Muhammad Faris
Hong Kong
Summary
Highly Focused, Adept & Meticulous Senior Merchandising/ Account Management Professional acquiring 17+ years of Expertise in Planning & Developing Merchandising Strategies, Analyzing Sales Figures/ Customer Reactions/ Market Trends to Anticipate Product Needs, Collaborating with Buyers/ Suppliers/ Distributors, Review & Negotiate Prices, Quantities & Timescales. In-depth knowledge/ Skills in Conceptualizing & Implementing Merchandising Policies/ Procedures.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Assistant General Manager in Merchandizing and Marketing
Epic Designers Ltd
01.2012 - Current
- Company Overview: Brands leads - Amazon, Levis, Dockers, Nordstrom, DXL
- Ownership for DDP, LDP shipments to USA customers
- Leading Bangladesh/Hong Kong teams with an Annual sales turnover of USD 150 Mn+
- Leader of the development & execution of strategy for merchandising, critical path management, capacity mgmt. & raw material supply chain management.
- Responsible for the creation of a comprehensive seasonal framework that aligns product strategies with financial goals.
- Ensure that end to end sales, gross margin, & inventory strategies meet corporate plans.
- Develop and execute merchandising strategies for assigned channel and productivity enhancement.
- Strong negotiations with internal and external stake holders and drive cost reductions, create multiple opportunities.
- Drive smooth order management and implement and execute time/action plan, capacity management by addressing any foreseen delays by coordinating with internal teams.
- Lead the critical path for design & development up to bulk hand orders.
- Analyze sales figures, customer response & market drift to anticipate product needs.
- Collude with buyers, suppliers to negotiate prices, quantities and time scales.
- Foster/ Sustain strong, long-lasting customer relationships.
- Analyze/ Communicate distinctly on competitive positioning, market, and opportunities.
- Manage multiple projects, monitor, and allocate appropriate resources to various accounts.
- Amplify new business with Next depts. and/or identify areas of improvement to meet sales quotas.
- Prognosticate/ Pursue key account metrics (e.g. quarterly sales results and annual forecasts)
- Devise/ Manage retail-focused seasonal line architecture, assortment plans and lifecycle plans.
- Collaborate across functions (quality, fabric, planning, suppling) to identify, quantify and analyze opportunities to drive functional excellence.
- Brands leads - Amazon, Levis, Dockers, Nordstrom, DXL
Head of Merchandising & Planning
Freshtex Philippines Incorporation
01.2011 - 01.2012
- Company Overview: Brands handled - Levis 501 & Non 501, Replay, MOP, Esprit - Denim and Non-Denim.
- Handled a sales value of 15Mn per annum.
- Plan the production, washing plant/laundry & finishing to meet final delivery.
- Motivate/supervise Account Managers, Merchandisers & lead all customer accounts.
- Maintain strong customer relationship through exceptional customer service.
- Formulate monthly/ quarterly & annual sales budgets & develop strategy to meet the sales targets.
- Pursue preproduction/ production across all the departments to meet final deadlines & communicate same to internal & external customers.
- Procure raw material from oversees & local suppliers aligning to customer requirements, quality, and on-time delivery.
- Handle product development & costing.
- Coordinating with Merchandisers & obtaining customer order confirmation, product specifications & subsequently reserving plant capacity.
- Analyzing/ reviewing/ confirming customer deliveries.
- Reviewing & analyzing actual production vs plan and informing the relevant departments on significant deviations and ensuring corrective actions taken immediately to achieve the delivery targets.
- Conducting daily production meetings including sewing, laundry, finishing & monitor daily progress whilst taking corrective action to meet the final deadline.
- Monitor the sample plans ensuring sample CP hits deadlines.
- Monitor the cut/ship ratio hitting the benchmark of 99% and maintain 100% delivery on time.
- Prepare monthly/ annual sewing plan, monthly shipment plan based on that adjust the sewing, laundry & finishing capacity & meet the final customer deliveries.
- Lead outsources, planning and monitoring.
- Brands handled - Levis 501 & Non 501, Replay, MOP, Esprit - Denim and Non-Denim.
