Mrunali Patil
Summary
Strategic Retail Buyer with 8+ years of experience across Fashion, Beauty, and Off-Price Retail. Proven expertise in merchandise planning, vendor negotiations, category management, OTB control, inventory optimization, and store launches across India and the UAE. Experienced in building profitable assortments, driving category growth, and launching new retail concepts through data-driven buying and commercial decision-making.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work history
Buyer
Lals group
Dubai, UAE
12.2025 - Current
- Managing merchandise buying and category planning for Brands To Go, supporting the launch and growth of the off-price retail business in the UAE market.
- Played a key role in the successful opening of the first Brands To Go store in Ajman, managing end-to-end merchandise planning and assortment strategy.
- Managing the buying function for Brands To Go, an off-price retail concept, supporting the launch and growth of the business in the UAE market.
- Conducting market intelligence and competitor analysis across the UAE off-price retail sector to identify buying opportunities and pricing strategies.
- Managing Open-To-Buy (OTB), inventory productivity, and stock turn to maximize profitability and minimize aged inventory.
- Negotiating commercial terms, discounts, payment conditions, and exclusive deals with suppliers and distributors.
- Developing category-wise buy plans based on customer demand, sales trends, and regional preferences.
- Working closely with operations, logistics, finance, and visual merchandising teams to ensure timely product availability and successful store launches.
- Implementing pricing and markdown strategies to drive sell-through while maintaining competitive positioning against key off-price retailers.
- Supporting expansion plans through merchandise planning, vendor development, and assortment optimization.
Deputy Manager
Reliance Retail-Tira
Mumbai, India
12.2024 - 12.2025
- Successfully managing a diverse portfolio of 52 tools and haircare brands at Tira Beauty, including top names such as Moroccanoil, Olaplex, Ouai, Vega, Philips, etc.
- Leading the negotiation processes with suppliers to secure favorable payment terms and exclusive offers.
- Conducting detailed competitor studies to ensure competitive pricing and product differentiation.
- Oversaw and optimized the OTB process, ensuring budget alignment.
- Leveraged market insights and sales data to forecast demand and curate product assortments that aligned with consumer needs, emerging trends, and price points.
- Working closely with marketing, logistics, and supply chain teams to ensure the timely launch and delivery of products.
- Introduction of one new vendor from a key category, resulting in a 1% contribution increase in the haircare and beauty tools category.
Assistant Buyer-Menswear
Apparel Group
Dubai, UAE
05.2023 - 11.2024
- Responsible for buying and curating the range across multiple categories including Young, Formal, Denim, Sportswear, Nightwear, and Undergarments
- This contribution accounts for approximately 60% of the Menswear department's offerings for the Apparel group's private label brand R&B, catering to over 120 stores
- Effectively grasped the nuances of the GCC market and its diverse consumer base, tailoring purchasing strategies to align with regional preferences and market demands
- Collaborated closely with Visual Merchandising (VM) and Planning teams to ensure that each region received the appropriate product assortment despite centralized buying, considering the unique design preferences and market trends of individual regions
- Effectively managing Open-To-Buy (OTB) budgets for my assigned categories, ensuring optimal allocation of funds to maximize sales and minimize excess inventory
- Introduced 50% solids in undergarments for Spring 2024, resulting in a remarkable monthly Rate of sales (ROS) jump by 100-150 pcs, demonstrating the effectiveness of the strategic product innovation
- Introduced relaxed fit to the sportswear basics lineup in Summer 2024 to align with market trends, ensuring our product offerings remain competitive and relevant
- Managing daily communication with vendors from China, Turkey, Bangladesh, and India to handle orders, obtain approvals, drive product development, strategize seasonal planning, and negotiate terms effectively, resulting in a significant 60% marginal growth
- Identifying potential missed categories and product lines within the market, conducting thorough market research and analysis to uncover opportunities for expansion and growth
- Conducted regular visits to R&B and competitor stores to ensure customer satisfaction, gain insights into the European and Gulf markets, stay abreast of new trends, and analyze competitor product assortments
- Revitalized the undergarments and nightwear categories by expanding the option count and elevating quality standards
- Led the development of new wall and gondola fixtures for store displays, aimed at optimizing product visibility and enriching the overall shopping experience for customers
- These enhancements are set to launch in the upcoming Winter 2024 season
Assistant Buyer-Menswear
Tata Trent-Westside
Mumbai, Maharashtra
08.2022 - 05.2023
- Bought and built the range for Westside, one of India's largest and fastest-growing chains of fashion retail stores, for their private label streetwear brand NUON, for over 200 stores
- Successfully maintained a consistent monthly business of approximately 21 crores for NUON, ensuring timely launches of wall and table displays and meeting all weekly targets without fail
- Managed Open-To-Buy (OTB) budgets for NUON, in charge of diverse product categories including Viscose shirts, t-shirts, shorts, jackets, and types of denim
- Collaborated closely with the planning team to ensure effective allocation of funds, maximizing sales, and minimizing excess inventory
- Successfully improved contribution from 19% to 21% in the Menswear department within eight months by implementing strategic changes to garment fits
- Achieved approximately 80% of sell-through for all the launches in 30 days by collaborating closely with the Visual Merchandising (VM) team to ensure accurate and appealing displays of NUON products at each store location, enhancing brand visibility and driving sales before each launch
- Conducted thorough analysis of sell-through and rate of sale data following each product launch, providing valuable insights into the effectiveness of the launch strategy and informing future decision-making processes
- Maintained regular communication with vendors on a daily basis to facilitate order processing, obtain approvals, coordinate product development, plan seasonal assortments, and negotiate terms, achieving a consistent 60% marginal growth
- Led the liquidation process at End of Season Sale (EOSS) for NUON, ensuring efficient clearance of excess inventory while maintaining profitability and brand integrity
- Conducted extensive research on current fashion trends by analyzing online hits and benchmarking against leading brands
- Visited Westside and competitor stores to ensure customer satisfaction, gain insights into emerging trends, and evaluate competitor product assortments
Apparel Buyer Sr. category officer
Avenue Supermarts Ltd.
