Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Personal Information
Timeline
Hi, I’m

Rakesh Sharma

SENIOR SOURCING & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONAL
Zhangjiagang,Jiangsu
Rakesh Sharma

Summary

Senior Executive with Global perspective and an entrepreneurial drive having 29 years in Apparel, Textiles and Accessories sourcing. Possess diverse and cross functional experience with demonstrated abilities in business turnaround, strategic planning, execution along with people development and in depth understanding of product complexities within the sub-continent. Innovative and results driven leader focussed on achieving results in highly competitive environments that demand continuous improvement while building key partnerships. With an experience of sourcing from different countries and international markets, key ones including India, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Taiwan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Have been able to build and motivate cross functional and cross-cultural teams that manage and thrive in change. Yearly visits to Intertextile Shanghai, East China Fair & Canton Fairs to keep abreast with new developments & meetings with new prospective vendors keeping current trends & needs of the customers in mind.

Overview

32
years of professional experience

Work History

Cortex Textiles Ltd

Country Manager
09.2023 - Current

Job overview

  • Company Overview : Garment Manufacturer
  • Managed budgets, financial planning, and forecasting to optimize profitability for the country operations.
  • Established strong relationships with key industry players for business growth and expansion.
  • Increased market share by developing and implementing effective sales strategies.
  • Coached and mentored team members, fostering a culture of continuous learning and development.
  • Managed cross-functional teams to ensure seamless operations and drive business objectives.
  • Enhanced internal communication systems by implementing regular meetings/updates across departments.
  • Achieved established KPI for company, regional team and individual performance through teamwork and focus on customers.
  • Optimized resource allocation, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing costs.

Colette International Ltd.

General Manager
10.2017 - 07.2023

Job overview

  • Company Overview: Importers & Suppliers to retail chains at US
  • Primarily engaged in Mens fashion apparel
  • Sourcing raw material & continuous evaluation of pricing, timely delivery towards improving supply chain
  • Managing merchandisers & quality assurance team
  • Managing complete product chain from marketing till the shipping
  • Responsible for P&L & target setting towards growth year on year
  • On boarding & managing new suppliers & compliance audits
  • Liaison with buyers & factories daily for effective communication
  • Daily productivity review vis-à-vis TNA
  • Capacity planning & assurance
  • Engaging factory owners/top management negotiating pricing/capacities
  • Importers & Suppliers to retail chains at US
  • Customers: supplying thru Importers, to Costco (US), TJ Maxx (US), Nordstorm (US), WINCAN (Canada), Belk (US), Amazon (US), JC Penny (US), Burlington Stores (US) etc

Gold Pacific Global Limited

Director
05.2010 - 10.2017

Job overview

  • Company Overview: Agents & trading company engaged in Apparel & Textiles
  • Primarily engaged in Fashion apparel & textile trading
  • Presenting the seasonal collection based on fashion trends & directions
  • Managing team of merchandisers & quality controllers
  • Managing complete product chain from marketing till the shipping
  • Responsible for P&L, company audits & meeting & setting yearly targets as well as marketing to potential new customers
  • Agents & trading company engaged in Apparel & Textiles
  • Customers: supplying thru Importers, buying houses & garment manufacturing companies to L.P.P
  • (Poland), Camaieu (France), Pimkie (Gremany), M&S (U.K.), Sainsbury (U.K.), Tesco (U.K.), Target (Australia), Benetton (India), Ann Taylor (U.S.A.) & Nordstrom (U.S.A.)

SKD Pacific, Hangzhou, China

General Manager - Operations
03.2008 - 02.2010

Job overview

  • Company Overview: SKD Pacific is a Hong Kong based company sourcing from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh & China and offices at Hong Kong, London & New York
  • Heading a team of associates comprising of Development & Merchandise Managers, Material Managers, Planning Manager & Production & QA Managers, guiding them with weekly priorities and planning set in clear tones & expectations to have good control in meeting the desired target of Gross margins and delivery deadlines in alignment with the company strategy and direction
  • Vendor Strategy (Sourcing & Development)
  • Competitive pricing
  • Production capacity built up in alignment with the business volumes forecasted as per the Strategic Business Plan (SBP)
  • Vendor growth plans basis their KPI assessment, category specific capability growth and technical up-gradation
  • Product Sourcing - developing / sourcing of present new collection as per the existing trends is one of the important operations to expand business and make the customer (Sales n Buyers team) understand and identify trends
  • Service to customer - One of the most important factors in today’s competitive business environment is to provide the customer with the sharper lead-times and minimum quantities
  • SKD Pacific is a Hong Kong based company sourcing from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh & China and offices at Hong Kong, London & New York
  • Customers Managed: Promod (France), Zara (Spain), Pull & Bear (France), River Island (U.K.), Pimkie (Gremany), Dorothy Perkins (U.K.)

