SAI KISHAN
Commercial Merchandise Strategist

Leading buying, pricing, allocation, and inventory strategy to drive profitable omni-channel growth.

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0Units Growth
0 Markets Owned
0Reporting Automation
0Stockout Reduction
About Me

The Person
Behind the
Numbers.

I operate where pricing strategy, inventory economics, and commercial execution intersect. I focus on full price sell-through, margin protection and disciplined financial ownership across complex omni channel markets.

At H&M – Alshaya Group, I lead commercial performance for 9 MENA markets across 90+ stores and 5 e-commerce channels. I translate strategy into execution by strengthening markdown governance, optimizing inventory flow, and aligning pricing architecture with customer value.

Merchandise Planning & Strategy Financial & Performance KPIs Cross-Functional Collaboration Markdown Optimization & Pricing Buying & Sourcing Strategy Supplier & Vendor Management Data Analysis & Forecasting
Microsoft Excel Power BI Blue Yonder Oracle Merchandising Demand Forecasting Markdown Strategy Assortment Planning KPI Reporting Microsoft Excel Power BI Blue Yonder Oracle Merchandising Demand Forecasting Markdown Strategy Assortment Planning KPI Reporting
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KIDSWEAR
PRICING
STRATEGY
Click to explore
1 Problem
Weak Pricing
Perception

Weak pricing perception across the kidswear category was impacting units sold and overall sales value — customers perceived the range as unaffordable relative to competitors, holding back commercial performance.

2 Action
Pricing
Roadmap Built

Built a structured pricing roadmap across short, mid, and long time horizons. Rebalanced entry price points and range architecture in alignment with franchise buying, financial targets, and market dynamics.

3 Result
120% Unit
Uplift

Delivered a 120% uplift in units sold and an 87% increase in sales value, while protecting margin integrity. Recognised with the H&M President's Award — the highest commercial recognition within the franchise.

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Key Highlights

Moments That
Mattered.

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01

"Delivered a 120% uplift in units sold and 87% increase in sales value through a bold kidswear pricing roadmap — recognised with the H&M President's Award."

H&M – Alshaya Group · MENA
01

"Reduced ageing stock from 15% to 6% through targeted markdown and clearance campaigns across ISR, MSS, and ESS sale events."

H&M – Alshaya Group · MENA
02

"Built Power BI dashboards that cut reporting time by 90%, enabling real-time insights into sales trends, stock levels, and margin performance."

H&M – Alshaya Group · Kuwait
02

"Achieved 90% product availability across all channels while reducing stockouts by 30% through optimized allocation and replenishment tools."

H&M – Alshaya Group · Kuwait
03

"Spearheaded the launch of the first-ever hemp products in the Middle East, creating a new product category and growing category sales by 30%."

Puca Global · Dubai
03

"Drove a 7% increase in LFL growth through cross-functional collaboration with supply chain, VM, operations, and marketing teams."

H&M – Alshaya Group · MENA
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Career Timeline

Work
Experience.

