Frutta is South India’s preferred one-stop corporate refreshment and workplace experience partner. We create memorable workplace experiences through curated refreshments, corporate gifting, events, and hospitality solutions, powered by technology and a strong network of trusted partners.
As we continue to expand our corporate solutions portfolio, we are looking for a Merchandising Manager who can build and scale our merchandise and corporate gifting business with strong commercial acumen, creativity, and execution excellence.
The Role
As a Merchandising Manager at Frutta, you will take ownership of our corporate merchandise and gifting portfolio — from identifying the right products and building vendor partnerships to pricing, customisation, procurement, and fulfilment.
You will play a key role in creating high-quality, commercially viable, and customised merchandise solutions for corporate clients across categories such as tech gadgets, drinkware, apparel, eco-friendly products, festive hampers, employee welcome kits, and branded merchandise.
This role requires someone who understands what sells, what clients want, how to source it efficiently, and how to turn product ideas into profitable business opportunities.
Key Responsibilities
Vendor & Supplier Management
- Identify, evaluate, onboard, and develop reliable vendors and suppliers across product categories.
- Negotiate pricing, MOQs, quality standards, payment terms, customisation capabilities, and delivery timelines.
- Build strong long-term vendor relationships while ensuring competitive sourcing and consistent quality.
- Monitor vendor performance and proactively address quality, pricing, and delivery concerns.
Commercial & Procurement Management
- Own product costing, pricing, margins, and commercial viability across the merchandise portfolio.
- Drive cost-effective procurement without compromising product quality or customer experience.
- Analyse product performance, margins, and demand to optimise the portfolio.
- Identify opportunities for better pricing, bulk procurement, and improved profitability.
Merchandising & Product Curation
- Own and continuously expand Frutta’s corporate merchandise and gifting portfolio.
- Identify emerging products, market trends, and customer preferences to introduce relevant and differentiated offerings.
- Curate customised gifting solutions based on client requirements, budgets, occasions, and brand guidelines.
- Build product collections across corporate gifting, employee engagement, events, festive gifting, and branded merchandise.
Business Development Support
- Partner closely with the Sales team to understand client requirements and develop relevant gifting and merchandise solutions.
- Create product recommendations, customised proposals, and commercial options for corporate clients.
- Support large and customised corporate orders from product selection through final fulfilment.
- Work with Sales to identify new business opportunities within existing and prospective accounts.
Catalogue & Portfolio Management
- Manage product catalogues, product information, pricing, images, specifications, and availability.
- Ensure the merchandise portfolio remains updated, competitive, and aligned with market trends.
- Track product performance and make data-driven decisions on product additions, replacements, and rationalisation.
Order & Fulfilment Management
- Coordinate with Procurement, Operations, vendors, and internal stakeholders to ensure smooth order execution.
- Ensure bulk orders meet agreed specifications, branding requirements, quality standards, and delivery timelines.
- Take ownership of resolving fulfilment challenges and ensuring a seamless client experience.
What We’re Looking For
- 6+ years of relevant experience in merchandising, corporate gifting, procurement, vendor management, sourcing, e-commerce, or a related commercial function.
- Strong experience in vendor identification, supplier negotiations, product sourcing, and portfolio management.
- Proven understanding of pricing, costing, margins, procurement, and commercial decision-making.
- Experience handling customised and bulk corporate orders will be highly preferred.
- Strong understanding of corporate gifting and merchandise categories, trends, and customer preferences.
- Excellent negotiation and vendor relationship management skills.
- Strong analytical, communication, coordination, and stakeholder management abilities.
- Ability to manage multiple products, vendors, client requirements, and timelines simultaneously.
- A strong commercial mindset with an eye for product quality, innovation, pricing, and profitability.
What Success Looks Like
In this role, success means building a strong, differentiated, and profitable merchandise ecosystem for Frutta - with the right products, the right vendors, competitive pricing, excellent quality, and seamless execution.
You will be instrumental in transforming corporate gifting and merchandise from a product offering into a high-value corporate experience for Frutta’s clients and their employees.
Location: Chennai
Experience: 6+ Years
Role: Merchandising Manager
Pay: ₹500,000.00 - ₹700,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Cell phone reimbursement
- Health insurance
- Internet reimbursement
- Leave encashment
- Paid sick time
- Paid time off
- Provident Fund
Work Location: In person