Thane, Maharashtra
01.2021 - 05.2022
- Managed Men's, Women's and Kids' sports apparel category for 260+ stores for DMart-Indian's second largest supermarket company
- Increased category growth by 85% (~84Cr
- To 156Cr.) in three years
- Achieved high growth in Women's and Kids sportswear (~18Cr
- To 36Cr.)
- Developed new product line to capture premium customer base
- Effectively negotiated with manufacturers to achieve target product margin of 30%
- Introduced 10 new vendors to achieve new styles and maintain enough supply for sales
- Managed inventory for pan India level for stores as well as distribution center's
- Take call on liquidation for slow moving articles
- Analysed sales data using SAP, BW and Excel to drive monthly sales targets
- Responsible for mapping articles at store level for pan India
- Visited stores to review article performance and competitor activities
Apparel Buyer Jr. category officer
Avenue Supermarts Ltd.
Thane, Maharashtra
07.2018 - 01.2021
- Handling sportswear category for Men's, Women's and Kids' apparels
- Communicated effectively and professionally by phone and email with vendors and followed up for cost negotiation and final price to achieve desired margin
- Assisted manager daily on various tasks
- Inputted and maintained purchase orders
- Conducted data analysis & system updates
- Monitored and coordinated shipments
- Pitching new ideas
Fashion forecast intern
HGH
Worli, India
07.2017 - 07.2017
- Identifying new trend and predicting how those trends will shape in companies' magazine
- Meeting and encouraging new vendors to participate in the exhibition
- Responsible for making the final catalogue
- One of the organizers, Organised HGH India 2017, the annual trade show for Home Textiles, Home Décor, Gifts & Houseware for three days
Education
Advance diploma - Merchandising
SASMIRA
BSc (Grad.) - Fashion designing
SASMIRA
H.S.C -
KV IIT
POWAIS.S.C -
KV IIT
POWAISkills
- Supplier Negotiation and Relationship Management
- Market Research and Trend Forecasting
- Open-to-Buy & Inventory Management
- Sales Forecasting & Demand Planning
- E-commerce & Omnichannel Buying
- Data Analysis
- Product Assortment & Category Management
- Vendor Sourcing & Cost Optimization
- Competitive Analysis & Pricing Strategies
- Cross-functional Collaboration with Marketing & Supply Chain
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- SAP
- Coral Draw/Photoshop
Certification
- Hiking Certificate, Government of Himachal Pradesh (ATTAL BHIHARI VAJPAYEE INSTITUTE OF MOUNTAINEERING & ALLIED SPORTS), For trekking 72kms and climbing 10000 feet height.
- Designed the entire collection for college annual fashion show, ENCHANTE-2017
- B grade holder in elementary drawing exam
Accomplishments
- Successfully contributed to the launch of the first Brands To Go store in Ajman, establishing merchandise assortments across multiple categories.
- Developed relationships with international and regional suppliers to secure branded inventory at competitive costs.
- Built and executed buying strategies for an off-price retail model focused on maximizing value and margin.
Timeline
Buyer
Lals group
12.2025 - Current
Deputy Manager
Reliance Retail-Tira
12.2024 - 12.2025
Assistant Buyer-Menswear
Apparel Group
05.2023 - 11.2024
Assistant Buyer-Menswear
Tata Trent-Westside
08.2022 - 05.2023
Apparel Buyer Sr. category officer
Avenue Supermarts Ltd.
01.2021 - 05.2022
Apparel Buyer Jr. category officer
Avenue Supermarts Ltd.
07.2018 - 01.2021
Fashion forecast intern
HGH
07.2017 - 07.2017
BSc (Grad.) - Fashion designing
SASMIRA
H.S.C -
KV IIT
S.S.C -
KV IIT
Advance diploma - Merchandising
SASMIRA