Arefin Sheikh
Apparel Production Manager, Senior Product Developer, Sourcing Manager · 7-Eleven
Richmond, British Columbia
In My Own Words
Drawing upon 11 years of expertise in garment merchandising, product development, sourcing, production planning and control, I bring a wealth of experience to the forefront. My strategic acumen enables me to adeptly manage diverse activities and foster collaborative partnerships. Renowned for my positive mindset, proactive approach, and effective communication skills, I thrive in dynamic environments. As a detail-oriented and innovative manager, I excel at meeting deadlines and envisioning trends. Continuously introducing fresh ideas and novel approaches, I contribute to enhancing product lines and driving business growth. My ability to harmonize multifaceted processes ensures timely delivery while maintaining unwavering attention to quality and precision.
Work Experience
Certified Assistant Store Leader
7-Eleven2020 – 2023
*Completes store operational requirements by scheduling and assigning employees. *Maintains store staff by recruiting, selecting, orienting, and training employees. *Promotes optimum staff performance by coaching, counseling, and disciplining employees. *Achieves financial objectives by preparing an annual budget, scheduling expenditures, and analyzing variances. *Identifies current and future customer requirements by establishing rapport with potential and actual customers to understand service requirements. *Ensures availability of merchandise and services by approving contracts. *Formulates pricing policies by reviewing merchandising activities, determining additional needed sales promotion, and authorizing clearance sales. *Markets merchandise by studying advertising, sales promotion, and display plans. *Secures merchandise by implementing security systems and measures. *Protects employees and customers by providing a safe and clean store environment. *Maintains the stability and reputation of the store by complying with legal requirements. *Determines marketing strategy changes by reviewing operating and financial statements and departmental sales records. *Leads operations by initiating, coordinating, and enforcing program procedures.
Merchandise Manager (Product Development & Production)
River Cross Biz Solution Ltd.2018 – 2019
*Collaborate with Sales, Product Development, Design, and Sourcing teams to ensure synchronized processing of concepts and clear communication for optimal quality, productivity, and delivery. *Create detailed and accurate garment technical packs, including Bill of Materials, specifications, and design specifics. *Prepare costings and negotiate prices and delivery lead times with vendors, ensuring company margins are maintained. *Track the Critical Path meticulously from order generation to delivery, working closely with vendors/suppliers to ensure timely deliveries. *Manage the PO process and WIP Order/Production management from raising POs to delivery. *Collaborate with the Sourcing team on vendor selection based on product categories and strengths. *Inspect and assess fit samples to ensure they meet measurement requirements, quality standards, construction techniques, wash guidelines, and overall fit. *Work with global development teams across various regions to address issues during sampling and production. *Build and maintain sustainable and effective vendor relationships. *Coordinate with vendors regarding submissions of lab dips, strike-offs, trims, and accessories for approval. *Follow up on product/style-specific test report submissions (base test, bulk test, garment test) by vendors as per the product manual. *Monitor sample development, follow up with vendors on fit, pre-production, and production sample submissions on time. Review and assess quality standards, construction techniques, wash guidelines, and overall fit, and provide feedback. *Interface on all technical and production issues, managing the technical function as required by the Critical Path. *Ensure sourcing solutions are optimized for both business and international trade partners. *Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, and Design teams to ensure all KPIs are met. *Update the database with prices and develop detailed spreadsheets. *Liaise with Logistics and monitor shipments.
Senior Merchandiser (Product Development & Production)
WESTEND CLOTHING LTD2017 – 2018
* Assist in all areas of supplier management o Day to day communication between the Division and the supplier o Day to day management of the production critical path o Day to day management of the progress of design packs sent to suppliers o Day to day management of the progress of all sampling programmes o Ensure supplier production is in line with key dates on the critical path Samples Bulk Production o Ensure supplier adherence to the agreed process o Ensure that all supplier details are up-to-date and accurate o Input all fit comments into the system and ensure updating as required.
* Provide assistance where required in all areas of the production process: o Design pack assessment, checking and sending to supplier o Design pack follow up Track the packs with courier company to ensure arrival at designated supplier Check key dates that affect the Critical Path Check supplier has full understanding of the pack and styles to make samples Establish critical dates with supplier to ensure on-time delivery of samples o Arrange necessary fit sessions ensuring that critical dates are maintained. o Preparation of all information and samples for fit sessions. o Attend all fit sessions related to the product to ensure that all relevant information is then communicated to the supplier.
* Provide assistance to the merchandise planner o Align with the merchandise planner on all styles and their respective delivery dates to ensure planned in-store and in-warehouse dates are accurate and in line with production and vice versa. o Ensure correct quantities as per the planning requirement are ordered. o Ensure correct margins achieved as stated in the budget plan. o Ensure all orders comply with the agreed terms and conditions between Memo and the supplier.