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09/2025 — Present
(01)
H&M – Alshaya Group
Senior Merchandiser / Planner
Kuwait · MENA Region
+ Open
  • Kidswear Pricing Strategy: Developed and executed a comprehensive short, mid, and long-term pricing roadmap to improve affordability in kidswear, delivering a 120% uplift in units sold and an 87% increase in sales value.
  • Buying & Assortment Strategy: Liaised directly with the H&M Sweden franchise team to influence assortments, aligning with reference market and bottom-up sales plans. Tracked buying levels against budgets, identified deviations and selling opportunities, and implemented corrective actions to secure balanced intake and achieve sales & stock KPIs.
  • MENA Region Accountability: Held End-to-End Financial Accountability, leading planning across 9 markets, 90+ retail stores, and 5 e-com sites, ensuring alignment with global strategies and financial KPIs.
  • Markdown & Clearance Management: Directed ISR, MSS, and ESS sale campaigns, driving double-digit clearance sell-through uplift while protecting margins and reducing ageing stock from 15% to 6%.
  • Commercial Leadership: Drove weekly commercial focuses, supported the merchandising team by simulating selling scenarios, and initiated stock and sales development actions to strengthen the customer offer.
  • Tool Development & Implementation: Partnered with the IT department to design and launch an in-house allocation, replenishment, and forecasting tool; defined critical business logic, ensuring accuracy in demand planning and stock flow.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborated with supply chain, VM, operations, and marketing teams to optimize stock movements, store layouts, and promotional campaigns, resulting in a 7% increase in LFL growth.
10/2022 — 09/2025
(02)
H&M – Alshaya Group
Merchandiser / Planner
Kuwait
+ Open
  • Stock Availability & Replenishment: Optimized allocation tools, achieving 90% product availability across all channels. Enhanced demand forecasting tools to improve sales predictions, ensuring optimal stock levels and efficient inventory turnover, reducing stockouts by 30%.
  • Trend Analysis & Assortment Planning: Analyzed historical data and market trends to refine assortment allocation by regions, improving units sold by 12% and sales value by 5%. Optimized product mix to increase full-price sales in price elastic markets.
  • Advanced Data & Reporting: Built and maintained advanced Power BI dashboards, reducing reporting time by 90% and providing real-time insights into sales trends, stock levels, and margin performance. Enabled more informed, data-driven decision making across teams.
02/2020 — 10/2020
(03)
Puca Global
Product Development Merchandiser
Dubai, UAE
+ Open
  • Product Development & Assortment Planning: Led the product assortment planning for activewear and footwear categories, ensuring alignment with market trends, customer preferences, and sales targets.
  • Supplier Negotiations & Supply Chain Management: Led negotiations with suppliers to secure favorable terms, ensuring product availability, timely delivery, and competitive pricing. Contributed to a 25% reduction in lead times and improved product availability.
  • Market Expansion & E-Commerce Strategy: Contributed to e-commerce strategies by enhancing product visibility, driving a 20% increase in online sales. Leveraged technical expertise to improve customer engagement and product performance across digital channels.
  • Innovation & Market Leadership: Spearheaded the launch of the first-ever hemp products in the Middle East, creating a new product category and generating significant market interest, growing category sales by 30%.
01/2019 — 01/2020
(04)
Cocachi
Co-Founder
India
+ Open
  • Sustainable Brand Development: Co-founded and managed an eco-friendly kidswear brand, driving product innovation from concept to market. Focused on creating a sustainable product assortment aligned with emerging market trends and consumer demand.
  • Merchandising & Buying Strategy: Led the end-to-end merchandising process, including developing buying plans and ensuring stock availability, with a strong emphasis on organic and sustainable products.
  • Supplier & Production Optimization: Negotiated supplier contracts to secure favorable pricing and lead times, optimizing the flow of products and ensuring timely replenishment.
  • Market Research & Growth Strategy: Leveraged trend analysis and market research to align the product range with consumer preferences, positioning the brand competitively in the growing sustainable fashion market.
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Recognition

Awards &
Honours.

🏆
H&M Group · 2024
President's Award
Awarded for the Kidswear pricing project — delivering transformative results in pricing perception and unit sales across the MENA region.
Alshaya Group · Multiple
Employee of the Quarter
Multiple awards for exceptional contribution to sales growth and reporting efficiency through advanced data tools and Power BI dashboards.
Alshaya Group
Recognition Club Award
Recognized for exceptional demand planning expertise, optimizing inventory flow and product availability across markets.
Technical Toolkit

Skills &
Tools.

Core Competencies
  • Merchandise Planning & StrategyExpert
  • Financial & Performance KPI ManagementExpert
  • Cross-Functional CollaborationExpert
  • Markdown Optimization & PricingExpert
  • Buying & Sourcing StrategyAdvanced
  • Supplier & Vendor ManagementAdvanced
  • Data Analysis & ForecastingExpert
Technical Tools
  • Microsoft ExcelExpert
  • Microsoft PowerPointExpert
  • Power BIAdvanced
  • Blue YonderAdvanced
  • Oracle MerchandisingExpert
  • Allocation & Replenishment ToolsAdvanced
Education
BACHELOR OF
FASHION TECHNOLOGY
(APPAREL PRODUCTION)
National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)
2015 — 2019
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