Senior Merchandiser/ Account Manager
Hirdaramani Mercury Apparel (Pvt.) Ltd
01.2009 - 01.2011
- Company Overview: Brands handled - Lucky, Timberland
- Handled a sales value of 8Mn per annum.
- Based on the CP meet sewing PCD, ensure production continues & conforms to final delivery date.
- Coordinating with customer & reserving the plant's capacity.
- Work with production, quality teams to meet final customer requirements in terms of quality & quantity.
- Manage process using ERP System of Microsoft.
- Brands handled - Lucky, Timberland
Merchandising Manager
ZM Vertiko Group (Subsidiary of Joe's Fashion Pak)
01.2007 - 01.2009
- Company Overview: Brands handled - Bershka, Pimkie, C&A (Mondial Pakistan), Next, J Riu & JC Penny
- Handled a sales value of USD 20Mn per annum.
- Handled GOTS & OE100 products & engaged in New Product Development.
- Negotiated prices & garment costings.
- Setting objectives & evaluating performance.
- Managed stocks & stock related cost control disciplines.
- Planning & procuring raw material for short, medium long running orders.
- Closely follow up with production/ shipping/ sample planning.
- Adhering to factory processors, disciplines, health, safety & compliance.
- Brands handled - Bershka, Pimkie, C&A (Mondial Pakistan), Next, J Riu & JC Penny
Senior Merchandiser
Poppy's Knitwear (Pvt.) Ltd
01.2006 - 01.2007
- Company Overview: Brands handled - C&A (Clock House, Updated, Commodity & XL collection)
- Placing orders with 16 production units & obtaining delivery confirmations.
- Following up on samples (fit sample, approved sample, size set samples).
- Coordinating with the Mondial buying office.
- Completing the Orders within the stipulated time periods.
- Daily production monitoring & follow ups.
- Products Handled - Tie & Dye T-Shirts, Acid Washed T-Shirt, Polo, Etc.
- Calculate consumptions and ordering fabric and trims.
- Sourcing for accessories & trims.
- Monitoring and updating status of all the raw material.
- Brands handled - C&A (Clock House, Updated, Commodity & XL collection)
Merchandiser
Hirdaramani Mercury Apparel (Pvt.) Ltd
01.2003 - 01.2006
- Price, Delivery negotiations & Supplier evaluation.
- Procure Maintenance materials (Electrical, Hardware, Machine spares, Boilers, etc).
- Receiving and Issuing of all maintenance items.
- Stock maintaining and Inventory control.
- Handling of the BOI documentations.
Purchasing Officer
Hirdaramani Mercury Apparel (Pvt.) Ltd
01.2001 - 01.2003
- Price, Delivery negotiations & Supplier evaluation.
- Procure Maintenance materials (Electrical, Hardware, Machine spares, Boilers, etc).
- Receiving and Issuing of all maintenance items.
- Stock maintaining and Inventory control.
- Handling of the BOI documentations.
Education
MBA - Digital Marketing
University of Bedfordshire
01.2021
Advanced Diploma - Marketing Mgmt.
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
01.2010
Post Graduate Diploma - Marketing
SLIM
01.2006
Certificate - Merchandizing Management
Garment Industry Management Institute (GIMI)
01.2005
Certificate - Textile Technology for Garment Industry
University of Moratuwa
01.2003
Certificate - Merchandizing
University of Moratuwa
01.2003
Certificate - Purchasing and Stores Management
Institute of Supply and Material Management
01.2003
Skills
- Management
- Strategic Focus
- Analytical
- Visionary
- Business Acumen
- Lead/ Inspire
- Administration/ Supervision
- Project Mgmt
- Decisive
- Foster/Promote Team Spirit
- Organizational/ Coordination
- Delegation
- Results Driven
- Methodical
- Planning
- Training/ Coaching
- Multitasker
- Time Mgmt
- CRM
- Brand/ Profit Exceeding
- Financial/ Cost/ Price Strategies
- Cross-Functional
- Merchandising Skills
- Merchandising/ Buying/ Sourcing Strategies
- Negotiating
- Operational Efficiency
- Meeting Deadlines
- Retailing/ Management Principles
- Fashion Coordination/ Promotion
- Retail Buying
- Merchandising Metrics
- Analysis
- Employee/ Client/ Stakeholder Mgmt
- Strategic Planning
- Managing Best Practices
- Resource Mgmt
- Diverse Cultural
- Lean Manufacturing
- Vendor Mgmt
- Communication
- Client Relations
- Interpersonal
- Written/Verbal
- People Skills
- Presentation
- Business Communication
- Diplomatic
- Conflict Resolution
- MS Office
- VBA
- SAP
Accomplishments
- Documented and resolved [Issue] which led to [Results].
