Buying, Merchandising

ZENO THOMAS

Contact No: +971-**-******* (UAE) E-Mail: ****.******@*****.***

SNAPSHOT:

I am results-focused, quality-driven professional with extensive experience in merchandise planning, and purchasing positions, demonstrating consistent achievement of objectives, strong forecasting and analysis skills, with track record of successively improving sales and inventory performance to ensure profit turnarounds.

Retail Product Buyer buying new merchandise and also review existing ones to ensure products remains competitive. By fully understanding customer needs, I am able to maximize profits and provide a commercially viable range of merchandise at competitive prices and also keeping up to date with market trends, reacting to changes in demand are key elements of the role.

Functional Skills include:

Analysing consumer buying patterns and predicting future trends

Regularly reviewing performance indicators, e.g. sales and discount levels

Managing plans for stock levels

Planning for OTB requirements

Meeting suppliers and negotiating terms of contract

Maintaining relationships with existing suppliers and sourcing new suppliers for future products

Liaising with other departments within the organisation to ensure that the projects are completed

Presenting new ranges to senior retail managers

Liaising with shop personnel to ensure that the product/collection supply meets demand

Seeking merchandise feedback from customers

Training and mentoring junior staff

Areas of Expertise:

Core Knowledge & Skill Areas

Inventory Analysis

Sales Forecasting and Trends

Buyer/ Purchaser/Planning

Merchandising Strategies

Analysing customer demand (e.g. price, quality and availability)

Analysing market trends

Financial Budgets

Key Skills

Strong analytical skills

Negotiating skills and the ability to network and influence people

Team work and interpersonal skills

Excellent communication skills

Numeracy skills and proficiency using IT

Analyzed merchandise performance within department to monitor statistical objectives, adapt inventory as needed, and increase sales volume

Evaluated profitability for in-season sales, financial and inventory performance and suggested adjustments as needed

Forecasted consumer buying patterns based on sales trends and economic conditions monitoring

Observed and managed stock levels within department and contributed to preparation and

execution of financial plans

Ensured timely and efficient product flow by partnering with vendors and distribution centres and

shipment tracking

Career Scan

Buyer with Sun &Sand Sports - November 2016 - May 2017

Assistant Buyer with Al Mana Fashion Group - November 2013 - October 2016

Category Specialist with Al Mana Fashion Group - March 2011 - November 2013

Leading and Managing the purchasing of Equipments and accessories for over 120 brands for GoSport, Courir and Sun and Sand stores across the Middle East (UAE, Oman, Saudi, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar)

Partner with planning teams to develop divisional strategy to maximize product performance based on performance analysis and item information

Checking sales mix and making necessary adjustments depending on the brand growth

Space planning is checked and increase/decrease space for stores based on the performance in store

Source new vendors - investigate leads, obtain samples and assist Buyer in product selection

Overlooking logistics team to make sure that brands bought by us reaches the stores within the specified time frame

Liaising with other departments within the organisation to ensure specific projects/event campaigns are completed

Regular store visits to make sure the products are displayed properly in the stores and monthly checks in the back store to make sure that the products are arranged properly for easy replenishments

Attainments:

Average Basket Value has increased from 1.5 to 2.5 across all stores in UAE and Doha

Able to maintain forward cover of 12 weeks with average sell throughs of 85% in high value SKU’s and 70-75% across accessories and Low value SKU’s

Maintain sufficient Forward Cover at 12 weeks without facing a stock out situation over the last two years while handling the capacity of Buyer and Assistant Buyer

Successfully planned and implemented 12 major sales across the ME region and 10 specific brand promotional events

Successfully run 10 Product incentive schemes in partnership with the store sales team and Supplies.

Maintained a Shrinkage level of less than 0.5%

Successfully managed to attain credit notes / replacement stocks for slow movers, seasonal products etc

Nov’09 – Dec’ 10 Department Manager with Gosport, RetailCorp World – Dubai World

Communicating daily with Customer Support Centre functions - Buying, Retail, Finance & Distribution – to ensure effective control and operation of all areas

Maximising every sales opportunity by promoting the highest standards of customer care and recognising potential development and training opportunities

Reviewing and evaluating weekly targets and achievement and producing an end of week spreadsheet

Responsible for meeting budgetary and sales targets through motivating and developing staff.

Controlling management accounts with attention to essential criteria for net profit, including sales and shrinkage

Monitoring and controlling store compliance in all areas, including customer care, effective planning, staff training and development, organisation and time management

Jan’ 07 – Oct’09: Sales Advisor with RetailCorp – Nakheel Retail

July’ 06 – Sep’ 06: FASCO, Dubai as Senior Site Engineer

Nov’ 05 – Jun’ 06: Seawoods Constructions, Mumbai as Senior Site Engineer

Dec’ 04 – Oct’ 05: Project Assistant in College of Engineering, Trivandrum, Kerala

Academia

2004 B. TECH in Civil Engineering, College of Engineering Trivandrum

Trainings Attended

Train the Trainer : Sales Mapping Soft Skills [Nakheel L&D in Association with Canadian Consulting [August 2008 ]

Sports Career

State Level and University Level Table Tennis Player, having represented Kerala University.

Represented College in Zone level Table Tennis, Badminton, Basketball, Cricket, Athletics and Football Championship.

Jafza Free zone Table Tennis doubles Champion - 2007

Represented Trivandrum District for Kerala Schools In Table Tennis

‘A’ Certificate in NCC.

Personal Dossier

Date of Birth : 2nd Nov 1979

Nationality : Indian

Marital Status : Married

No of Dependants : : 2

Passport No : M6057343

Languages : English, Hindi &Malayalam

References : Available on Request

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