Senior Merchandising Manager with 25 years of experience in end to end apparel merchandising on multiple US, UK and European brands.
Ability and hands on experience in raw materials and product development, product development life cycle management, knowledge and ability
to do costing and price negotiations on FOB and LDP terms. Experience and knowledge on procurement and raw material management on JIT
technique, experience on bulk production and order management with the fulfilment of KPIs such as on time delivery,100% order fulfillment, No
cost of failure and Zero defect. Proven track records on follow up across all key the key and cross functions of apparel merchandising process
until the shipment is sent off and documentations have been done by the commercial team.

I am a firm believer of team work, diligent, commitment in reaching set goals and objectives. I do understand importance of having leadership
skills and I have an ability to provide the leadership when it is necessary. I have proven track records on my team work skills, team achievements
in business growth and sustainability perspective.

? Managed a team of merchandisers with the focus of KPI evaluation for multiple brands such as MNS, Meundies, Chibo, Omega Line, Walmart.

? Set up and developed formal innovation center with dedicated innovation team and introduced innovative intimate apparel products with the brands.

? Strictly implemented adhere, to critical path management throughout merchandising process by WIP management tool with the brands and merchandisers.


? Introduced mechanism to work with Industrial Engineers, product technicians and sourcing team to work on new price inquiries in order to quote competitive prices and overcome the pricing challenge.

? Worked with existing and new customer to meet sales targets set by senior management.


Sumithra Group of Companies: Group of out wear apparel manufacture in Sri Lanka apparel trade since 1994: I worked at Sumithra as an

Manager

I had to manage sustainable brand of PrAna that comes under Colombia Sports Wear at Sumithra which is one of their main accounts.
Worked with PrAna - CA, USA team as well as with Colombia regional office in India on day to day work very closely and effectively, weekly basis
zoom meeting with US team as we had the challenge of rebuilding the confidence with PrAna head office team when I was joining.

? Worked closely with PrAna sustainability team to implement new policies with suppliers and plants.

? Had to work on Sales men/marketing samples timely manner in order to align with their buying meeting, proto and development samples until
the Fit is approved in development perspective then wash approval samples and PP samples as per the customer's calendar and T&A by
complying with their SOPs as we mainly did garment dyed pants and jackets in organic cotton.

* Submitting price quotes (costing) with 100% accuracy and realistically as per the T&A.

? Managed dye and wash process from the point of dip and panel approval process to maintain approved dye and wash standards in the bulk
production by coordinating dye house, production plants and the brand, ensured relevant garment tests have been done at development stage as well as in the bulk.

? Managed the procurement process in timely manner with nominated overseas suppliers even in the Covid19 pandemic era.

? We as a team was able to regain the customer's confidence within 2 months and grow the business from USD 7 million to 10 million by 43%.

Account Manager of PrAna

(April,2018 - 20th	, September,2019).

? Worked with new apparel brands and new apparel products to design and develop new packaging, including sustainable packaging
developments.


? Worked closely with UK head office product development and marketing teams on new product and customer establishment matters with the focus of diversifying customer base from apparel packaging to non-apparel which we have done successfully.


Hela Clothing (Pvt) LtdLtd Intimate and Active wear manufacturer: I worked at Hela as an Account Manager on Soma Intimate brand.
(June,2016 - 20th, March,2018).

?   Manage Soma Intimates Sleep were program from the point of PP sample, garment testing, Top sample execution to the bulk shipment.
?   Liaised with nominated Chinese fabric, sewing and packaging suppliers, worked on 90days lead time from fabric to garment delivery.
?   Initiated and successfully introduced local fabric supplier to overcome the lead time challenge that we had with Chinese and other
overseas suppliers on shipping.
?   Liaised with customer on day to day matters, weekly WIP and weekly based order review.
?   Overall client management, procurement management and bulk order execution and management were improved to the satisfactory
level of the client within 4 months of taking over the account.


