Apsara Samarakoon

With over 12 years of experience in merchandising within leading companies in the apparel industry, I have served as a Senior Executive specializing in business development, customer management, price negotiations, supply chain coordination, and bulk order execution. My focus has been on delivering the right product at the right time to ensure customer satisfaction while maximizing profitability for the company

Senior Merchandiser - DPM Sourcing

(2025-01)

• Identifying product feasibilities in the factories, new business opportunities.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with key clients, suppliers, and other stakeholders.
• Creating and delivering presentations to potential clients with our Product capabilities, new facilities, Compliance achievements etc.
• Negotiating and closing deals with customers considering the factory cost margins & ensuring the maximum profit to the company.
• Working with Customers to get the new product developments & Projections to fulfill the Factory Capacity.
• As Product Development Merchandiser follow up with factory team to receive the related Tech Packs, Sample requirements of confirmed Styles on time from the Customers.
• Following up with Product Development factory team to ensure Sample T&A is maintained to get all pre-production samples approvals on time.
• Lead the weekly review meetings with Development factory team, Sample Room Team, Planning for Development T&A/Critical Path review & taking the necessary actions.
• Following up with the Buyers to receive the Buyer POs as per the initial commitments.
• Following up with Procument Merchandising team to ensure all Raw Materials are booked on time.
• Following up with Bulk Merchandising team to ensure the Bulk T&A/Critical Path is maintained to meet the PCD & agreed Garment Deliveries.
• Lead the weekly Critical Path meeting, Shipment Meeting & weekly Customer Meetings to ensure to achieve the PCD & meet the agreed Garment Delivery.
• Follow up with Stores, Finance team for the Stock Management.

Senior Merchandiser - Interfashion (Pvt) Ltd

(2018-01 - 2024-12)

• Dunnes - Nursery and Baby wear
• C & A / Country Road / Trutex / KOOKAI / Next / Tesco / Aishty /Touch point - Ladies Wear, Kids Uniform Wear, Jackets (Men's/Women's), Safety Wear

Senior Merchandiser - Carmel clothing

(2018-01 - 2018-12)

• Peacock/Bonmarche/Dunnes/Morrison - Ladies wear

Merchandiser - Timex Garments - Borella

(2016-01 - 2018-12)

• Avirate- Ladies Fashion Wear

Merchandiser - Brandix Casual wear - Ekala

(2013-01 - 2016-12)

• Banana Republic- Men's Shirt

Master's in Business Administration - Business Administration - University of Gloucestershire, UK (2025-01 - 2026-12)

Post Graduate Diploma - Strategic Management - Qualify, UK (2025-12)

Certificate - Merchandising Management - University Of Moratuwa (2016-12)

Diploma - Information Technology - Esoft Metro Campus (2020-12)

HNDE - Higher National Diploma in English - Advanced Technological Institute-Badulla (2012-12)