Rashi Gangdev

• Key Role was to manage the entire portfolio of the Dymocks vertical brands: Reader’s Range, Little Reader’s & Wattle & Rose.
• This included Branding / packaging design / VM along with developing new categories to suit the customer base.
• Developed long-term product roadmaps, aligning business objectives with customer needs and market trends.
• Managed product lifecycles by monitoring product research, development and determining Core lines .
• Implemented continuous improvement initiatives, identifying areas for growth and refining existing processes to enhance efficiency.
• Evaluated competitor offerings, gathering insights to inform future product enhancements and maintain a competitive edge.
• Coordinated with suppliers and vendors to negotiate contracts, ensuring cost-effective sourcing for materials and components.
• Created and executed strategies to drive development and success of products.
• Created detailed product specifications and prototypes, overseeing the development process from concept to production and ensuring timely delivery to stores.
• Championed a culture of innovation, encouraging team members to explore new ideas and challenge conventional approaches.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams including marketing, sales, and production to ensure product alignment with brand strategy and market demands.
• Conducted product inspections to meet organizational and industry standards and requirements.
• Implemented feedback from stakeholders and stores to refine product strategies and address retail objectives within budget and timeline constraints.
• Identified opportunities for new products and improvements to existing products to increase sales.
• Managed weekly review of reports and closely monitored stock positions, aligning with strategic planning initiatives.
• Developed a core supplier base overseas to achieve all the sourcing needs and ensuring optimum sourcing to achieve agreed final margin.
• Enhanced product development processes by streamlining workflows and improving communication between departments.
• Managed cross-functional teams to ensure timely delivery of high-quality products, resulting in strong stakeholder satisfaction.
• Mentored junior team members, fostering professional growth opportunities while increasing overall team productivity.

Achievements:

• Revenue has increased from $350,000 in FY 21-22 to $2.1 million in FY 23-24.
• Developed Branding / Packaging / brand guidelines with graphic designers for all the three vertical brands.
• Managed operations across a diverse network of company-owned and franchise-owned stores.
• Cultivated valuable relationships with external partners including manufacturers and distributors facilitating successful launches.
• Spearheaded the successful integration of acquired product lines into core offerings, resulting in seamless transitions for stakeholders.

• The key brands managed in this role include Mosaic Group, David Jones, MYER & In-house brands (Willow & Reed, Frank & Rose, Eden Australia) and the product categories managed include Impulse gifting, home fragrance, Candles, Jewellery, Scarves, Bags, & Seasonal Novelty products (Australia Day, Easter, Christmas, Mother’s Day etc).
• Achieve optimum double retail margins, whilst maintaining quality of the products.
• Weekly review of best-selling items and including the versions of best sellers in upcoming ranges.
• Regularly coordinate and lead weekly production meetings with factories and agents for production and sampling status.
• Managing the Open to Buy (OTB) and pricing architecture every season based on the Post Season Analysis (PSA) & SWOT.
• Recommending top store buys, allocations and markdowns and coordinate inter-stores transfers.
• Developing strategies for Gift with Purchase (GWP) & other relevant offers based on the marketing calendar.
• Maintaining time and action calendars for all categories in all brands.
• Identifying new factories, agents & sourcing partners in line with each brand’s objectives and maximising profitability.
• Negotiate prices, buying terms, supplier agreements, exclusivity and payment terms for each new vendor.
• Developing Visual Merchandising Guide (planograms) for each delivery guiding the stores to Merchandise the product effectively.

Achievements:

• Successfully Launched Impulse gifting category within a short span across 600 stores, during tough market conditions related to Covid – 19 disruptions.
• Introduced new line of business related to PPE products like hand sanitiser, masks, gloves etc.
• Generated additional savings of more than $500k by improving trade terms and combining request across multiple categories.

• Leading in house teams to support New Product Designing, Sourcing, and Design Development.
• Providing support for customer service and loss prevention control.
• Excellent written, communication, interpersonal, liaison and problem-solving skills with the ability to work in multicultural environment.
• Implemented layer cutting, Marker planning/grading to improve the efficiency and profitability for the wholesale ethnic wear.
• Implemented improved store layout to increase effectiveness of merchandises displays.
• Motivating the team to meet tight deadlines and support the business at all levels.