- Supervised team of [Number] staff members.
- Achieved [Result] by completing [Task] with accuracy and efficiency.
- Achieved [Result] by introducing [Software] for [Type] tasks.
- Achieved [Result] through effectively helping with [Task].
Eminent Accomplishments
- 01/01/23, Initiate and execute DDP and LDP shipments to USA. Execute more than USD 150 M Annual sales.
- 01/01/22, Development & Execution of Amazon Softline brand.
- 01/01/21, Initiate & Execute Levis Knits T shirts.
- 01/01/19, Introduced Denizen brand.
- 01/01/18, Introduced Dockers Woman's brand & grew by 8% Sales.
- 01/01/16, Grew Tops Men's & Women's Shirts, Bottom Mean Pants market from $41Mn to $56Mn.
- 01/01/15, Enhanced sales by 15% for Red Tab Shirts & Levis/ Dockers bottom division.
- 01/01/15, Introduced US premium brand 'Nordstrom' & built a USD 5Mn business.
Residency
Permanent Resident of Hong Kong
Areas Of Expertise
Strategic Focus, Analytical, Visionary, Business Acumen, Lead/ Inspire, Administration/ Supervision, Project Mgmt., Decisive, Foster/Promote Team Spirit, Organizational/ Coordination, Delegation, Results Driven, Methodical, Planning, Training/ Coaching, Multitasker, Time Mgmt., CRM, Brand/ Profit Exceeding, Financial/ Cost/ Price Strategies, Cross-Functional, Merchandising/ Buying/ Sourcing Strategies, Negotiating, Operational Efficiency, Meeting Deadlines, Retailing/ Management Principles, Fashion Coordination/ Promotion, Retail Buying, Merchandising Metrics, Analysis, Employee/ Client/ Stakeholder Management, Strategic Planning, Managing Best Practices, Resource Management, Diverse Cultural, Lean Manufacturing, Vendor Management, Client Relations, Interpersonal, Written/Verbal, People Skills, Presentation, Business Communication, Diplomatic, Conflict Resolution, MS Office, VBA, SAP
Certification
- [Area of expertise] License - [Timeframe]
- Certified [Job Title], [Company Name] - [Timeframe]
- [Area of certification] Training - [Timeframe]
- Licensed [Job Title] - [Timeframe]
Languages
English
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Hindi
Beginner (A1)
Tamil
Advanced (C1)
Timeline
Assistant General Manager in Merchandizing and Marketing
Epic Designers Ltd
01.2012 - Current
Head of Merchandising & Planning
Freshtex Philippines Incorporation
01.2011 - 01.2012
Senior Merchandiser/ Account Manager
Hirdaramani Mercury Apparel (Pvt.) Ltd
01.2009 - 01.2011
Merchandising Manager
ZM Vertiko Group (Subsidiary of Joe's Fashion Pak)
01.2007 - 01.2009
Senior Merchandiser
Poppy's Knitwear (Pvt.) Ltd
01.2006 - 01.2007
Merchandiser
Hirdaramani Mercury Apparel (Pvt.) Ltd
01.2003 - 01.2006
Purchasing Officer
Hirdaramani Mercury Apparel (Pvt.) Ltd
01.2001 - 01.2003
Advanced Diploma - Marketing Mgmt.
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Post Graduate Diploma - Marketing
SLIM
Certificate - Merchandizing Management
Garment Industry Management Institute (GIMI)
Certificate - Textile Technology for Garment Industry
University of Moratuwa
Certificate - Merchandizing
University of Moratuwa
Certificate - Purchasing and Stores Management
Institute of Supply and Material Management
MBA - Digital Marketing
University of Bedfordshire
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