Experience

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  Super Cheap Auto

  • New South Wales, Australia

  • Retail Sales Manager

    • Jan 2024 - Present
    • New South Wales, Australia

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  Al Futtaim Pioneer Trading Company - B&Q

  • Head of Category - DIY - Painting & Decorating

    • Aug 2020 - Feb 2024

    Designation Chronology: •August 2020 – Present: Head of Category - DIY - Painting & Decorating, Al Futtaim Pioneer Trading Company - B&Q •2016 – July 2020: Homework’s / Buying & Range Planning Manager, Al Futtaim Global Trading CompanyAccomplishments:•Hand-selected for a special project to launch B&Q, providing compelling brand vision, shaping the category strategy and bringing it to life with future growth opportunities.•Instrumental in leading and defining the Buying and Merchandising department structure and strategy.•Successfully managing categories of 20,000+ diversified SKUs. Consistently revamping categories and introducing newness.•Custodian of category budgets, responsible to generate measurable ROI from available budgets to drive strategic success. Key Responsibilities:•Cultivating strategic plans to advance the company's regional mission and objectives and to promote category revenue, profitability and growth in line with the wider business strategy. •Functioned as the thought leader, delivered the company regional vision, yearly strategy and defined the key growth pillars for the DIY / Painting & Decorating Category.•Presiding over day-to-day purchasing function, performed at branch level, purchased for clusters / branches including all promotional products, branch range stocks & customer order not offered within existing branch range offer.•Offering game-changing insights for resolving challenges and enhancing the bottom line. Analyzing market trends, evaluating competitors (both brick and mortar stores and eCommerce) by Departments, Categories, Prices, & Promos.•Introducing/establishing best-in-class buying/purchasing plans & strategies for new categories and developing comparative prices report.•Led category building by department, category, sub-categories and sub-sub-categories. Managing overall category budgets and OTBs.

  • Homework’s / Buying & Range Planning Manager

    • Jul 2016 - Jul 2020

    Accomplishments:•Provided vision, headship and management oversight required to deliver excellent business results and achieve Profit & Loss through enhanced department strategy and range planning.•Key Member of Buying-Core team, authorized to sign off the range and giving valuable inputs.•Initiated continuous improvement culture to enhance the operational efficiency of the buying department. •Provided deep industry expertise and consultative insights around best-in-class supplier management practices and benchmarking.•Successfully achieved KPIs –Target Sales: Inventory Turn & Margin with Balanced Average Inventory & Cost of Sales, for year 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019.•Accredited with awards by ACE hardware for excellence, 2020•Served as company ambassador at world-class fairs - Chicago houseware show - USA, Ambiente Frankfurt Fair, Canton Fair China, Zuchex Fair-Turkey, Orgill Show USA, B&Q UKKey Responsibilities:•Presided over day-to-day operations of the buying division, owned the commercial performance of the department.•Commanded range development - endeavored to build range with right depth and width– ensuring sufficient choice, range completeness and differentiated products from other competitors. •Ensured that the range proposed at selection is reflective of the business strategy and has the right mix of innovative, extraordinary and inspirational products. (4 Rights)

  • Homework’s / Buying & Range Planning Manager

    • Jul 2016 - Jul 2020

    Key Responsibilities Continued:•Ownership for driving the purchasing strategy, and facilitating purchasing transformation and realization of savings, supply efficiency, quality and process improvements.•Forecasted demand for services and products as well as price trends and their impact on future activities.•Conducted research to ascertain best products and suppliers in terms of value, delivery schedules and quality. Negotiated commercial contract arrangements with local/international suppliers. Secured the best-buying terms and conditions and the most competitive prices possible. •Master Negotiator pulled off incredible deals/ contracts with favorable terms without compromising on the quality of service provided. Undertook value for money reviews of existing contracts and arrangements.•Built profitable partnerships and strategy frameworks with Suppliers to ensure cost savings and supplier performance targets are met/exceeded.•Worked hand in hand with inventory control and sales to develop all metrics towards inventory level needs as well as maintaining levels throughout the year. Identified profitable ways to manage obsolete and slow-moving stock to help offset losses.•Awarded for exceptional efforts in 2017.•Recognized as results-driven team leader, delivered value buying strategy as well as guided the work of Junior Buyers and Merchandising Assistants.•Superintended a dynamic buying team of 6+, supervising day to day tasks and setting their objectives to efficiently run their categories, providing inspirational leadership and strategic vision to take the department onto the next stage

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  Building Materials Trading Co. (BMTC)

  • Brand Manager for Sanitary, Plumbing & Drainage Products (SPD)

    • Jan 2010 - Feb 2016

    Designation Chronology: •2010 – 2016: Brand Manager for Sanitary, Plumbing & Drainage Products (SPD)•January 2005 –2010: Regional Sales Manager (Central Region) Accomplishments:•Built brand persona and strengthened brand equity for SPD (Sanitary, Plumbing & Drainage) products Kingdom-wide.•Emerged as a steward who steers organizations forward - Identified business opportunities, established business plans and budgets and shouldered P&L onus for the commercial division.Key Responsibilities: •Sourced new products from the international market, and served as the Brand Manager for these sourced products and developed this sector of the trade business.•Nurtured synergistic business relations and led negotiations with international manufacturers for business-related agreements and MOU’s. Finalized commercial negotiations to set pricing structures and payment terms.•Delivered strategies to keep the company competitive and innovative. Conceptualized business development plans, implemented aggressive strategic sales, marketing and distribution initiatives targeted at expanding market presence and sustained the long-term profit assurance.•Generated purchase orders, followed up payments, monitored shipments and facilitated loading, unloading and goods clearance procedures with local and international brokers.•Attended international exhibitions to build a new range using comprehensive study, information, insight, and techniques.•Bridged between local market-sales team & the manufacturer for driving marketing, sales and product improvement.•Built and mentored a high-energy, high-impact team of 12+ Sales Engineer capable of delivering transformational results.

  • Regional Sales Manager (Central Region)

    • Jan 2005 - Aug 2010

    Accomplishments: •Under my leadership successfully delivered a yearly sales budget of 14 Million SR for the Central Region. •Defined business strategy and P&L roadmap, planned regional requirements and efficiently allocated resources for optimum and efficient utilization to achieve maximum profitability and company goals.•Reengineered business strategies based on collated market intelligence on competition and other market trends for enhancing market penetration across the assigned territory.•Partnered with the purchasing department and suppliers, for forecasting and ordering required stocks and controlling inventory aging levels. •Studied market to stay abreast of market trends, prices and potential sales opportunities and upcoming projects.

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  Home Center Division of BMTC

  • Saudi Arabia

  • Retail Pricing Manager

    • Nov 2001 - Dec 2004
    • Saudi Arabia

    Designation Chronology: •November 2001 – December 2004: Retail Pricing Manager •January 1999 – October 2001: Store Manager (Eastern Region)•Special Assignment – Store remerchandising of Khobar, Dammam & Riyadh branches•June 1998 – December 1998: Store Manager (Dammam Store)•June 1996 – December 1996: Store Supervisor (Khobar Store)•Hand-selected to set up a new showroom in RiyadhAccomplishments:•Established price strategy and developed pricing tactics, including in-store merchandising, to achieve financial and customer objectives.•Developed periodical market survey on retail products, analyzed market sensitivity and price accordingly.•Conducted market price audits to establish competitive product pricing levels ensuring profitable margins.•Assisted in the selection and implementation of the Product Assortment plan in various categories.•Conducted product market analysis along with the Merchandise Department prior to the order placement of new lines.