Global Sourcing

Neennu Gupta email: ************@*****.***

**** * ******* ***., *******, IL 60646

Phone: 773-***-****

PROFILE

Dedicated and enthusiastic supply chain professional with over 10-year experience in product development, sourcing, and production management. Experience in fostering business partnerships with US, European, Mexican, Guatemalan, Indian and Asian vendors. This includes working in India, travel to Asia/China to collaborate with agents and vendors on sourcing product lines and negotiating costs. Experience spans several industries; including leather shoes, outerwear, men’s accessories, gift-ware, travel accessories, apparel, handbags, jewelry, watches, home décor products, art studio supplies and numismatic coins. Have strong leadership and collaborative skills. Driving cross-functional teams to develop and produce quality, trend-right consumer products that achieve sales and margin goals.

Specialties:

*Hard lines and Soft lines Product Development *Client and Vendor Relationships

*Ability to manage multiple timelines *Collaboration

*Cross-functional team management *Strong Negotiation Skills

*Procurement Strategy *Entrepreneurial

*Purchasing & Buying

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Bottle & Bottega, Park Ridge, IL. Studio Owner (Aug 2016 – June 2020)

* Franchiser approval & training, sourcing, designing & working with Architect, Contractors & City to build the studio. Sourcing competitive utility companies, to keep fixed costs low. Hiring & training instructors, local area marketing, online & social media marketing, payroll & day to day studio operations and customer service.

Bradford, Niles, IL (Jan 2013 – Jan 2016)

Global Sourcing Specialist – Coins & Mint Division, Home Décor, Canada DM & Dealer Direct

*Manage key initiatives based on defined strategy for Global Sourcing, including product development and project execution and timelines for 6 categories.

* Collaborate with merchants, international sourcing, vendors and brand development teams, ensuring desired outcomes related to design, color and pattern consistency, quality assurance and packaging.

*Managing sourcing for the 30 million coin and mint division.

*Contributed to $2.75M in COGS-saving through 2013-2015 bid process and new vendor introductions for the coins & mint division.

*Contributed to $200K in COGs savings through 2013 bid process and vendor negotiations for Canada direct market.

* Developed new vendors in Asia for Home Décor product (Ceramic/ Porcelain Steins) at higher than target margins and making steins second bestselling product for the Home division.

Achievements:

Turned around the Coins & Mint Division into a profit-making BU from barely breaking even by aggressive & competitive sourcing from domestic & international vendors.

QSR Franchisee Owner (June 2005– August 2018)

Worked on all aspects of running the business, franchisee paperwork and managing, training & retaining the employees.

Humphrey’s Accessories, Chicago, IL (Nov 2002 – March 2005)

Sourcing Coordinator

*Collaborate with product managers and designers to build private label lines.

*Accountable for financial metrics including margin benefit and cogs reductions.

*Partner with Asia, Mexico and Guatemala vendors to develop new products and ensure competitive pricing.

*Analyze consumer trends inside and outside the industry to identify new innovative product ideas by competitive shop and working closely with design team.

*Optimize existing product assortment by negotiating best price, product innovation and quality to meet or exceed the customer’s needs and expectations.

*Complete projects in a cost-effective timely manner through implementation of product timelines and communicating frequently with cross-functional departments.

*Build strong relationships with cross-functional teams including Merchants, Quality Control, Asia Team, Marketing, Packaging Inventory Management, and Import Supply Chain.

Achievements:

Developed complete line for off-price men’s Dockers belts at extremely competitive pricing.

Sourced and developed the vendors for the very first Gift line in 2003-2004.

Previous Experience:

Worked on - clothing, outerwear, leather accessories, home goods and décor items with buying house in India for Liz Claiborne, Polo Ralph Lauren, The Gap, Samsonite, Tano, Bill Blass, Costco, and Kenneth Cole. Job involved- developing a vendor base in India, working with designer in US, explaining the designs to the vendors, developing samples, cost negotiations, developing leather at tanneries, developing woven prints at printing mills, finalizing & confirming orders to the vendors, Q.C and shipping.

Education:

Bachelors (Graduate Degree) - Textile Science.

Post Graduate Degree - International Merchandising.

Languages Spoken:

English, Hindi, Punjabi.

Open to relocation.

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