Ajay Kumar

A visionary, entrepreneurial Sourcing & Merchandising Director and Brand Founder with 17 years of extensive industry experience spanning D2C brand launching, marketplace expansion, vendor acquisition, and strategic sourcing. Demonstrated success in scaling apparel brands from inception to high-revenue milestones and navigating complex omni-channel ecosystems. A proactive leader recognized for building high-performing teams, pioneering proprietary fabric innovations, and optimizing multi-million dollar procurement frameworks to maximize profitability.

FOUNDER & BRAND DIRECTOR at Gulabidress.com (2025-04 – Present)

Launched and established a contemporary D2C western wear brand, managing end-to-end business operations, brand positioning, and supply chain infrastructure.

• Successfully onboarded and launched the brand on premium fashion marketplaces including Myntra and Nykaa Fashion, expanding the brand's omni-channel footprint.
• Scaled business performance to achieve a consistent monthly sales run rate of INR 10 Lakhs within the initial phase of launch.
• Spearheaded market research, competitor bench marking, and consumer persona mapping to design and curate highly relevant, market-fit apparel collections.
• Built an agile vendor and manufacturing network from scratch, ensuring high-quality production margins, cost productivity, and optimized inventory replenishment cycles.
• Oversee digital catalog management, SEO-driven product optimization, and e-commerce marketplace strategies to drive customer acquisition and digital footprint growth.

SOURCING DIRECTOR at Houseofzelena.com (2022-11 – 2025-04)

Served as a founding team member, building the product portfolio from scratch and scaling the D2C maternity brand to a INR 15.00 CR annual revenue milestone.

• Led research and development for proprietary fabric compositions tailored to maternal comfort, utilizing wearer trials to refine products and drive superior site-wide ratings and SEO descriptions.
• Conducted routine spending pattern analyses, consolidating suppliers and renegotiating terms to drive significant cost savings and improve margins.
• Managed product photo shoots, editorial presentations, packaging, and end-to-end branding efforts to elevate market presence.
• Recruited, trained, and mentored a high-performing product development and sourcing team.

SOURCING DIRECTOR – PRIVATE LABELS at Vivoiz Heattech Pvt Ltd. / Healofy.com (2020-01 – 2023-03)

Spearheaded sourcing, R&D, and launch strategies for private label products across women's maternity wear, personal care, baby apparel, and accessories.

• Directed a cross-functional team of 8 sourcing and packaging professionals, ensuring seamless operational alignment with core management.
• Orchestrated strategic procurement and inventory planning models, successfully mitigating stock-out risks while eliminating excess inventory overheads.
• Maintained robust supplier relationships and performed continuous market research to evaluate quality benchmarks and secure competitive pricing advantages.

SR. CATEGORY MANAGER at Spoyl.in (2018-05 – 2020-12)

• Led vendor on-boarding and brand acquisition strategies across multiple apparel and lifestyle categories.
• Developed and executed targeted category plans to meet aggressive quarterly revenue goals and maintain organizational profitability norms.
• Collaborated with data analyses and planning teams to identify market open spaces, scale best-selling products, and maximize high-velocity inventory turns.
• Supervised and mentored a regional team of category managers and executives out of the Delhi office.

SOURCING AND MERCHANDISING HEAD at V.Fraas Fashion Accessories India (2015-04 – 2018-05)

Managed the end-to-end sourcing requirements of global offices across 18 countries, including Germany, the US, UK, Canada, Japan, and Korea.

• Independently directed product development for premium international accounts including Hugo Boss, Versace, Mercedes Benz, Country Road, and Bloomingdale's.
• Managed vendor matrix alignment in strict accordance with rigorous European audit standards, demonstrating deep expertise in SEDEX and BSCI compliance.
• Expanded the company's environmental footprint by successfully sourcing sustainable materials, including Recycled Polyester, BCI Cotton, and Organic fabrics.
• Delivered quarterly business updates and strategic performance reviews directly to the global CEO.

MERCHANDISER at William E. Connor Associates Pvt. Ltd. (2013-01 – 2015-03)

Handled key international buyers, managing the entire product lifecycle from initial design development through final shipment and documentation.

• Structured price negotiations with factories to balance production feasibility with the buyer's target gross margins.
• Facilitated international buyer visits to India, setting up tailored collection ranges and managing supplier showcases.

MERCHANDISER at April Sourcing Pvt. Ltd. (2008-02 – 2013-01)

• Coordinated with buyers and vendors on fabric sourcing, seasonal line developments, print/embroidery innovations, and sample approvals within strict cost brackets.

Diploma in Merchandising – International Institute of Fashion Designing (INIFD)

Bachelor of Arts in B.A. – Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana