VINEY KUMAR
Summary
Category Manager & Buying Professional with 15+ years of experience across Domestic apparel brands, large retailers, and buying houses. Strong expertise in category strategy, range planning, buying, sourcing, vendor management, inventory management and margin delivery. Proven ability to work within structured global processes, brand-right assortments aligned to quality, compliance, and timeline expectations, analysis market trend and deliver profitable category growth.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Category Manager - Buying & Sourcing (Kids Girls Wear)
Vishal Mega Mart
11.2022 - Current
- Lead end-to-end category buying for Kids Girls Wear, covering seasonal and core ranges.
- Range planning,dynamic OTB planning, buy quantities, pricing architecture, and margin targets.
- Build balanced assortments aligned to customer profile, trend direction, and commercial objectives.
- Drive supplier negotiations, cost optimization, and sourcing decisions while maintaining quality benchmarks.
- Track sell-through, stock ageing, replenishment, and inventory turns to manage markdown exposure.
- Partner with design, planning, quality, and supply chain teams to ensure right-first-time execution.
- Ensure adherence to critical path timelines, production milestones, and delivery commitments.
Assistant Category Manager - Buying & Sourcing (Kids wear)
Brainbees Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (FirstCry)
02.2021 - 05.2022
- Supported category buying for kids wear shirts and bottoms (denims, wovens, knits).
- Key contributor in launching and scaling Pine Kids private label, improving margin mix.
- Executed OTB planning, seasonal buy plans, and supplier capacity alignment.
- Delivered 25% improvement in category efficiency and 15% increase in profitability.
- Achieved ~20% cost reduction through strategic sourcing and vendor rationalization.
- Worked closely with design on fabric selection, trims, fit approvals, and price-value engineering.
Senior Merchandiser - Product Development & Sourcing
Bio World Merchandising
09.2019 - 06.2020
- Managed men's knitwear programs for seasonal and promotional requirements.
- Managed critical path tracking, vendor capacity planning, and delivery execution.
- Developed products for B2B promotions, movie launches, and festive campaigns.
- Delivered orders within 45-55 days through material and cost optimization.
Senior Merchandiser - Buying Support & Sourcing
Otto AGN (OTTO Group - Germany)
04.2017 - 09.2019
- Independently managed USD 5M annual business for European fashion brands.
- Handled buy quantities, costing, supplier negotiations, and delivery commitments.
- Specialized in women's blouses and dresses, including complex and embellished styles.
- Expanded seasonal volumes from 0.7M to 1M units through efficiency and negotiation.
- Ensured adherence to buyer quality standards, testing protocols, and audit requirements.
- Acted as key interface between buyers, suppliers, QA, and logistics teams.
Senior Merchandiser - Buying & Production (Kidswear)
Richa & Company
11.2016 - 04.2017
- Managed kidswear programs for NEXT and Abercrombie.
- Negotiated costing, lead times, and production schedules.
- Controlled sampling approvals, fabric sourcing, and production readiness.
- Coordinated shipments in line with buyer compliance standards.
Merchandiser - Buying Support & Business Development
Impulse India Pvt. Ltd.
05.2014 - 08.2015
- Developed women's high-fashion blouses and infant wear for European & Australian buyers.
- Supported buy planning, costing, sampling, and production follow-ups.
- Re-engineered products to meet target FOBs without compromising design intent.
Senior Merchandiser - Buying & Production (Menswear)
Numero Uno Clothing Ltd.
08.2007 - 08.2012
- Managed menswear apparel programs, contributing nearly 30% of company turnover.
- Forecasted trends and executed seasonal buying plans.
- Built long-term vendor partnerships and buyer relationships.
Education
Master of Fashion Management - Buying & merchandising.
National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)
Patna06-2014
Bachelor of Fashion Design - Fashion Designing.
INIFD
06-2007
Core Expertise
- Category Strategy & Range Architecture
- Dynamic OTB Planning & Buy Quantities
- Buying, Costing & Margin Management
- Vendor & Factory Management
- Fabric, Trim & Product Development
- Trend forecasting & Market trend analysis.
- Quality & Compliance Adherence
- Critical Path & Delivery Management
- Sell-through & In-season Analysis
- Cross-functional Collaboration (Design, Planning, QA, Supply Chain)
Timeline
Category Manager - Buying & Sourcing (Kids Girls Wear)
Vishal Mega Mart
11.2022 - Current
Assistant Category Manager - Buying & Sourcing (Kids wear)
Brainbees Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (FirstCry)
02.2021 - 05.2022
Senior Merchandiser - Product Development & Sourcing
Bio World Merchandising
09.2019 - 06.2020
Senior Merchandiser - Buying Support & Sourcing
Otto AGN (OTTO Group - Germany)
04.2017 - 09.2019
Senior Merchandiser - Buying & Production (Kidswear)
Richa & Company
11.2016 - 04.2017
Merchandiser - Buying Support & Business Development
Impulse India Pvt. Ltd.
05.2014 - 08.2015
Senior Merchandiser - Buying & Production (Menswear)
Numero Uno Clothing Ltd.
08.2007 - 08.2012
Master of Fashion Management - Buying & merchandising.
National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)
Bachelor of Fashion Design - Fashion Designing.
INIFD