SANDEEP S.

Manager Buying & Merchandising @ Flemingo Duty Free Shop Pvt. Ltd.

About

Category Manager with over 14 years of experience driving growth across the E-commerce, Q-commerce, and Global Retail sectors. Throughout my career at industry-leading organizations like Flemingo Duty Free, Swiggy Instamart, Reliance Retail, and Landmark Group (MAX Fashions), I have specialized in transforming data into profitable category strategies. Expert in Assortment Architecture and P&L Management, delivering 20%+ category growth through data-led vendor acquisition and strategic range rationalization. Proven track record scaling high-velocity categories including FMCG, Women's Wear, and Cosmetics across India, UAE, and South Asia. 8 years of extensive experience in the apparel fashion business across the innerwear, lingerie, outerwear, and denim categories. Proven expertise in strategic sourcing, customer onboarding, product development, and merchandising, with a strong track record of managing high-volume global operations.

Country

India

City

Mumbai

Industry

Retail

Skill

Apparel, Identifying Trends, CRM Integration, Budget Forecasting, Strategic Sourcing, Merchandise Development, Synthetics, Assortment Optimization, Denim, Managing Global Operations, Brass, Availability, FF&E, Vendor Sourcing, Markdown Optimization, Inventory Forecasting, Cut & Sew, Insurance, Blackberry, Business Building

Experience

Manager Buying & Merchandising

Flemingo Duty Free Shop Pvt. Ltd.

2018-5 - 2025-6 · 7 yrs 2 mos

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Merchandise Manager

FLEMINGO DUTY-FREE / FDFS & RARL

2018-5 - 2025-6 · 7 yrs 2 mos

→ Phasing of Annual operating business plans (AOP) to structure the buying intake at quantity and value level to deliver the required level of profitability with elimination of major risk factor through co-ownership of the business P&L. → Collaborated with key brands to create joint business plans, optimizing assortment strategies and driving 15% revenue growth through aligned inventory and promotional initiatives.

Procurement Manager

Swiggy Instamart

2021-6 - 2024-1 · 2 yrs 8 mos

→ Leading a team of Six Executives and a Senior Executive. → Buying & Merchandising, Vendor Negotiations, SKU Rationalization & Listing, performance analysis. → Vendor Onboarding for Aggregator Purchases of Market SKUs to maintain sufficient Availability at PODS.

Deputy Manager

Reliance Retail

2015-6 - 2018-2 · 2 yrs 9 mos

→ Prepared and executed AOP for store-level business, aligning seasonal buying, stock flow and sales targets. → Forwards cover projections to maintain the desired stock cover for core and fashion and to gain insight on inventory situation in the future. → Identifying fast & slow movers and strategize on the In-season markdown. → Store category sales, size, color and region wise analysis thereby identifying trends, and evaluating the timing and scope of seasonal changes Giving inputs to the category and vendor for high selling style trends.

Assistant Category Manager

Future Retail Ltd. (Big Bazaar)

2013-12 - 2015-5 · 1 yr 6 mos

→ Monitoring New Inventory, Ageing stocks & ensuring sufficient stocks holding in all the Units. → Topline (Sales) and Bottom Line (Margins/Profit) deliver-ability. → Product life cycle management. → Maintaining Reverse Seasonality for Product selection. → Promotion Management.

Merchandise Planner

MAX Fashions Landmark Group Dubai

2011-6 - 2013-8 · 2 yrs 3 mos

→ Ensure effective in season management across territories (stock balancing, markdown management, stock analysis, stock vs sales performance) → Conducted Brick Level Analysis to identify white spaces and discontinue non-performing SKUs.

Assistant Manager

Triumph International Ltd

2009-6 - 2011-3 · 1 yr 10 mos

→ Managing a vendor base of over 20 vendors to ensure desired product offerings with the right quality and on right time. → Vendor development and sampling from India, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh. → Different type of Bras like Cut-Sew, Moulded, Wired in Cotton and Synthetic base. → Laminated Cut-Sew Bra, Shapewear and Body suit in Cotton and Synthetic base. → Cut-Sew and Seamless Bonded Sleepwear in Cotton and Synthetic base. → Seamless Bonded Knickers and lingerie in Cotton and Synthetic base. → Cut-Sew Knickers and lingerie in Cotton and Synthetic base. → Knitted Soft tops.