Madhu Bathija

Profit and Loss Owner – Key Categories (Jewellery, Tobacco, Sunglasses & Watches, Confectionery, Destination Goods)

Managed P&L for high-priority categories, overseeing purchase budgets (Open-to-Buy/OTP) to optimize inventory, boost sales, and enhance profitability.

• Category Strategy & Growth: Developed and executed category strategies aligned with business goals, resulting in double-digit sales growth and increased customer satisfaction.
• Market Insights & Product Decisions: Leveraged market trends and sales data to inform product selection, pricing, and promotions.
• Vendor Management & New Product Launches: Spearheaded the onboarding of new vendors and product launches, including Tribe by Amrapali at International Departure Stores, while supporting new store openings such as Last-Minute Duty Free.
• Vendor Negotiations: Negotiated favorable terms with vendors, including stock exchanges, margin improvements, and better Inco-terms, driving significant cost savings for the company.
• Partnership Development: Cultivated strong relationships with brands, vendors, and partners, ensuring competitive pricing and consistent stock availability.

Promotions & Category Management:

• Promotional Strategies: Developed and executed successful promotions (e.g., Price Off, Gifts with Purchase), leading to category growth, higher inventory turnover, and increased foot traffic.
• KPI Management: Managed and analyzed KPIs such as sales revenue, margins, inventory, forecasting, pricing strategy, and promotional planning. Led monthly category reviews with senior leadership (GM, SPG, CEO).
• Sales Team Leadership: Directed sales staff, brand promoters, and ambassadors, setting clear targets, motivating teams, and ensuring brand compliance and grooming standards.

Operational & Strategic Support:

• Optimized Sales Performance: Enhanced Average Transaction Value (ATV) and Sales Per Person (SPP) through competitive pricing and targeted promotions.
• Digital Marketing & Website Launch: Supported the successful launch of the Hyderabad Duty Free website, driving exclusive brand collaborations, PR opportunities, and impactful advertising.
• Space Optimization: Developed and optimized planograms for the Departure store, significantly increasing Revenue per Square Meter by improving space utilization.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Coordinated with cross-functional teams to streamline operations and align with business goals, ensuring smooth execution across departments.

Managed product buying, ordering, and sales forecasting across multiple sales channels (ecommerce, retail, and distribution), while optimizing Open-To-Buy (OTB) to align with market trends and business goals.

Managed product portfolios for Aigner, Cerruti 1881, and Police ($20M turnover), overseeing Open-To-Buy (OTB) and sample inventory.

• Responsible for Demand Generation and Events Planning and Execution
• Executed targeted Digital Campaigns across Middle East and Africa region with close correlation to Field Marketing Activities
• Supervised External Agencies for Event Execution and Management
• Monitored Telemarketing agencies responsible for Pipeline and Revenue Generation
• Developed Internal newsletters and supported other Internal Marketing Initiatives such as Internal Announcements and Product Launches