LALITH S HENAGAMA

Tustin, CA ***** 714-***-**** ad4oki@r.postjobfree.com

SUMMARY

Senior Merchandising Manager with 25 years of experience in end to end apparel merchandising (Customer management, Order management from development samples to bulk order shipment, Procurement management) on multiple US, UK and European brands. Ability and hands on experience in raw materials and product development, product development life cycle management, knowledge and ability to do costing and price negotiations on FOB and LDP terms. Experience and knowledge on procurement and raw material management on JIT technique, experience on bulk production and order management with the fulfillment of KPIs such as on time delivery,100% order fulfillment, No cost of failure and Zero defect. Proven track records on follow up across all key the key and cross functions of apparel merchandising process until the shipment is sent off and documentations have been done by the commercial team.

I am a firm believer of team work, diligent, commitment in reaching set goals and objectives. I do understand importance of having leadership skills and I have an ability to provide the leadership when it is necessary. I have proven track records on my team work skills, team achievements in business growth and sustainability perspective.

EXPERIENCE

Intima ( Pvt) Ltd : Intimate apparel manufacture in Sri Lanka apparel trade since 1995 : I worked at Intima as Merchandising and Marketing Manager (April,2022 – 10th,September,2022 )

● Managed a team of merchandisers with the focus of KPI evaluation for multiple brands such as MNS, Meundies, Chibo, Omega Line, Walmart.

● Set up and developed formal innovation center with dedicated innovation team and introduced innovative intimate apparel products with the brands.

● Strictly implemented adhere, to critical path management throughout merchandising process

● WIP management tool with the brands and factory merchandisers to follow up the bulk production from the point of cutting, daily line in put out put, daily packing and take necessary action if the daily production output is behind the daily production target in order to maintain agreed garment ex-factory delivery maintained.

● Introduced mechanism to work with Industrial Engineers, product technicians and sourcing team to work on new price inquiries in order to quote competitive prices and overcome the pricing challenge.

● Worked with existing and new customer to meet sales targets set by senior management.

Sumithra Group of Companies: Group of out wear apparel manufacture in Sri Lanka apparel trade since 1994: I worked at Sumithra as an Account Manager of PrAna brand (September,2021 – 12th, April,2022).

● I had to manage sustainable brand of PrAna that comes under Colombia Sports Wear at Sumithra which is one of their main accounts. Worked with PrAna – CA, USA team as well as with Colombia regional office in India on day to day work very closely and effectively, weekly basis zoom meeting with US team as we had the challenge of rebuilding the confidence with PrAna head office team when I was joining.

● Worked closely with PrAna sustainability team to implement new policies with suppliers and plants.

● Had to work on Sales men/marketing samples timely manner in order to align with their buying meeting, proto and development samples until the Fit is approved in development perspective then wash approval samples and PP samples as per the customer’s calendar and T&A by complying with their SOPs as we mainly did garment dyed pants and jackets in organic cotton.

* Submitting price quotes (costing) with 100% accuracy and realistically as per the T&A.

● Managed dye and wash process from the point of dip and panel approval process to maintain approved dye and wash standards in the bulk production by coordinating dye house, production plants and the brand, ensured relevant garment tests have been done at development stage as well as in the bulk.

● Managed the procurement process in timely manner with nominated overseas suppliers even in the Covid19 pandemic era.

● Follow up production process of all current PrAna orders from the y point of cutting, line input and out on daily basic, check and follow up daily QA reports to check and make sure whether quality standards are maintaining in bulk production, check the daily packing in and packing output to ensure agreed garment deliver is met on time.

● We as a team was able to regain the customer’s confidence within 2 months and grow the business from USD 7 million to 10 million by 43%. Wilkins Spence Packaging Lanka (Pvt) Ltd Printed packaging supplier: I worked at Wilkins as Business Development Manager (April,2018 – 20th, September,2019).

● Worked with new apparel brands and new apparel products to design and develop new packaging, including sustainable packaging developments.

● Worked closely with UK head office product development and marketing teams on new product and customer establishment matters with the focus of diversifying customer base from apparel packaging to non-apparel which we have done successfully.