Valtex International FTZ, Sharjah, UAE Sharjah based seamless intimate apparel manufacturer: I worked at Valtex as Merchandising

Business Development Manager

Managed and Led a collaborative merchandising team efficiently to cater UK, Europe and UK brands such as MNS, Next, Tesco,
Sainsbury, Wall Mart, Targets, to ensure international counterparts received the required service levels from the point of proto sample,
costing to bulk order delivery on time with the fulfillment of both customer and company KPIs as it was always a challenge with limitation of experienced and skilled workers since whole county was depended on foreign work force/human resource.
?   Ensured to achieve annual sales budget of over US $150M continuously.
?   Manage the procurement process with the merchandising team through daily, weekly based progress meetings, critical path, KPI
analysis. Specially the raw material procurement process was closely monitored, evaluated, analyzed and re stablished the relationships
with suppliers since the products of all the brands were depended on imported raw materials.
?   Worked with sample development, technical and product development merchants based on customer PD T&A to submit the all kind of samples on time. Process was executed by daily basic progress meetings.

brand. (August,2008 - 20th, January,2013).


?   It was USD 2.5 million turnover account when I was joining Soma account at MAS intimate in 2008 as a replacement senior merchandiser
of a team of 5 with the account manager, same team was able to manage the continuous business growth that reached to USD 27.5
million with in next 4 years.
?   Our commitment towards the success of the brand during that period was appreciated by Soma brand on their VP level visit to Sri Lanka
in 2012. Each member of our team was appreciated with Excellent Service Certificate by Soma brand itself.
?   We have achieved all 4 main KPIs in 100% throughout the period of 5 years.


Timex Garments (Pvt) Ltd  Intimate apparel manufacturer: I worked at Timex as Account Manager on Layne Bryant Intimate brand.

MAS as Senior Merchandiser on Soma Intimate

(August,2007 - July,2008).


?   I was able to manage and lead merchandising team from Concept /Proto sample, costing to bulk shipment (End to End operation) for the satisfaction of the Layne Bryant brand that came through Limited Brand Sri Lanka and HK offices.


William E Connor Associates -Sri Lanka Liaison Office Outer wear and Intimate apparel liaison office: I worked at William E Conner as a

Sri Lanka Liaison Office Outer

Served as a key liaison and resource for vendors and internal business partners. Assisted and supported the operational functions to Proto, Fit,
PP and marketing samples, Top and Shipment samples, work on costing and price negotiation, follow up bulk orders with production plants via
WIP and plants visits and ensured on time delivery, update the customer with weekly WIP. Fortunate to work on a 3-way communication system
on a digital flat form introduced by Dillard's in 2003.
?   Execute customer calendars through Critical Path system. Ensured all the drop and dead dates are met across all merchandising functions of customer T&A.
?   Visited Dillard's, Nordstrom and Lands' End brands on vendor meetings, vendor summits on numerous occasions.
*Selected Contributions:


?  Improved the productivity and efficiency of team meetings to reduce cross-functional team meeting hours by 30%.

?  Successfully formed a new intimate apparel merchandising team with guidance of country director and started Dillard's intimate products with MAS Intimate in 2004 and contributed to Dillard's intimate apparel launch.
?  I have played instrument role in diversifying William E Connor Sri Lanka business from apparel to non-apparel that was appreciated by William E.
Connor regional Managing director in 2006/7.


Edinburgh Wollen Mill Ltd -Sri Lanka Liaison Officeoffice Woven and Knit Outer wear apparel products: I worked at EWM as a Senior

Senior Market Representative

I was recruited by country director when the EWM office was stablished in Sri Lankan in 1998.
?  Worked on merchandising function, shipment planning - production follow ups, coordination with UK head office and vendors, execution
and arranging shipping and commercial documentation to UK head office on shipments.

?  Directly involved raw materials sourcing functions of EWM selected program from Sri Lankan supplier and fabric mills.
?   Supported country director on administration matters, involved in preparing monthly finance reports to UK head office.
?  I was promoted to Merchandising manage with in a period of one year with the recommendation of UK head office.


Aitken Spence (Garments)  Woven and Knit apparel manufacturing sector of leading group of companies in Sri Lanka: I worked at Aitken

Merchandiser and Merchandising Manager

This was my 1st	job after graduation from the university.

?  Handled Edinburgh Woolen Mill, Tesco, Little Wood account under the super vison of relevant senior merchandisers.
?  I was involved in production planning as a trainee production planner for the period of 9 months apart from my merchandising portfolios.
?  I was able to gain overall apparel merchandising and production planning and work study knowledge and experience during my tenure at Aitken Spence Garment

Merchandiser and Senior Merchandiser

Find out detailed information about Lalith Henagama,  in Tustin, CA

Lalith Henagama: in Tustin, CA

Lalith Henagama