Account Manager / New Business Development Manager

This Interior Design Consultancy specialises in designing and installing interiors for Showhomes, Hotels, Retirement Homes, Marketing Suites, Private Clients and supplying Furniture Packages. They have a team of talented in-house professionals which includes designers, soft furnishers, stylists, picture-framers and fitters and are now seeking an additional  Account Manager / Sales Manager to be based out for their offices but working nationally. You will also be responsible for a Business Development Assistant.

Your role as Account Manager / Sales Manager will be a combination of winning new business and account management and the position comes with a car as, under normal conditions, it is likely to be a 50/50 split between office and travel. They are a very family-friendly business and flexible about working hours, have a good company pension scheme, a group company bonus paid twice yearly and staff discounts from suppliers. All of this contributes to a low turnover of staff and repeat business from their clients.

Key Purpose of the  Account Manager / Sales Manager role:

·    Agreeing sales targets and implementing a strategy that achieves or exceeds these targets
·    Delivery of successful repeat business, retention and referral rates
·    Negotiation of achievable project budgets with customers 
·    Maintaining and further populating the computerised customer and prospect database (ACT)
·    Maintaining and further developing existing customer relationships and new accounts
·    Carrying out regular research within the new homes market to generate new sales leads
·    Contributing to the preparation of the annual sales and marketing plan and reviewing performance against these quarterly
·    Implementation of regular/seasonal marketing campaigns
·    Implementation of advertising campaigns in the trade press and any other worthwhile opportunities 
·    Providing sales information including forecasts to assist in analysis and forward planning
·    Contributing to the weekly progress and sales meetings 
·    Liaising with the project managers, design manager and operations manager in all phases of a customer’s project to ensure design, budget and timeframe requirements are met
·    Setting and imposing high standards of presentation for all client contact, from sales pitch to after-sales

Skills & EXperience for the Account Manager / Sales Manager:

·    Knowledge of the Interior Design marketplace
·    Strong sales and negotiating skills
·    Effective and solid communication skills
·    Good IT skills as required by the job and updated as necessary
·    Current Driving Licence
·    Able to and understanding the need for achieving Gross Profit and Sales Targets
·    Able to read plans and layouts
·    Able to demonstrate success in managing client accounts 
·    Must be competent at writing business letters with good spelling and grammar
·    Ability to understand the principles of basic business finance
·    Self-driven and results oriented with a positive outlook and able to forward plan 
·    Mature, credible and comfortable dealing with clients at all levels