Hela Clothing (Pvt) LtdLtd Intimate and Active wear manufacturer: I worked at Hela as an Account Manager on Soma Intimate brand.

(June,2016 – 20th, March,2018).

• Manage Soma Intimates Sleep were program from the point of PP sample, garment testing, Top sample execution to the bulk shipment.

• Liaised with nominated Chinese fabric, sewing and packaging suppliers, worked on 90days lead time from fabric to garment delivery.

• Initiated and successfully introduced local fabric supplier to overcome the lead time challenge that we had with Chinese and other overseas suppliers on shipping.

• Liaised with customer on day to day matters, weekly WIP and weekly based order review.

• WIP management tool with the brands and factory merchandisers to follow up the bulk production from the point of cutting, daily line in put out put, daily packing and take necessary action if the daily production output is behind the daily production target in order to maintain agreed garment ex-factory delivery. Participate with daily production team to review the orders with production team.

• Overall client management, procurement management and bulk order execution and management were improved to the satisfactory level of the client within 4 months of taking over the account. Valtex International FTZ, Sharjah, UAE Sharjah based seamless intimate apparel manufacturer: I worked at Valtex as Merchandising Manager

(January,2013 – 20th, May,2016).

• Managed and Led a collaborative merchandising team efficiently to cater UK, Europe and UK brands such as MNS, Next, Tesco, Sainsbury, Wall Mart, Targets, to ensure international counterparts received the required service levels from the point of proto sample, costing to bulk order delivery on time with the fulfillment of both customer and company KPIs as it was always a challenge with limitation of experienced and skilled workers since whole county was depended on foreign work force/human resource.

• Organize and participate video conference and conference call with UK head office team and MNS, Tesco and Sainsbury brands.

• Ensured to achieve annual sales budget of over US $150M continuously.

• Manage the procurement process with the merchandising team through daily, weekly based progress meetings, critical path, KPI analysis. Specially the raw material procurement process was closely monitored, evaluated, analyzed and re stablished the relationships with suppliers since the products of all the brands were depended on imported raw materials.

• Worked with sample development, technical and product development merchants based on customer PD T&A to submit the all kind of samples on time. Process was executed by daily basic progress meetings. Intimate apparel manufacturer: I worked at MAS as Senior Merchandiser on Soma Intimate brand. (August,2008 – 20th, January,2013)

• It was USD 2.5 million turnover account when I was joining Soma account at MAS intimate in 2008 as a replacement senior merchandiser of a team of 5 with the account manager, same team was able to manage the continuous business growth that reached to USD 27.5 million with in next 4 years.

• Our commitment towards the success of the brand during that period was appreciated by Soma brand on their VP level visit to Sri Lanka in 2012. Each member of our team was appreciated with Excellent Service Certificate by Soma brand itself.

• We have achieved all 4 main KPIs in 100% throughout the period of 5 years. MAS Intimates (Pvt) Ltd

• I was directly involved on Customer management with day to day email communication/massages and updates

• I was involved on procurement management with placing the raw material orders with supplies, order follow ups until the materials are in hose on time, payment follow up.

• I was involved and responsible on WIP management tool with the brands and factory merchandisers to follow up the bulk production from the point of cutting, daily line in put out put, daily packing and take necessary action if the daily production output is behind the daily production targets in order to maintain agreed garment ex-factory delivery. Participate with daily production team meeting to review the orders with production team.

Timex Garments (Pvt) Ltd Intimate apparel manufacturer: I worked at Timex as Account Manager on Layne Bryant Intimate brand.

(August,2007 – July,2008).

• I was able to manage and lead merchandising team from Concept /Proto sample, costing to bulk shipment (End to End operation) for the satisfaction of the Layne Bryant brand that came through Limited Brand Sri Lanka and HK offices.

William E Connor Associates –Sri Lanka Liaison Office Outer wear and Intimate apparel liaison office: I worked at William E Conner as a Senior Market Representative on Dillard’s, Nordstrom & Land’s End accounts.

(January,2003 – July,2007).

