Head of Retail Expansion

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Take charge of the strategy and implementation of introducing Muddy Mat into both physical retail and wholesale markets, both domestically in the United States and globally.

• Identify, propose, and successfully close agreements with prominent US retailers, such as Target, Walmart (in-store), Costco, PetSmart, Chewy (physical), TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, Bed Bath & Beyond, and niche pet stores.

• Create and execute a retail go-to-market strategy tailored for each channel, encompassing pricing, packaging, planogram placement, and promotional strategies.

• Negotiate terms, profit margins, cooperative advertising, and shelf space arrangements with category buyers.

• Manage the retail profit and loss statement and take responsibility for revenue objectives and channel profitability.

• Establish and nurture relationships with international distributors to introduce Muddy Mat into retail markets across the UK, EU, Canada, Australia, and other targeted areas.

• Assess and select distribution partners based on market reach, retail connections, logistics capabilities, and compatibility with brand standards.

• Formulate market entry strategies for each region, including localized pricing, regulatory adherence, and packaging necessities.

• Negotiate agreements with distributors, addressing exclusivity terms, minimum order requirements, margin frameworks, and performance metrics.

• Collaborate with internal teams on international inventory management, forecasting, and supply chain logistics.

• Oversee daily wholesale account relationships with retail buyers at key chains.

• Track sell-through rates, manage reorder cycles, and enhance product assortment by retailer.

• Propel in-store merchandising, brand visibility, and compliance across all retail interactions.

• Create co-marketing initiatives with retail partners to boost sell-through speed.

• Coordinate with supply chain and operations to guarantee inventory readiness for retail launches and reorders.

• Work with marketing to ensure retail-specific packaging, point-of-sale materials, and brand assets are effective.

• Collaborate with finance on retail margin analyses, trade spend management, and channel profitability reporting.

• Partner with the e-commerce team to ensure that the retail strategy supports (rather than competes with) direct-to-consumer channels.

⛳️ Requirements

• Over 8 years of experience in retail sales, wholesale, or business development within the consumer goods sector.

• A proven and verifiable history of transitioning a direct-to-consumer or e-commerce-native brand into physical retail environments at national or large-scale retailers.

• Hands-on experience in managing international distributors and launching products in retail markets outside of the United States.

• Established connections with retail buyers at major chains in the pet, home, housewares, or consumer goods sectors.

• Profound knowledge of retail economics, including margin structures, trade spending, cooperative programs, slotting fees, and promotional planning.

• Familiarity with retail-specific packaging, compliance, barcode/UPC standards, and planogram requirements.

• Strong negotiation abilities with a history of finalizing complex, high-value retail contracts.

• Capability to manage a profit and loss statement and be accountable for achieving revenue targets.

🏝️ Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package.

• Competitive base salary along with a performance-based bonus linked to retail revenue goals.

• Equity participation available for the right candidate.