New Category Development Manager

Pepperfry; Mumbai; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Pepperfry in Mumbai is seeking a growth-focused Partnerships Manager to identify and incubate high-potential D2C brands for the Home Stores and online formats. You will build future growth engines by scaling partnerships across our omnichannel ecosystem.

Own onboarding from first contact to go-live, negotiate commercials and operating models, and coordinate with cataloguing, ops, and tech teams. Plan D2C meets and founder sessions to nurture long-term relationships and brand expansion.

Responsibilities

• Identify emerging D2C brands across decor, furnishings, kitchen, lighting.
• Build pipelines through expos, trade fairs, design events, referrals.
• Own onboarding from first conversation to go-live.
• Negotiate commercials, margins, and operating models.
• Coordinate with cataloguing, ops, and tech teams.
• Ensure smooth and timely brand launches.
• Manage brands during their first three months.
• Curate performance-led catalogues and hero SKUs.
• Monitor early KPIs and optimise quickly.
• Prepare brands for scale before handover to Category Managers.
• Plan and execute D2C Meets, founder sessions, collaborations.
• Act as a trusted growth partner to brand founders.
• Build long-term strategic relationships.
• Evaluate store readiness and visual appeal of brands.
• Close partnerships for Pepperfry Home Stores.
• Coordinate store launches and onboarding.

Job description

This role focuses on identifying, onboarding, and incubating high-potential D2C brands and emerging categories. You will build future growth engines by scaling new partnerships across online and Home Store formats.

Key Responsibilities

Brand Discovery Market Scouting

• Identify emerging D2C brands across decor, furnishings, kitchen, lighting
• Build pipelines through expos, trade fairs, design events, referrals
• Track design trends, consumer shifts, and category white spaces

End-to-End Onboarding Closure

• Own onboarding from first conversation to go-live
• Negotiate commercials, margins, and operating models
• Coordinate with cataloguing, ops, and tech teams
• Ensure smooth and timely brand launches

First-90-Day Incubation

• Manage brands during their first three months
• Curate performance-led catalogues and hero SKUs
• Monitor early KPIs and optimise quickly
• Prepare brands for scale before handover to Category Managers

Ecosystem Community Building

• Plan and execute D2C Meets, founder sessions, collaborations
• Act as a trusted growth partner to brand founders
• Build long-term strategic relationships

Home Store Brand Expansion

• Evaluate store readiness and visual appeal of brands
• Close partnerships for Pepperfry Home Stores
• Coordinate store launches and onboarding