Nilay Gulhan
BEYKOZ,İSTANBUL
Summary
Proven leadership in driving strategic initiatives from conception to execution. Expertise in global brand operations, including category management, merchandising, and sourcing. Strong background in enhancing store operations and brand positioning to achieve growth and profitability. Demonstrated ability to inspire and motivate teams towards achieving results.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
Work History
Business Director of Wellness & Fashion Division
ALSHAYA
04.2015 - 04.2025
- Served as the Regional Director, managed B&M and Digital (E-Com & Marketplaces) operations in Turkey with a team of 130 employees / 20 direct reports.
- Directly reported to Board Members as well as Managing Director of Turkey.
- Fully accountable for P&L management and driving the strategy to maintain consistent growth of the brands. (Online and Offline)
- Managed Budgeting and monthly Forecasting.
- Defined and executed a locally distinctive brand value proposition and integrated Marketing Strategies to improve brand awareness and customer retention.
- Host Brand relationship management.
- Managed commercial planning and product buying Fully responsible to build up the range and product selection, pricing strategy and promo calendar.
- Full responsibility on stock level management, seasonality and stock liquidation.
- Lead support divisions; Property (Store Closures & New Openings & Renovations), Supply Chain & Procurement (Including Logistic and Warehouse Operations), H&R, Finance and Legal.
- Lead the store network and field organization end-to-end, raising retail excellence, workforce planning, service standards, and operational KPIs.
- Conducting market research to identify the trends and customer needs within the market.
- Identifying new product opportunities and market gaps.
- Alshaya Group is one of the world’s leading brand franchise operators offering a rich selection of almost 70 brands over 4000 stores in Middle East, Türkiye, North Africa and CEE
- Loss making brands moved to breakeven within a year.
- Achieved cost ratio improvements by 2-3%.
- Double digit LFL growth for each year in revenue as well as maintaining unit growth.
- Improved margin by operational efficiency.
- Buying system has changed to pull model vs push.
- Improved SWC from 42 to 24.
- Started E Marketplace with Trendyol and Hepsi Burada within Alshaya.
Head of Design & Buying (Sourcing)
EROGLU GRUP / COLIN’s
01.2008 - 01.2015
- Managed a team of 50 employees for Design, Purchasing, Merchandising, Retail Planning & Sourcing Offices.
- Designed, built and implemented corporate plan/calendar in terms of collection selection, store allocation, product ranking and store grading, sourcing, buying.
- Managed collection preparation, selection and sign off activities in accordance with the corporate calendar.
- Managed product pricing and in season markdowns.
- Operated all pricing negotiations and order placing processes.
- Assessed marketing activities.
- Managed production critical path timeline.
- Led transition of buying teams and activities into a category management system.
- Shortened seasonal buying product lifecycle time design to store from 42 to 26 weeks.
- Colin’s is a well-known brand in ready-made clothing in Turkey and abroad with a wide retail network.
- Initiated Fast Fashion Range.
- 10% cost saving of overall buying budget by implementing vendor consolidations, at source costing week operations.
- Established Bangladesh Sourcing office.
- Sized up people and led growth of departments in seven years in compliance with the fiscal revenue growth from $350 million to $700 million.
Deputy General Manager
ABBATE
12.2005 - 01.2008
- Worked with a team of 50 individuals in design, production, merchandising and buying.
- Restructured the business to accelerate the growth.
- ABBATE is one of the Turkish Menswear retail brand. Had 80 stores in Turkey as well as wholesale operations in Europe.
Buying & Sourcing DIRECTOR
TuRKMEN HOLDING / GAAT International Sourcing OFFICE
05.1999 - 12.2005
- Worked with a team of 270 employees with Kids, Men, Ladies and Home Textile departments.
- Restructured the business to accelerate the growth.
- Build up and structured organization.
- Lead collection preparations and costing activities as per customer expectations.
- Managed global sourcing initiative and sourced products globally from China, Vietnam, Pakistan and Turkey.
- GAAT International is one of the leading sourcing offices in Turkey currently operating under WALL-MART USA world's largest retailer.
PRODUCTION MANAGER and PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Tekinel Bebe
01.1996 - 01.1999
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Polo Garage
01.1993 - 01.1996
FASHION SHOW MANAGER
Vizon Show
01.1991 - 01.1993
Education
Istanbul University Faculty of Literature and Eastern Languages -
Istanbul University
İstanbul12.1987
Skills
- MS Office Applications
- Axapta ERP
- Supply Chain Software Applications
- P&L management
- Brand strategy
- Market analysis
- Retail operations
- Budget forecasting
- Inventory management
- Team leadership
- Negotiation strategies
- Adaptive problem solving
- Strategic planning
- Customer service excellence
- Decision making
- Marketing and sales strategies
- Organisational leadership
- Business development
- Profit and loss understanding
Foreign Languages
English
Interests
- Travelling
- Fashion
- Reading
- Skiing
- Cooking
Timeline
Business Director of Wellness & Fashion Division
ALSHAYA
04.2015 - 04.2025
Head of Design & Buying (Sourcing)
EROGLU GRUP / COLIN’s
01.2008 - 01.2015
Deputy General Manager
ABBATE
12.2005 - 01.2008
Buying & Sourcing DIRECTOR
TuRKMEN HOLDING / GAAT International Sourcing OFFICE
05.1999 - 12.2005
PRODUCTION MANAGER and PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Tekinel Bebe
01.1996 - 01.1999
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Polo Garage
01.1993 - 01.1996
FASHION SHOW MANAGER
Vizon Show
01.1991 - 01.1993
Istanbul University Faculty of Literature and Eastern Languages -
Istanbul University