Achievements:

• Introduced “Bespoke Bridal Wear” line to increase about 30% to total revenue of the business.
• Expanded into new international markets for ‘Indian Ethnic Wear, as well as introduced digital marketing to a bricks and mortar setup.
• Profitability increased by 22% over the period of 3 years and with very efficient assembly line production.
• Streamlined processes to ensure all the orders were delivered on time and with absolute perfection.

• Conducted and attended Fit sessions as per the requirement of the brands (Brooks brother, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Macy’s) as well as worked with grading the specs along with Technical design team.
• Assisted Vice President with presentation on new business development, inventory and sourcing updates.
• Aggressively worked to achieve significant cost savings through sourcing new suppliers and negotiating with the existing.
• Initiated and executed price sensitive promotional programs for departmental stores, which resulted in new category of merchandise for Target, Macy’s and Nordstrom.
• Achieved target prices and executed programs from development to final orders for Tommy Hilfiger, Target, Fish Man & Tobin, Brooks Brother and other premium brands by sourcing appropriate fabrics/trims and managing timely deliveries.
• Improvised an existing line of fabric to meet requirements of Kohl’s, Calvin Klein and Cintas which resulted in ability to sell into these brands; new product category such as uniform wear, travel suits, etc.

Achievements:

• Developed special fabric quality “Wool Rich” feel which achieved 20% more profit than anticipated
• Negotiated commercial arrangements with various textile mills, trim suppliers and freight forwarders, to gain favourable pricing and payment terms
• Achieved target prices for two consecutive seasons and bagged the Thanksgiving Promotional Shirt program with “Macy’s”.

• Maintaining all season’s styles in a production schedule and following up on delivery and approval on all styles.
• Making sure the manufacturers are on track with the company deadlines.
• Communicating effectively with the comments on the fit samples (detailed FIT comments), Pre-production samples, lab dips, Strike OFFs of all styles on order.
• Responsible for issuing purchase orders, working with designers on art works and sending out complete product packs to the overseas vendors for all the orders placed.
• Providing comments on fabric, trims and accessories to all the overseas suppliers at all production stages.
• Actively tracking orders to ensure accurate deliveries and ensuring adherence to quality and styling specifications and maintained WIP charts to efficiently follow up and attain timely deliveries of the goods.
• Processing various shipping and delivery documentation.

Achievements:

• Developed “Fashion” styles to meet the target prices for Wal-Mart and Target and bagged the complete Summer Program for four styles.
• ALL product packs were sent out in a timely fashion with accurate details, which improved the efficiency of the sample incoming time by 15 days.
• Developed a new vendor base while labour crisis in China to meet the production deadlines and timely sea deliveries.

• Achieved target prices for the various promotional programs with TJ Maxx, Century 21 and Burlington Coat factory by sourcing the appropriate fabrics/trims.
• Spearheaded setting up the Accessories division, which generated $3M sales in the first year.
• Introduced and sourced new categories of Batik, Tie n Dye and Ikkat fabrics for various brands like Brass Buckle, forever 21, Dress barn and other sportswear labels.
• Conducted and Attended Fit sessions as per the requirement of the buyers and as well worked with grading the specs with technical design team.
• Developed special base quality fabrics to meet the high testing standards for Aeropostale, Maurice's and Christopher & Banks.
• Complete quarterly production reports to outline and analyse seasonal performance metrics.

Achievements:

• Improved the profit margin in fashion styles by over 5% in the first season, and 8% in subsequent seasons, without changing the “overall look” of the style.
• Achieved $3Million Dollars Sales and timely deliveries for the New Accessory division in the first year and is currently functioning as complete division in itself to contribute 17% Profit of the company.
• Mentored, trained and developed two associates by providing challenging opportunities to leverage strengths and improve their abilities in the accessory division.