New Category Development Manager

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