BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
SARPI ASIA PACIFIC PTE. LTD.
Description
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
SARPI Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.
Location: Singapore
Employment: Full-time
Reporting to: Managing Director / Head of Business
Sector: Consumer Brands | Retail Distribution | Lifestyle | Toys & Gifting | Travel Retail
ABOUT SARPI
SARPI is a value-added distributor and brand-management partner representing international consumer brands across retail, e-commerce, attractions, hospitality and specialty channels.
Following our growth across the Middle East, SARPI Asia Pacific has been established in Singapore to develop selected brands across Singapore and, over time, additional Southeast Asian markets.
We are looking for a commercially driven Business Development Manager who can build our Singapore retail business from the ground up.
This is a hands-on commercial role. The successful candidate will be expected to identify opportunities, approach buyers, open accounts, negotiate commercial terms, launch brands, manage relationships and deliver profitable sales.
THE ROLE
The Business Development Manager will take ownership of new business development and key account growth for SARPI's portfolio of consumer brands in Singapore.
The role will focus particularly on:
Department stores
Toy and children's retailers
Bookstores
Lifestyle and gifting retailers
Sports and outdoor retailers
Attractions and tourism retail
Hotels and resorts
Travel retail
E-commerce and marketplaces
Selected specialty and premium retail channels
The position requires someone who enjoys opening doors rather than simply maintaining existing accounts.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
New Business Development
Identify and approach high-potential retail partners across Singapore.
Build and maintain a structured pipeline of prospective accounts.
Secure buyer meetings and present SARPI's brands and commercial proposals.
Negotiate listings, margins, commercial terms, launch plans and promotional opportunities.
Convert prospects into active, revenue-generating accounts.
Continuously identify new channels and partnership opportunities.
Key Account Development
Develop strong relationships with buyers, category managers and commercial decision-makers.
Grow sales and SKU penetration within existing accounts.
Identify opportunities for additional brands, categories, doors and displays.
Conduct regular account reviews and follow up on agreed actions.
Coordinate launches, promotions and seasonal opportunities.
Retail Execution
Work closely with SARPI's operations, supply chain and merchandising teams.
Monitor product availability, displays, replenishment and retail execution.
Visit stores regularly to understand performance at ground level.
Identify slow-moving products and recommend corrective actions.
Ensure agreed launches and displays are implemented correctly.
Commercial Management
Own sales forecasts and account-level sales targets.
Monitor sales, gross margin and sell-through performance.
Negotiate commercially sustainable deals.
Protect agreed pricing and brand positioning.
Follow up on outstanding payments together with Finance.
Ensure growth translates into profitable and collectible revenue.
Market Intelligence
Track competitor brands, pricing, promotions and distribution.
Identify emerging consumer and retail trends.
Provide structured feedback on new products and brand opportunities.
Recommend potential new retail partners and distribution channels.
Regional Development
As SARPI Asia Pacific develops, the role may progressively support commercial opportunities in selected Southeast Asian markets.
TARGET CUSTOMER UNIVERSE
Relevant relationships or experience with businesses such as the following would be highly valuable:
Department Stores
TANGS
Takashimaya
Isetan
BHG
Toys / Kids / Books
Toys"R"Us
Kinokuniya
Popular
Mothercare
Kiddy Palace
Lifestyle / Specialty
Premium gifting retailers
Lifestyle stores
Sports and outdoor specialists
Concept stores
Attractions / Hospitality / Travel
Tourist attractions
Hotels and resorts
Museum and attraction gift shops
Airport / travel retail operators
Direct experience with these companies is not mandatory, but an established Singapore retail buyer network would be a significant advantage.
IDEAL CANDIDATE
We are particularly interested in candidates who have:
Approximately 5–10 years of relevant commercial experience.
Strong Singapore retail-market knowledge.
Experience in consumer goods, lifestyle products, toys, gifting, drinkware, FMCG, sports/outdoor or related categories.
Existing relationships with retail buyers and category managers.
A proven track record of opening new accounts.
Experience negotiating retailer margins and commercial terms.
Understanding of wholesale, consignment and sell-through-driven retail models.
Strong commercial and numerical awareness.
Ability to work independently in an entrepreneurial environment.
Excellent presentation and negotiation skills.
Strong written and spoken English.
Experience working for a distributor or international consumer brand is particularly relevant.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
Within the first year, the successful candidate should be able to demonstrate:
A strong pipeline of relevant Singapore retailers.
Regular meetings with qualified buyers and decision-makers.
New active retail accounts.
Expansion into multiple retail doors.
Strong brand presentations and launch execution.
Increasing sales and gross profit.
Healthy payment collection.
Accurate forecasting and pipeline reporting.
A clear pipeline for further Singapore and regional growth.