(Late) Co-Founder Opportunity – Chief Sales and Business Development Officer

Switzerland / Italy (Lombardia) / Dubai – hybrid / remote

20-100%

About Us

At Cheetah Stories we make comfortable and wildly elegant vegan luxury high heels.

Our heels are more than just a fashion statement—they're a revolution in comfort and sustainability. We invested 14 months in research to design a footbed that promotes well-balanced weight distribution, allowing women to stand tall without the usual discomfort and pain. Inspired by the soft cushions of the cheetah paw, we fondly call our high heels Cheelettos.

Our Cheelettos, designed in the heart of Ticino, Switzerland, are handcrafted from premium vegan leather in Italy. Yes, we are on a mission to transform the fashion industry, one bold step at a time.

Cheetah Stories was founded in February 2023. We launched our first collection in the summer of 2024 and are now ready to take the world by storm. That’s why we are looking for a co-founder and Chief Sales and Business Development Officer (CSO) who is prepared to define and drive our sales strategy, manage retail operations, and foster growth alongside the founding team: Fiorella Erni (CEO) and Martin Markovic (CFO).

The Role

Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and dive into an electrifying fashion startup environment? As our Chief Sales Officer and Co-Founder, you’ll be the driving force behind our sales and retail operations.

Your mission: cultivate powerful partnerships and lead our sales efforts to new heights in Europe, the Gulf Countries and beyond. You’ll have the unique opportunity to shape our company’s future and become one the heroes of the Cheetah Story.

Who you are

Experienced: You have at least 5 years of proven experience in sales and distribution within the luxury fashion industry, with a strong track record in selling to retailers, marketplaces, and direct consumers.
Strategic Thinker: You have a strong strategic mindset, with the ability to develop and execute effective sales and retail strategies that align with our mission and vision.
Creative Strategist: You thrive on developing and implementing innovative strategies that set new standards in the fashion industry, especially for sustainable and luxury products.
Relationship Guru: You excel at building and maintaining meaningful connections with retailers, clients, and partners, particularly with an established network in Switzerland, Italy, the UK, and the Gulf region.
Highly Organised: You are methodical and highly organised, with a strong ability to juggle multiple projects, timelines, and stakeholders. From overseeing long-term strategic goals to managing day-to-day social media posts, you keep everything running smoothly without missing a beat.
Passionate Advocate for Sustainability: You are deeply committed to ethical and sustainable fashion. Excited by our unique offering of vegan luxury high heels, you demonstrate genuine care for animals, people, and the planet – and you bring that passion into everything you do.
Driven & Flexible: You are results-oriented, adaptable, and thrive in a fast-paced, ever-changing startup environment. You bring a high level of drive and enthusiasm to the table while also knowing when to adapt and approach challenges with a sense of fun and humour.
Entrepreneurial Spirit: You embrace the entrepreneurial mindset, willing to take risks, learn from mistakes, and build something amazing from the ground up. You're not afraid of the startup grind – in fact, you’re motivated by it.
Team-Oriented Leader: While you’re comfortable taking initiative and working independently, you also excel in a collaborative, team-oriented environment. You know when to take charge and when to empower others, ensuring collective success over individual accolades.
Clear Communicator: You communicate openly, honestly, and with transparency. You’re comfortable having difficult conversations when necessary, and you always approach communication with respect and clarity.
Multilingual Proficiency: You speak English and either German, French, Italian or Arabic fluently, and ideally all of them. ;-)

Key responsibilities and tasks

Strategic Vision: Craft and execute a dynamic sales strategy for Cheetah Stories, propelling us into new markets and driving explosive growth across all channels in the fashion sector.
Distribution Strategy: Develop and implement a comprehensive distribution strategy for our Cheelettos across online and offline channels, including our webshop, marketplaces, wholesalers, retailers, and pop-up shops, focusing on the Swiss, EU, UK, and Gulf markets.
Retail Excellence: Lead the management of pop-up stores, display locations, and retail partnerships, ensuring they embody our brand's spirit and engage customers effectively while overseeing the implementation of our luxury positioning.
Business Development: Develop and execute a business development strategy for expansion into additional markets in 2025 and 2026. Manage business development consultants across various markets and segments, ensuring their strategies are effectively implemented.
Partnership Builder: Forge and nurture strong relationships with retailers, distributors, and brand partners in the fashion industry to expand our reach and impact. Build relationships with distribution partners for collaborations and attend related events, such as Fashion Week.
Client Engagement: Build lasting relationships with key clients and brand partners, ensuring that every interaction reflects the luxury and sustainability of our vegan products.
Trade Shows & Wholesalers: Develop a strategy for attending trade fairs and fashion-related distribution events, representing our vegan luxury high heels with flair and effectively implementing these initiatives.
Distribution & Logistics: Supervise the distribution and logistics of our products, managing contracts, orders, stocks, and production pipelines related to different channels in close collaboration with the CEO and CFO, ensuring efficient implementation.
Event Planning: Organize and execute memorable events that elevate our brand and create excitement in the fashion world, from strategy development to on-the-ground execution.
Customer Segment Strategy: Develop and implement distribution strategies for different customer segments, such as bridal, Gen Z, and dancing shoes, in collaboration with the CEO and Chief Marketing Officer while emphasising our commitment to vegan luxury.

What we offer

Equity Stake: As a co-founder, you’ll receive a significant equity stake in the company and share in our collective success.
Flexible & Fun: Join a flexible, collaborative environment with a team that loves what they do and knows how to have a great time while doing it.
Growth Opportunity: Be part of a groundbreaking brand with the chance to drive its growth and success in the fashion industry.
Creative Freedom: Bring your bold ideas to life and help shape the future of our sales and retail strategies, making your mark on our journey.
Growth & Impact: Play a vital role in a brand poised to make waves and leave a lasting impression on the fashion world.
Compensation Structure: Initially, there will be no salary; however, we offer a significant equity stake and a vibrant, collaborative team environment. We are focused on securing our first funding round to support future growth and compensation.

How to Apply

If this sounds like the perfect fit for you, we can’t wait to hear from you!

Feel free to give us a call if you’d like to chat more about the role (+41 78 832 27 27). To apply, just send us your resume, a cover letter sharing your vision for the position, and any relevant portfolio or case studies to standtall@cheetah-stories.com.