TRIBURG (TCPL)

Team Leader
10.2000 - 03.2008

Job overview

  • Company Overview: Triburg Consultants, is a renowned buying house, in the business of sourcing ready to wear garments for its customers, primarily US based, who import from Indian market
  • Joined as merchant managing Ann Taylor Stores (Woven Tops)
  • Thereafter moved to Ann Taylor Loft (Casual Bottoms), later was made Group Leader managing Loft (Casual Bottoms, Refined & Relaxed Separates and Dresses)
  • And the last year & a half of my association was managing Ann Taylor Factory Stores Dept as Team Leader
  • Handling merchandising & product ‘development
  • Fabric & trim research - Involves working on indications received by buyer & also providing the newest ideas for the upcoming season
  • Market research- Preparing the collection as per the mood board and ideas /themes requested by buyers
  • Product Development- Involves working on development packages received -which included Style analysis / Style allocation to vendor/Product pricing & confirmation/ Making of fit proto to meet with technician in Fit/Quality team on the Size Sets & Pilot
  • Triburg Consultants, is a renowned buying house, in the business of sourcing ready to wear garments for its customers, primarily US based, who import from Indian market

INDIGO TRADING LLC, SHARJAH, U.A.E.

Merchandise Executive
01.1997 - 10.2000

Job overview

  • Company Overview: Agents of Worldwide Apparel Resources, USA
  • Handling merchandising & product development for all the above said brands
  • Fabric & trim research-Involves working on indications received by buyer & also providing the newest ideas for the upcoming season
  • Market research- Preparing the collection as per the mood board and ideas /themes requested by buyers
  • Product Development- Involves working on development packages received, which included Style analysis / Style allocation to vendor / Product pricing & confirmation / Making of fit proto to meet with technician in Fit / Quality team on the Size Sets & Pilot
  • Agents of Worldwide Apparel Resources, USA

M/S MAGNOLIA BLOSSOM

Sr. Merchandise & Marketing Executive
01.1993 - 12.1996

Job overview

  • Company Overview: Company was dealing in high fashion garments, specialized in dealing with tie–dyed and natural dyed garments
  • Initially learnt the ropes working in all departments
  • I.e
  • Production, quality, fabric, trims, stores & later merchandising & by the end of my association I was responsible for following…
  • Responsible for overall decision making with respect to order booking, presentation of collection, negotiating prices and delivery schedules
  • Advice cost saving alternatives and solutions at product development stage and related production issues
  • Responsible for effective production capacity planning
  • Fabric and trim sourcing
  • Ensuring smooth functioning of the division and supervising daily co-ordination and communication activities
  • Supervise and coordinate with production, shipping and quality control associates
  • Company was dealing in high fashion garments, specialized in dealing with tie–dyed and natural dyed garments
  • Customers Managed : Liaison with buying houses for Taffles, Bararas House, OTTO for customers such as Kiabi (France), Galleries Lafayette (France), Postal Market (Italy), Spot (France), Farmers (New Zealand)

Education

International Institute of Fashion Technology

Diploma Course from Apparel Merchandising & Marketing

University Overview

Kendriya Vidyalaya

Schooling

University Overview

Skills

Leadership

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Personal Information

Personal Information
Date of Birth: 06/12/73

Timeline

Country Manager
Cortex Textiles Ltd
09.2023 - Current
General Manager
Colette International Ltd.
10.2017 - 07.2023
Director
Gold Pacific Global Limited
05.2010 - 10.2017
General Manager - Operations
SKD Pacific, Hangzhou, China
03.2008 - 02.2010
Team Leader
TRIBURG (TCPL)
10.2000 - 03.2008
Merchandise Executive
INDIGO TRADING LLC, SHARJAH, U.A.E.
01.1997 - 10.2000
Sr. Merchandise & Marketing Executive
M/S MAGNOLIA BLOSSOM
01.1993 - 12.1996
International Institute of Fashion Technology
Diploma Course from Apparel Merchandising & Marketing
01.1994
Kendriya Vidyalaya
Schooling
01.1991

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Rakesh SharmaSENIOR SOURCING & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONAL