Head of Retail Expansion

Company

Catch Creation (Brand: Muddy Mat)

Salary / Compensation

• Competitive base salary
• Performance-based bonus tied to retail revenue targets
• Equity participation (for the right candidate)
• Full benefits package

Overview / Job Description

Catch Creation is hiring a Head of Retail Expansion to lead the growth of its flagship brand, Muddy Mat, into physical retail and wholesale markets worldwide. Reporting directly to the CEO, this senior leadership role will own the strategy and execution of expanding the brand from its successful direct-to-consumer (DTC) business into major retail chains and international distribution channels.

This is a business development and sales leadership position focused on securing partnerships with national retailers, managing distributor relationships, and building a profitable global retail division. The ideal candidate has a proven track record of successfully taking an eCommerce or DTC brand into large-scale retail environments and driving significant revenue growth.

Responsibilities

Retail & Wholesale Expansion (U.S.)

• Develop and execute retail go-to-market strategies for major U.S. retailers
• Identify, pitch, negotiate, and close partnerships with national retailers including Walmart, Target, Costco, PetSmart, HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, Bed Bath & Beyond, Chewy, and specialty retailers
• Negotiate pricing, margins, shelf space, promotional programs, and co-op advertising agreements
• Own the retail profit and loss (P&L) and deliver revenue growth targets
• Develop retail pricing, packaging, merchandising, and promotional strategies

International Retail & Distribution

• Build and manage relationships with international distributors
• Develop market entry strategies across the UK, Europe, Canada, Australia, and other global markets
• Evaluate distribution partners based on retail reach, logistics capabilities, and brand alignment
• Negotiate distributor agreements, exclusivity terms, order commitments, and performance metrics
• Coordinate international inventory planning, forecasting, and logistics

Key Account Management

• Manage strategic relationships with retail buyers and wholesale partners
• Monitor retail performance, sell-through rates, and inventory replenishment
• Optimize product assortment for individual retail partners
• Develop co-marketing initiatives to improve retail sales performance
• Ensure consistent in-store merchandising and brand presentation

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Collaborate with Supply Chain and Operations to ensure inventory readiness
• Partner with Marketing on retail packaging, point-of-sale materials, and promotional assets
• Work with Finance on profitability analysis, trade spending, and margin optimization
• Coordinate with the eCommerce team to align retail and DTC channel strategies

Requirements

Experience

• 8+ years of experience in retail sales, wholesale, or consumer goods business development
• Proven success expanding a DTC or eCommerce-native brand into national retail chains
• Experience managing international distributors and global retail expansion
• Experience negotiating high-value retail agreements
• Experience owning a retail P&L and revenue targets
• Experience working with major retail buyers and category managers

Skills & Competencies

• Strong retail business development and sales leadership skills
• Deep understanding of retail economics, including margins, trade spend, slotting fees, and promotional planning
• Strong negotiation and relationship-building abilities
• Strategic planning and market expansion expertise
• Excellent financial and commercial acumen
• Strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Ability to develop scalable retail growth strategies
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Strong analytical and decision-making abilities

Technical & Industry Knowledge

• Knowledge of retail packaging requirements, UPC/barcode standards, and planograms
• Understanding of international retail compliance and localization requirements
• Familiarity with retail inventory planning and forecasting
• Understanding of Amazon and marketplace dynamics in relation to retail strategy

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience within pet products, home goods, or housewares industries
• Experience at a high-growth DTC brand that expanded successfully into retail
• Experience selling into UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian retail markets
• Existing relationships with major retail buyers and distributors
• Experience managing retail broker relationships for retailers such as Walmart and Target

Candidate Profile

You SHOULD Apply If

• You have successfully expanded an eCommerce or DTC brand into major retail chains
• You have an established network of retail buyers and distributors
• You enjoy building new business channels from the ground up
• You have extensive experience negotiating complex retail partnerships
• You understand retail economics and channel profitability
• You thrive in high-growth, entrepreneurial environments
• You are comfortable owning revenue targets and strategic business outcomes

You Should NOT Apply If

• You have never launched a DTC brand into physical retail
• Your experience is limited to retail operations rather than retail expansion
• You lack experience managing international distribution partnerships
• You are uncomfortable owning a P&L or revenue targets
• You prefer highly structured environments with limited strategic ownership

Other Information

Additional Benefits / Highlights

• Fully remote position (U.S.-based preferred)
• Travel required
• Senior leadership role reporting directly to the CEO
• Opportunity to build and lead the company’s global retail division
• Work with a market-leading pet products brand generating $200M+ annual revenue
• Over 50,000 five-star customer reviews and proven product-market fit
• Opportunity to expand an established digital brand into global retail markets
• Lean, high-performance leadership team with significant growth ambitions
• Competitive base salary, performance bonus, equity participation, and full benefits