Retail has always been more than a profession for me—it has been a calling. My journey began in the late 1980s, in the birthplace of global organized retail, the United States. What unfolded was a career filled with learning, innovation, recognition, and, ultimately, a bittersweet sense of unfinished contribution to the profession I love.
The Journey in Milestones
- Early Foundations (Bed, Bath & Beyond)
My first employer operated just two stores—one in Hartsdale, New York, and another in Connecticut. It was here that I learned retail in its purest form: unloading trucks at dawn, tagging merchandise, managing inventory, and ensuring shelves were ready before opening. These experiences grounded me in both front-end and back-end operations.
- Expanding Horizons (Store Openings)
Soon, I was entrusted with opening new stores. This responsibility introduced me to the fundamentals of real estate—market research, site feasibility, and the delicate balance between location and profitability. It was my first taste of how retail intersects with urban development.
- Luxury Retail & Innovation (Federated Department Stores)My next chapter was with Federated Department Stores, the world’s largest department store conglomerate, home to Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Abraham & Strauss, Sterns, Jordan Marsh, Lazarus, Filene's , Burdines and many more. Each of these brands in turn had several stores All of these brands in due time were converted into just two brands Macy’s and Bloomingdales. Here, luxury retail became my core competence.
Pioneering Macy’s By Appointment, now known as My Stylist@Macy’s, embedding personal shopping into the DNA of luxury retail was a game changer.
Another initiative was to extend the concept of extended warranties in retail which were limited to consumer electronics to other categories like furniture , carpets and mattresses now branded as “WorryNoMore”, which has grown into a multi-billion-dollar market across North America. The Retail extended Warranty Service Market size was valued at USD 130 Billion in 2024.
Recognition & Pride (Employee of the Year, 1996)
Thanks to the encouragement of my immediate boss Late Mr. Eldon Dondershine and Chief of Stores Mr. Jack Rosenthal my holistic initiatives to create new revenue streams while also serving the needs of the customers and hence creating a sustainable business model thirty years ago earned me the honor of being named Employee of the Year in 1996—a rare recognition for an Asian Indian in a field dominated by Caucasian Americans. The award ceremony at New York’s iconic Tavern on the Green, complete with speeches, music, and a limousine ride, remains one of the proudest moments of my career. What I learnt was how important it is to motivate one’s subordinates and bring their achievements to limelight.