• Served as a key liaison and resource for vendors and internal business partners. Assisted and supported the operational functions to Proto, Fit, PP and marketing samples, Top and Shipment samples, work on costing and price negotiation, follow up bulk orders with production plants via WIP and plants visits and ensured on time delivery, update the customer with weekly WIP. Fortunate to work on a 3-way communication system on a digital flat form introduced by Dillard’s in 2003.

• Execute customer calendars through Critical Path system. Ensured all the drop and dead dates are met across all merchandising functions of customer T&A.

• WECA Colombo office and whole machining team was responsible to full fill customers key performance indicates 100% such as On time delivery, 100% order fulfillment, Zero defect and No cost of failures.

• I was involved and responsible on WIP management tool on Dillard’s, Nordstrom and Lands Ends brands with the brands and factory merchandisers to follow up the bulk production from the point of cutting, daily line in put out put, daily packing and take necessary action if the daily production output is behind the daily production targets in order to maintain agreed garment ex-factory delivery. Visit the factory 2-3 days a week to monitor the relearnt production of our brands and conduct the WIP meeting with factory merchandisers and production teams to review the orders and ensure garment delivers are met as planned.

• Visited Dillard’s, Nordstrom and Lands’ End brands on vendor meetings, vendor summits on numerous occasions.

*Selected Contributions:

• Improved the productivity and efficiency of team meetings to reduce cross- functional team meeting hours by 30%.

• Successfully formed a new intimate apparel merchandising team with guidance of country director and started Dillard’s intimate products with MAS Intimate in 2004 and contributed to Dillard’s intimate apparel launch.

• I have played instrument role in diversifying William E Connor Sri Lanka business from apparel to non-apparel that was appreciated by William E. Connor regional Managing director in 2006/7.

Edinburgh Wollen Mill Ltd –Sri Lanka Liaison OfficeWoven and Knit Outer wear apparel products: I worked at EWM as a Senior Merchandiser and Merchandising Manager. (February,1998 – February,2000).

• I was recruited by country director when the EWM office was stablished in Sri Lankan in 1998.

• Worked on merchandising function, shipment planning - production follow ups, coordination with UK head office and vendors, execution and arranging shipping and commercial documentation to UK head office on shipments.

• I was responsible for on time garment deliveries and 100% order fulfillment of Sri Lanka office programs through WIP management tool with the Edinburg Woolen Mill in UK and worked closely and executed order follow up the bulk production with factory production team from the point of cutting, daily line in put out put, daily packing and take necessary action if the daily production output is behind the daily production targets in order to maintain agreed garment ex-factory delivery.

• Directly involved raw materials sourcing functions of EWM selected program from Sri Lankan supplier and fabric mills.

• Supported country director on administration matters, involved in preparing monthly finance reports to UK head office.

• I was promoted to Merchandising manage with in a period of one year with the recommendation of UK head office.

Aitken Spence ( Garments) Woven and Knit apparel manufacturing sector of leading group of companies in Sri Lanka: I worked at Aitken Space as a Merchandiser and Senior Merchandiser . (May,1996 – February,1998). This was my 1st job after graduation from the university.

• Handled Edinburgh Woolen Mill, Tesco, Little Wood account under the supervision of relevant senior merchandisers.

• I was involved in production planning as a trainee production planner for the period of 9 months apart from my merchandising portfolios.

• I was able to gain overall apparel merchandising and production planning and work study knowledge and experience during my tenure at Aitken Spence Garment

Academic qualification :: Bachelor of Commerce (Special) Degree (4 years program, Graduated in 1995)

Higher School Graduated: Commerce, Economic, Finance Accountancy & Political Science.Apparel trade related qualification : : Certificate level of apparel sourcing, bulk production, garment testing, merchandising and quality controlling.

Present employment: Glidewell LLC

Trainee Dental Technician

( Started September, 2023 to date)

Abbott LLC

Medical Equipment Assembler

( From March, 2023 to 24, December, 2023)

Medtronic LLC

Medical Equipment Assembler

(From December, 2022 to April, 2023)

Present employment:

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