Sukanta Kar

Growth-focused marketing and category management leader with 19 years of success in scaling revenue, driving buyer engagement, and delivering brand-aligned strategies across India’s leading retail and fashion chains. Proven record of delivering ₹34 Cr+ annual growth through go-to-market execution, seasonal assortment planning, and multi-brand merchandising. Adept at leading cross-functional teams across marketing, sourcing, and supply chain. Trusted partner to retailers like Reliance, Westside, Max, Vishal Megamart — driving high fill rates, campaign conversion, and long-term retail partnerships.

Marketing Manager – Kothari Hosiery Ltd, Kolkata, Sep 2019 – Present

• Led ₹34 Cr revenue growth through seasonal GTM strategies, brand campaigns, and channel-specific marketing for major retail accounts.

• Drove buyer engagement using data-backed market insights, improving product positioning and sample-to-order conversions by 22%.

• Managed a 10+ member team across marketing, merchandising, and sourcing to ensure 98% OTIF delivery and campaign alignment.

• Executed retail-specific assortment planning with buyers like Reliance, Westside, and Max, aligned to consumer behaviour and trend cycles.

• Orchestrated visual marketing initiatives and in-store strategies to boost brand recall and shelf conversion.

• Built marketing dashboards to monitor category performance and inform strategy adjustments in real time.

• Reduced sourcing costs by 5% through optimized vendor negotiations and procurement planning.

• Integrated T&A milestones with marketing rollouts to streamline production flow and reduce lead time delays by 15%.

Senior Merchandiser (Marketing Specialist) – Kothari Hosiery Ltd, Kolkata, Apr 2012 – Aug 2019

• Executed marketing-aligned merchandising plans across multiple apparel categories, driving timely product drops for key retail partners.

• Collaborated with buyers on pricing, assortment, and product launches, ensuring alignment with trend cycles and sales windows.

• Streamlined T&A processes to support campaign-driven production schedules, improving on-time order delivery by 20%.

• Led fit and sample approvals while coordinating with design, QC, and production teams to meet marketing timelines.

• Guided junior team members on campaign execution, order planning, and retail communication.

• Managed sourcing for key materials in sync with seasonal product positioning and brand priorities.

Senior Merchandiser (Marketing Executive) – Green Orbit Apparels Pvt Ltd, Kolkata, Jun 2009 – Mar 2012

• Coordinated with design and sampling teams to translate buyer briefs into trend-aligned, market-ready collections.

• Handled daily buyer communication and approvals to support timely product launches and retail marketing cycles.

• Collaborated on sourcing and costing to ensure margin-friendly assortments that met brand expectations and timelines.

• Aligned production timelines with seasonal campaigns and ensured quality readiness for bulk dispatch.

• Delivered for brands like U.S. Polo, Roca wear, and Pantaloons, maintaining strong buyer satisfaction.

Assistant Merchandiser (Marketing Executive) – Sreeniwas Exports, Kolkata, Jan 2009 – Jun 2009

• Assisted in sample development, fabric coordination, and order tracking to support timely buyer deliveries.

• Supported merchandising team in executing product specs aligned with seasonal buyer requirements.

• Maintained sourcing records and production follow-ups to ensure alignment with campaign deadlines.

• Observed key QC stages and contributed to smooth pre-shipment readiness.

Junior Merchandiser – Designer Exports, Kolkata, Jan 2007 – Jan 2009

• Supported merchandising activities including sample dispatch, production follow-ups, and vendor coordination.

• Maintained communication logs and order trackers to assist senior merchandisers with timely updates.

• Assisted in sourcing trims and fabrics for ongoing orders, ensuring materials met buyer specifications.

• Gained hands-on exposure to basic garment production, quality checks, and shipment handling.

Diploma in Fashion Clothing Technology, National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) – 2017.

MBA in Marketing, Sikkim Manipal University – 2015.

Bachelor of Arts, Lalbaba College (University of Calcutta) – 2009.