Kanu Choudhary
Melbourne,VIC
Summary
Seasoned Category Manager with over 11 years of experience, adept at creating balanced product ranges and achieving financial KPIs-Sales, Margin, Sell through, GMROI, SPSF, and Stock Turn. Known for excellent interpersonal skills and a track record of driving brand development, catalogue creation, and sales through strategic merchandising & marketing initiatives.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Category Manager- (Industrial Tools-Power Tools Hand Tools Etc)
Australian Industrial Supplies- Buying Group
02.2024 - Current
- Strategic Planning & Budgeting: Developed detailed purchase forecasts based on historical data, allowing for proactive inventory management decisions for 95 stores across 14 categories.
- Monitored industry trends to identify new business opportunities and emerging product categories for expansion.
- Supplier Negotiations: Built relationships and negotiated rebate terms/contracts with 65 suppliers.
- Deal Negotiation: Secured exclusive deals and bulk buys for independent stores, tailored to size and sector.
- Volume Targets: Established and tracked supplier volume targets to drive performance.
- Biannual Trade Show Management: Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop promotional campaigns that effectively increased category awareness and sales growth.
- Catalogue Marketing: Directed bimonthly catalogues featuring 300+ items, maximizing placement and revenue.
- Digital Promotion: Analyzed sales performance and adjusted marketing strategies to optimize revenue generation.
- Supplier Integration: Identified rebate opportunities and introduced new suppliers to enhance group performance.
- Mentored junior team members in category management best practices, contributing to a high-performing and collaborative work environment.
Category Manager- Buying & Planning (Convenience- Confectionery, Beverages, Sunglasses, Tech, Seasonal Gifts, Greeting Cards, Smoking Accessories, Vape)
Smokemart & Giftbox & Vape Square- Largest privately owned retail tobacco offering in Australia
11.2020 - 02.2024
- Create strategy, set annual targets and buy for 250+ stores- sales, gross margin, stock turn, GMROI
- Space planning- Analysed sales and profits by square foot and by category
- Curated range plan at store level
- Analyse data and create buy plan with pricing, assortments, customer preferences and forecasting consumer trends
- Developed and implemented strategies to improve purchasing process and optimize inventory levels
- Evaluating supplier options according to prices, quality etc and determine best choices
- Generating and presenting analytical reports such as market research, competition mapping, and cost analysis
- Optimise product range using BCG, Ansoff matrices
- Address aged stock with targeted promotions, markdowns, and supplier incentives to boost sales
- Train operations team on unique selling features; liaise with marketing team for brand development
- Create marketing calendar; drive revenue through online with SEO, EDMs, web banners, and social media.
Buyer & Stock Controller
Transworld Enterprises- Parent company of Australia's leading jewellery and watch brands – Shiels Jewellers, Grahams Jewellers, Watch Depot, Luminesce Diamonds, and Silver Chic
07.2019 - 11.2020
- Efficient sales management with strategic purchasing & promotion for each store considering seasonality and trends
- Improve supplier relationships and reduce stock outs by collaborating on new ranges and timely delivery
- Improve profits and customer satisfaction with precise supply and demand forecasting to prevent stock shortages or excess
- Enhance supply chain efficiency by proactively addressing shipment delays.
Merchandise Manager (Planning & Buying)
Shoppers Stop Ltd
12.2015 - 07.2019
- Develop dollar merchandise plan, assortment plan and purchase Women's wear for 80+ stores & Ecomm, optimising sales, profit, and inventory costs for Rs 1.25 billion sales adhering to OTB.
- Optimise inventory, by reviewing ageing report, planning promotions, markdowns, and product write-offs, minimising stockouts and overstocks.
- Liaising with suppliers, stores, and warehouses.
- Recovered discount liabilities from suppliers.
- Closely monitor sales performance, identifying opportunities for rebuys.
- Weekly/Monthly reports included- Range width plan, sell through/ROS, cost analysis, ageing & supplier performance.
Senior Executive (Category Management)
Future Retail Limited- multi-format retailer
07.2013 - 02.2015
- Create buy plan and source for Kids' wear across multiple Strategic Business Units, negotiating prices with suppliers based on rigorous costing
- Align all stakeholders and activities with Time & Action Calendar for timely product launch
- Maintain strong vendor relationships and manage sub- category mix.
Education
Business Analytics And Visualisation -
RMIT University
Melbourne, VIC12.2023
Masters of Fashion Management - Fashion Management
National Institute of Fashion & Technology
India06.2013
Bachelor of Technology - Electronics & Communication
GBTU
India06.2011
Skills
- Category Management
- Negotiation
- Product Assortment Planning
- Competitive Analysis
- Forecasting
- Merchandising Strategies
- Supplier Relationship Management
- Data Analytics
- Demand forecasting
- Pricing strategy
- Budget Forecasting
- Communication
- Microsoft Excel (Advanced)
Awards
For achieving the highest topline and bottom line in private labels.
Timeline
Category Manager- (Industrial Tools-Power Tools Hand Tools Etc)
Australian Industrial Supplies- Buying Group
02.2024 - Current
Category Manager- Buying & Planning (Convenience- Confectionery, Beverages, Sunglasses, Tech, Seasonal Gifts, Greeting Cards, Smoking Accessories, Vape)
Smokemart & Giftbox & Vape Square- Largest privately owned retail tobacco offering in Australia
11.2020 - 02.2024
Buyer & Stock Controller
Transworld Enterprises- Parent company of Australia's leading jewellery and watch brands – Shiels Jewellers, Grahams Jewellers, Watch Depot, Luminesce Diamonds, and Silver Chic
07.2019 - 11.2020
Merchandise Manager (Planning & Buying)
Shoppers Stop Ltd
12.2015 - 07.2019
Senior Executive (Category Management)
Future Retail Limited- multi-format retailer
07.2013 - 02.2015
Business Analytics And Visualisation -
RMIT University
Masters of Fashion Management - Fashion Management
National Institute of Fashion & Technology
Bachelor of Technology - Electronics & Communication
GBTU
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