Supply Chain Solutions Architect

DARSHAK KUMAR

*******.********@*****.*** https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshak-kumar11/ cell: 416-***-****

Omnichannel Retail Leader Operations & Logistics Strategist Collaborative Catalyst Mentor & Talent

Cultivator Solutions Architect

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Dynamic and results-oriented business strategist with a proven track record of driving revenue growth and

profitability. Renowned for leadership, teamwork, and delivering exceptional outcomes in revenue enhancement,

profit growth, and supply chain optimization. Trusted for innovative solutions in overcoming operational challenges

in systems, business operations or any obstacles encountered. Committed to lifelong learning and team success.

KEY SKILLS

• Omnichannel Merchandise • Allocation & Replenishment • 3rd Party Logistics & Warehouse

Planning & Management Strategies Management

• Sales Forecasting • Analytics & Project Management • Product Life Cycle Management

• Assortment & Space Planning • Visual Merchandising • Vendor/Supplier Collaboration

RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Manager, Supply Chain & Operations 2023 - Present

Toys R Us, Canada

Comprehensive control of overseeing and optimizing the end-to-end product flow process for a $550 million

business. This role required designing, implementing, and continuously enhancing supply chain strategies to ensure

efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and a seamless flow of goods, while fostering collaboration across various functional

areas for 40% of the overall business.

• Engineered new ordering process with presentation mins parameters resulting doubling store in-stock

levels over 85%.

• Developed a top 500 key SKU strategy, followed by the implementation of advanced replenishment and

warehouse strategies boosting comparable sales by 18%.

• Revised existing ordering and replenishment process that reduced supplier purchases by 25% and inventory

by 40% to previous year.

• Identified process gaps within inventory management systems that led to $32M decline of excess

inventory, incorporated changes to avoid future issues.

• Optimized organizational reporting by updating 20% of reports and eliminating 30% of redundancies.

Director, Inventory Planning & Merchandising 2018 - 2023

Bed Bath & Beyond and Buy Buy Baby, Canada

Built and led a team of 8 merchandise planners, amplifying demand forecasting, replenishment inventory control

and operational needs, significantly enhancing the efficiency of a $650 million business. As the enterprise SME for

Canada, collaborated with the executive office to optimize assortments, product flow, and space utilization.

• Enhanced in-stock levels and improved profitability through 3PL warehousing, maximizing omnichannel

customer experience and achieving a 10-15% comp sales increase for 4 consecutive years.

• Reduced excess inventory by $18 million while maintaining company-assigned margin targets as part of

inventory optimization initiative.

• Drove 5% - 8% annual revenue growth by driving best-in-class merchandising strategies and securing a

market-leading position.

• Collaborated with cross functional partners on timelines, standards and governance around resets,

revisions, go to market calendars and lifecycle management.

• Facilitated cross-concept and cross-country meetings with key stakeholders to understand unique business

intricacies and collaborated with transformation business partners to develop tailored processes and tools.

Director, Field Merchandising 2015 - 2017

Bed Bath & Beyond, Canada

Directed the development and implementation of store ordering strategies and visual merchandising standards in

alignment with brand recognition principles, optimizing in-store adaptations and enhancing the customer

experience for the Canadian market

• Designed and implemented a new weekly field ordering routine, enhancing overall store efficiency by 20-

30% across all stores in Canada and the US, while boosting in-stock levels of top sellers by 12-15%.

• Led a team of 8 which produced over 100 merchandising playbooks annually, streamlining store-level

execution with SKU+UPC specific schematics which contributed to enhanced operational efficiency by 30%

reduction in execution time, optimization of labor hours and impactful visual merchandised statements.

• Strategically optimized aisle and endcap allocations, resulting in a 12% sales increase and identifying add-on

opportunities that increased units per transaction by 15%.

• Developed various merchandising and analytical tactics which contributed towards reduction of aged

inventory by 15-18% in all stores.

• Acted as the functional expert within the merchant organization, transforming product vision into physical

retail spaces for stores

District Manager, Field Merchandising 2012 - 2014

Bed Bath & Beyond, Canada

Managed merchandise functions for 12-18 stores across 6 Eastern Canada provinces, specializing in sales-driving

initiatives, establishing and maintaining merchandising standards, directing visual merchandising presentations,

managing field ordering, and controlling store inventory

District Manager, Store Operations 2009 - 2011

Bed Bath & Beyond, Canada

Responsible for store operations in 10 -15 locations across 6 Eastern Canada provinces, primarily in logistics,

shipping/receiving, e-commerce operations, schedules and payroll budgets, front-end operations, inventory control

and pricing.

Store Manager 2008 - 2009

Bed Bath & Beyond, Canada

Store Manager 2003 - 2008

Linens n Things, Canada

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Technology 1997 - 2001

University of South Pacific, Suva, Fiji

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