* Ensure stock availability through yearly/monthly forecasting, timely purchase order processing and prompt supplier delivery
Assistant Merchandise Manager (Product Development & Production)
SNOWTEX GROUP2016 – 2017
*Independently manage research and product development, understand latest fashion trends, and develop customer specific collections. *Ensure smooth communications with customers and suppliers on day-to-day merchandising activities and approvals. *Understand customer requirements and closely work with design team to manage the correct samples within timelines and quality. *Set priorities, develop a work schedule, and monitor progress towards goals, and track details, data, information, and activities. *Accomplish and oversee the merchandising cycle (File / Record keeping / Sampling / T&As / QA file making / Production follow ups / Shipment booking etc.). *Engage in costing and price negotiation with customers and vendors and prepare costing sheets with all the necessary breakdowns from factories. *Coordinate and monitor quality of the product through quality personnel. *Hand over the file to the production, planning, and quality department and follow up TNA. *Collect merchandising documents from the buying house/buyer (color card, Sample, Sales Contract, etc.). *Send merchandising documents to the buying house/ buyer from the factory (color card, Sample, Sales Contract, etc.). *Maintain Time and Action (T&A) plan and ensure on-time shipment for all orders. *Recommend any changes to the products or process improvements, which can help make production friendlier for construction without changing the aesthetics of the garment. *Conduct production meetings with the factories and QA team as per the allocated time and follow up with the factories on the progress of the orders. *Review customer progress, gather feedback, and finalize orders with clear cost understanding. *Review new tech packs and developments to identify any critical points and provide the right details to the factory. *Ensure all customer requirements are met in production based on customer tech packs.
Senior Merchandiser (Product Development & Production)
Grupokaybee Pte Ltd2014 – 2016
*Oversee research and product development independently, keeping up with current fashion trends and creating custom collections tailored to customer needs. *Facilitate effective communication with customers and suppliers regarding day-to-day merchandising tasks and approvals. *Understand customer requirements and collaborate closely with the design team to ensure timely and high-quality sample management. *Prioritize tasks, develop work schedules, monitor progress towards goals, and track details, data, and activities meticulously. *Manage the full merchandising cycle, including file and record keeping, sampling, time and action (T&A) planning, quality assurance (QA) documentation, production follow-ups, and shipment arrangements. *Handle costing and price negotiations with customers and vendors and prepare detailed costing sheets with factory breakdowns. *Ensure suppliers utilize approved sources for trims. *Provide monthly reports on cost fluctuations and potential changes to the business. *Maintain and manage the T&A plan to ensure timely shipment of all orders. *Select and visit fabric/textile mills, production, printing, and washing factories, building long-term relationships for ongoing and future orders. *Regularly assess factory performance and identify and develop new factories as needed. *Conduct production meetings with factories and QA teams as scheduled and follow up on order progress. *Analyze customer progress reports to assess growth, identify shortcomings, and review product and price points; gather customer feedback and finalize orders with clear cost and margin details. *Review new tech packs and product developments to identify critical issues and provide accurate details to factories. *Ensure all production meets customer specifications based on their tech packs.
Senior Merchandiser (Product Development & Production)
Dewhirst2013 – 2014
*Independently execute product development, understand latest fashion trends and develop customer specific collections. *Ensure smooth communications with customers and suppliers on day-to-day merchandising activities and approvals. *Continuously update the yarn, trims, print embroideries, washes and stitch library including technical data and price idea for easy reference. *Understand customer requirements and closely work with design team to manage the correct samples within time and quality. *Set priorities, develop a work schedule, and monitor progress towards goals, and track details, data, information, and activities. *Ensure production and samples follow up with factories and related procedures. *Communicate with buyers on day-to-day merchandising activities and approvals. *Prepare the QA files for on time handover for both Factory and QC’s. *Source trims, accessories, and yarns (both overseas and local). *Prepare costing sheets with all the necessary breakdowns from factories. *Arrange lab dip, trims, bulk fabric color, and quality testing for customer approval. *Work closely with the fabric mills and suppliers ahead of design packs to develop new fabrics and finishes to reduce lead time. *Follow-up TNA on regular basis to ensure on-time delivery. *Visit factories regularly to get market intelligence. *Coordinate and monitor quality of the product through quality personnel. *Place forwarder booking through logistics and monitor the shipment of the products.
Merchandiser (Product Development & Production)
Poeticgem Limited2010 – 2012
*Maintaining continuous correspondence with buyers and buying houses. *Track the order from order quotation to shipment to ensure smooth operation. *Understand the buyer tech-pack/spec file and make the proper development of the style desired by the buyer. *Maintain sample approval based on T&A for products. *Maintained concerned suppliers & buyers contact (internal and external) information's. *Prepare & ensure booking items: raw materials (fabric, trims, & accessories) for production. *Coordinate production management with related departments for on-time shipment. *Maintain proper supply chain management for the production file with approval as per the production schedule. *Conduct a pre-production meeting before bulk production starts. *Responsible for problem solving for all kinds of merchandise issues in related stages.
Assistant Merchandiser - Merchandiser (Product Development & Production)
TSN Clothing LTD.2007 – 2010
*Responsible for the coordination of daily operational activities in sample development and production follow-up. *Understands and follows customer/buyer/client procedures for order execution and ensures timely shipment. *Arrange all yarns, fabrics, & accessories as required for production. *Managing approval of fit samples, PP samples, size sets, & fabric/garment testing processes. *Coordinating with factory, quality control, and logistics departments, as well as clients, buyers, suppliers, and vendors, to ensure smooth functioning of all regular production activities. *Liaison with the commercial team about shipping documents, undertaking all formalities, and updating buyers. *Bulk shipment follow-up along with a shade band, top sample, & QA Lab sample. *Maintain all relevant merchandising order files, reports, etc. required for processing orders efficiently. *Development of new orders. *Assist the local procurement team in sourcing trims and accessories as required and maintaining the standard. *Follow up on the total production flow in detail to ensure optimum capacity utilisation.
