Yamini Shami

Strategic Buyer | Apparel Group• Lead strategic buying and merchandising for a USD 20M handbag business, managing the category with a strong focus on commercial performance, product relevance and profitable growth.• Own the end-to-end buying cycle, including market and trend analysis, product selection, range building, assortment planning, pricing, supplier coordination and product execution.• Develop commercially relevant handbag assortments by balancing customer preferences, fashion trends, quality, price architecture and business objectives.• Manage relationships with international suppliers and vendors, driving product development, sourcing and timely execution across the category.• Lead supplier negotiations and commercial discussions to achieve competitive pricing, strong product value and business objectives.• Analyse category and market performance to identify growth opportunities, product gaps and opportunities to optimize the assortment.• Drive seasonal buying strategies by identifying emerging trends, key commercial products and opportunities across price points and customer segments.• Partner closely with merchandising, planning, sourcing, design and retail teams to ensure alignment across product, inventory, pricing and commercial plans.• Support product development from initial concept and supplier selection through sampling, approvals and final execution.• Monitor product and category performance and translate market and customer insights into future buying and assortment decisions.• Build and maintain strong international supplier partnerships while continuously evaluating quality, pricing, lead times and supplier performance.• Previously managed a USD 5M kidswear portfolio, adding broader category experience across fashion buying and merchandising.

As a Fashion Buyer for the Kidswear Department, I am responsible for managing retail and buying operations, overseeing a portfolio valued at USD 5 Million for the current year. My role involves identifying and building relationships with suitable suppliers and manufacturers to develop seasonal product collections that align with market demands. I travel to countries like Indonesia, Thailand, and India for direct supplier visits, sourcing and selecting new products through catalogs and in-person engagements. I develop product ranges based on historical data, growth forecasts, and risk assessments, ensuring profitability by aligning the product mix with customer purchasing trends and retail store needs. By closely analyzing past season sales data, I work with planners to decide the optimal budget mix for the upcoming season. Collaboration is key in my role—I work closely with designers to finalize design boards at the beginning of each season, ensuring that the product collection reflects current trends while staying within budget and maintaining quality. Global sourcing and buying are a core part of my role, managing procurement for locations such as India, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, and Thailand while adhering to time and cost constraints. I decide upon suppliers based on their core competencies and past performance, ensuring we select the best partners to deliver on our product needs. I oversee end-to-end merchandising activities, including fit, styling, approvals, and deliveries for each style. My responsibility also extends to coordinating with the marketing and visual merchandising (VM) teams, ensuring that the display systems, methods, and in-store presentation align with the category's vision.

As a Senior Merchandiser, I manage the end-to-end process of product development, order collection, and production coordination to ensure that all products meet quality standards and client expectations. I initiate product development by working closely with buyers to collect orders and provide accurate measurements, ensuring that all designs align with customer needs and market trends. I am also responsible for costing and risk assessment, evaluating financial viability while managing production timelines. Order confirmation and L/C (Letter of Credit) opening are key aspects of my role, ensuring that all transactions are executed smoothly and in compliance with contractual agreements. I also handle material sourcing, coordinating the procurement of fabrics and trims, ensuring all materials are available in time for production. I manage the entire orders process, from initial approvals to production planning, coordinating with all relevant departments to ensure timely delivery. Maintaining sampling expenses and ensuring the cost efficiency of each product is also part of my responsibility. Research and development play a key role in my work as I strive to find innovative and production-feasible solutions to meet buyer requirements. I ensure that the final product meets the highest quality standards, overseeing final inspections to maintain product excellence. Throughout the production cycle, I maintain constant follow-up with the buyer, ensuring that all stages—from initial order collection to final shipment—are completed on time and to the buyer's satisfaction

As an Assistant Product Development Merchandiser at Orient Craft Limited, I played a key role in supporting the product development process, ensuring smooth coordination between design, production, and sourcing teams. I assisted in the product development initiation, working closely with the design team to bring concepts to life by providing key insights on materials, trims, and fabric sourcing. My responsibilities also included gathering market research to understand current trends and customer needs, ensuring our designs were aligned with market demand. I contributed to sample management, ensuring all product samples were developed on time, meeting design specifications, and quality standards. I also provided measurement and technical support to the buyer, ensuring accurate information was communicated and products met production requirements. Costing and material sourcing were key aspects of my role, as I helped ensure that product designs stayed within budget while meeting quality standards. I coordinated with suppliers to ensure timely delivery of materials and trims, contributing to efficient production timelines. Throughout the development process, I worked closely with cross-functional teams to ensure all processes—from design approval to sample validation—ran smoothly, contributing to the overall success of the product line.