Rupal Patel
Merchandising, Trading & Platform Manager
Berlin
Summary
Commercially-led Merchandising and Trading professional with 18 years' retail and e-commerce experience across Tesco, Argos, ASOS and Zalando. Bringing proven expertise in scaling, translating deep assortment and category expertise into commercial impact, with the ability to adapt quickly to new markets and ways of working. Leads and directs cross-functional teams across commercial, creative and operational functions to turn strategy into results on the ground.
Overview
3
3
Languages
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Trading Manager
Secret Sales Grroup
2025.11 - Current
- Evolved the role from a planning-only remit into full end-to-end commercial accountability for the German market website, monitoring performance daily, translating monthly targets into daily trading views and directing the commercial response across marketing, CRM, design and partner strategy. Grew overall site trading to €14.5M from €10.7M LY (+35.5% YoY).
- Manage assortment opportunity and risk across designer, sports, kids and beauty, identifying gaps, concentration risk and growth openings and directing the commercial response accordingly, driving designer to +52% YoY (vs +38% topline), beauty +45% YoY, rebuilding sports around a curation-led strategy and launching kids landing pages from scratch.
- Introduced quarterly performance reviews and market research where neither existed, building a UK-based team's fluency in the German market and closing recurring commercial gaps ahead of peak trading.
- Direct the end-to-end customer-facing execution of trading strategy — owning on-site creative and placement direction, working in close collaboration with marketing across CRM, PPC and affiliate channels, and shaping commercially fluent German messaging, using AI to support local nuance.
- Owned the end-to-end hiring process to expand the international team, recruiting two members, while acting as the primary stakeholder point across around 30 collaborators spanning trading, marketing, CRM, design, tech, logistics, finance, operations, customer service, and board/C-level leadership.
- Led a company-wide AI adoption forum, sharing practical use cases and driving AI fluency across the business.
Career Break
2023.11 - 2024.12
- Middle East, India and Thailand
- Traveled across Middle East, India, and Thailand, exploring different cultures and broadening global retail perspectives.
- Gained insights into global retail trends and how consumer behaviour varies across regions.
- Developed a deeper understanding of how to adapt merchandising and trading strategies to align with local preferences in product selection, marketing and customer experience.
Merchandising Team Lead
Premium Contemporary and Genderless Accessories, Zalando Se
2017.08 - 2023.11
- Core Accountability:
- Managed the widest and most diverse assortment in the Premium portfolio, valued at €205M (20% share), identified as a key growth driver (+15%). Oversaw 150 brands, 3 channels and 25 categories (including private label) across 5 units and a team of 8.
- Developed strategic key account partnerships with brands such as Nike, Adidas, Apple, Marshall, Casio Group, PVH, VF Corporation, Kering, Luxottica, Samsøe Samsøe, Tapestry Inc., Swarovski and Marimekko.
- Led product assortment and range management, ensuring alignment with market trends, customer needs and business objectives to maximize sales and profitability.
- Spearheaded merchandising initiatives in collaboration with product teams, enhancing processes, scalability and business alignment to drive operational growth.
- Key Results:
- Onboarded & led Apple, introducing a new product category to Zalando’s platform. Successfully launched the European-exclusive Beats x Kim K collaboration, featured on Kim Kardashian’s Instagram.
- Spearheaded a portfolio adjustment strategy in response to organizational changes, applying the Pareto principle to refine pricing, segmentation and partnerships, ensuring optimal resource allocation and business efficiency.
- Led a team restructuring and voluntary leave program, achieving an +18-point improvement in employee engagement, Drive for Impact, and Support metrics in the QTR employee pulse check, outperforming peers.
- In 2022, despite a softer growth of €12M (+9% YOY), identified the company’s highest profit growth area, adding +1.5%pts YOY. Addressed market gaps, leading to +19% revenue growth in France (AW22) and a +3.7% profit increase, while negotiating €3M in stock adjustments via markdown support or returns.
Junior Merchandiser
Asos PLC
2013.09 - 2017.04
- Sneakers, Jewellery, Clothing, Asos PLC, London, England
- Managed all-gender sneaker assortment, driving strong market growth
- Led the Jewellery category to +27% YOY sales while reducing stock by -20%.
- Spearheaded the Bridal & Bridesmaid range, managing strategy and execution.
Senior Assistant Business Development Merchandiser
Argos and Homebase
2011.04 - 2013.08
- Health & Beauty, Gifts and Paint, Argos and Homebase, Milton Keynes, England
- Launched the Kids Clothing category at Argos, driving new revenue streams.
- Led the Paint category at Homebase, responsible for 30% of turnover.
- Completed the “High Potential” Leadership Program within my first year of employment.
Assistant Merchandiser
Tesco PLC
2008.01 - 2011.04
- Home & Seasonal Categories, Tesco PLC, Welwyn Garden City, England
- Managed product categories with £150M+ annual sales (Home Utilities & Pet Accessories).
- Oversaw Stationery, Greeting Cards & Seasonal products (£250M+ annual turnover).
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Business Studies
Kingston Universtiy
London2005-08
Skills
Platform & Marketplace Trading
Cross-Functional Commercial Leadership
AI-Driven Ways of Working
Timeline
Senior Trading Manager
Secret Sales Grroup
2025.11 - Current
Career Break
2023.11 - 2024.12
Merchandising Team Lead
Premium Contemporary and Genderless Accessories, Zalando Se
2017.08 - 2023.11
Junior Merchandiser
Asos PLC
2013.09 - 2017.04
Senior Assistant Business Development Merchandiser
Argos and Homebase
2011.04 - 2013.08
Assistant Merchandiser
Tesco PLC
2008.01 - 2011.04
Bachelor of Arts - Business Studies
Kingston Universtiy