Retail Business Development Manager (Retail/Fashion Exp Only)

We are seeking a dynamic and highly strategic Retail Business Development Manager to lead our brand's growth through franchise expansion in the fashion apparel sector. In this role, you will identify high-potential markets, pitch our franchise business model to prospective investors, and secure premium retail real estate. The ideal candidate has a deep understanding of fashion retail metrics, an established network of regional investors/landlords, and a proven track record of scaling apparel brands via Franchise-Owned (FOFO/FICO) models.

Role & responsibilities

1. Franchise Partner Acquisition & Investor Relations

• Identify, pitch to, and onboard qualified franchise partners and regional investors capable of scaling the brand.
• Evaluate investor profiles, financial capability, and operational readiness to ensure alignment with brand standards.
• Present business cases and ROI models to prospects, demonstrating the commercial viability and profitability of our fashion concepts.

2. Premium Site Selection & Market Mapping

• Identify high-potential retail locations in premium shopping malls, high streets, and department store shop-in-shops.
• Conduct precise catchment analysis, mapping out competitor presence (competing fashion labels) and target customer demographics.
• Conduct market mapping, footfall analysis, and demographic research to evaluate the commercial viability of prospective sites.
• Approve properties that align with specific fashion retail requirements (e.g., facade visibility, frontage length, minimum carpet area).
• Maintain a healthy pipeline of prospective properties to support aggressive company growth objectives.

3. Commercial Negotiations & Deal Closures

• Drive three-way negotiations between the brand, the franchise partner, and mall developers/landlords to secure optimal lease terms.
• Finalize Franchise Agreements and Letters of Intent (LOIs) in alignment with corporate compliance, legal, and financial guidelines.
• Manage target timelines to ensure new franchise stores open on schedule and within budget parameters.

4. Cross-Functional Onboarding

• Coordinate between the franchisee and internal teams (Projects, Visual Merchandising, Merchandising/Buying) to ensure proper store build-out and stock allocation.
• Monitor initial store launch metrics to ensure new franchise outlets smoothly transition into standard retail operations.

Preferred candidate profile

• Experience: 6 to 8 years in retail business development, specifically within fashion apparel, footwear, or lifestyle accessories using franchise models.
• Industry Acumen: Strong grasp of fashion retail math (e.g., Sales Per Square Foot, Average Transaction Value, Inventory Turn, Margin structures).
• Network: Active, existing relationships with major mall developers, high-street landlords, and retail franchise networks.
• Negotiation: Exceptional commercial negotiation skills with a history of closing multi-year franchise and leasing agreements.
• Travel: High willingness to travel for investor meetings, site evaluations, and market scouting.