH)
- Category: Menswear, Womenswear, Kidswear, Lingerie, Home furnishing, and seasonal wear
- Present annual Buying, marketing plan, and budget to achieve company goals
- Review feedback on Brand acceptance and customer expectations
- Monitor sales, markdowns, margin, Budget management, Buying, and Inventory control Propose business strategies & plan for Brand growth
- Work on New Brand launch & Brand expansion strategy
- Range planning and product selection to ensure complete sell‑through as per brand product, style, and assortment plans
- Core product planning,Collaborate with the Casting Manager and Marketing ,Client acquisition and relationship management with key partners, end consumers, retailers, vendors, investors & stakeholders
- Study merchandise requirements & make OTB plan for each brand by setting sourcing products & launches based on actual sales data, sales forecasts, company order parameters, inventory checks, forthcoming events, and replenishment needs
- Design the merchandise plan (pricing, promotion, assortment, etc.) with the team for timely availability of stocks at the stores & at the warehouse for respective digital platforms
- Markdown and promotion planning ,Report making‑ to understand customer behavior & financial analytics
- Quick repeats of good sellers
- Executing quick repeat orders of best‑selling styles for increasing sales
- Ensure that Product selection & Sampling meet the Quality Check parameters & Brand requirements
- Constantly work on reducing CRM, & increasing repeat customer purchases & Margin
- Ensure LFL growth Merchandise planning & allocation to meet monthly launches, weekly drops, themes, and numbers
- Constantly innovate ad create new products, storylines, themes, Marketing & sale strategy
- Coordinate with Retail Operations to collate feedback on retail and brand operations
- Develop a Strategy for increasing Brand image, and growth, take necessary approvals and ensure implementation of the same
- Research the brand acceptance within the region or any new territory and identify any inputs on brand customization required
- Map competition prices/products and provide qualitative inputs to the business
- Research the latest trends in products, brands, styles, designs, fits, etc
- Identification of Key Merchandising stories and big bets of the seasonTravel to stores & vendors to monitor & suggest corrections/new developments Generating purchase orders and ensuring the inventory is properly distributed
- Negotiate and onboard new suppliers
- Ensure all deals and terms of PO contracts adhere to compliance with internal and external regulatory requirements
- Follow up with the suppliers to monitor supplies.
Merchandising Manager
Naaptol Pvt Ltd
Mumbai
04.2017 - 11.2019
- Category: Menswear, Womenswear, Kidswear, Lingerie, Home furnishing, and seasonal wear
- Merchandising, Buying, and Business Development of Brands and Private labels at the PAN India level
- Team of 12 members
Category Manager
Naaptol Pvt Ltd
Mumbai
10.2015 - 03.2017
- Ethnic wear, Westernwear, Menswear, kidswear
- Buying, Merchandising, and business development of the Apparel category
Sourcing Manager
Trent Ltd
Mumbai
11.2012 - 10.2015
- Category: Ethnic wear, Fusion western wear
- Sourcing, Vendor management, inventory management, product development, supply chain management, team management, onboarding new partners
Buying Manager
Fab India
12.2006 - 10.2012
- Mumbai
- Category: Menswear, Womenswear, Kidswear, Lingerie, Home furnishing, Accessories, footwear
- Brand development and business management for the entire Maharastra region
Buying Manager
Evinix Retail
01.2004 - 11.2006
- Mumbai
- Brands: PUMA, Levi's, Spykar, Ferrari, W, Biba, Peter England,
- Private Labels: Imli, Ayra, Sun& soil, B4U
- Buying & Brand management for 54 stores
Education
High School Diploma - Retail Management
Sasmira Institutes of management
Bachelor of Science (B.S - undefined
Mumbai University
06.1998 - 03.2002
High School Diploma - Import Export
IMC
High School Diploma - Textile designing Shramik
Shramikh
Skills
Category growth
Strategy development
Market Analysis
Budgeting
P&L Management
Brand development
Budgeting and Allocation
Product development
Market Positioning
Corporate Communications
Marketing and advertising
Vendor sourcing
Contract Negotiation
Promotional planning
Strategic planning
Additional Information
- LICENSES & CERTIFICATIONS ,
- Outstanding Performance -Fab India
- Excellence in Business management -Shop Cj
- High Performance Team- Dale Carnegie
- Business development award of the year Core-bi
- Excellence in Category development team work -Trent Ltd
- Category Manager of the year Evinix retail
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline
Merchandise Manager
M.H. ALshaya
04.2022 - Current
Brand Manager
Virventure
12.2019 - 02.2022
Merchandising Manager
Naaptol Pvt Ltd
04.2017 - 11.2019
Category Manager
Naaptol Pvt Ltd
10.2015 - 03.2017
Sourcing Manager
Trent Ltd
11.2012 - 10.2015
Buying Manager
Fab India
12.2006 - 10.2012
Buying Manager
Evinix Retail
01.2004 - 11.2006
Bachelor of Science (B.S - undefined
Mumbai University
06.1998 - 03.2002
High School Diploma - Retail Management
Sasmira Institutes of management
High School Diploma - Import Export
IMC
High School Diploma - Textile designing Shramik
Shramikh