Our mission: Growing leaders, world class brand builders, global reach (30/30/30). Pentland began life as the Liverpool Shoe Company in 1932, manufacturing and selling fashion footwear to UK retailers. We’ve come a
long way since then. Pentland Brands Plc is now an international brand management group in the sports, outdoor and fashion markets. Our brand portfolio includes Speedo, Ellesse, Boxfresh, Mitre and Berghaus.
We also develop and market Lacoste and Ted Baker footwear under global licence and Kickers in the UK and Ireland. In addition Pentland Group plc has other business activities around the world spanning fund management, venture capital investments and a 57% stake in The John David Group plc. Pentland’s state-of-the-art global headquarters are in North London and the Group also has offices in China, France, Hong Kong, India, Thailand, the USA and Vietnam. The total number of direct employees around the world is around 1,700. Our culture is people centred, and the work environment reflects and supports this. The Pentland values are at the heart of what we do and how we interact with the world around us.
Key Purpose of the Job:
To manage and develop the Sales team responsible sales of Kickers and KangaROOS footwear into Independent Key and National retail accounts in the UK and Republic of Ireland. To maintain and develop a strategic major customer personally.
Needs to Do
• Deliver agreed annual sales target for Kickers footwear in line with Company strategy
• Lead and oversee the training and development of the team of account managers, including personal development reviews and plans.
• Ensure the sales team effectively manage existing accounts; increase range selection and turnover to agreed levels
• In conjunction with the Managing Director be responsible for overall sales strategy
• Expand distribution via independent accounts to agreed levels
• Play an active part in the organisation and implementation of product launches to maximise sales of all product categories
• Maintain, manage and develop a strategic major customer personally.
• Play an active part in marketing the brand though building in-store presence, maximising share and quality of space in-store, ensuring the sales team use all marketing tools in an effective manner, and plan and organise attendance at domestic trade shows where appropriate
• Ensure sales team maximize the sale of core stock items and secure repeat business
• Ensure all sale steam members adhere to seasonal cut off dates.
• Monitor and manage core stock levels in conjunction with Customer Service Manager/ Supply Chain and Managing Director, on a monthly basis.
• Manage and take responsibility for all reporting weekly/ monthly as required from sales team.
• Deliver seasonal Forecasts to the business on range selling and monitor and update through season.
• Attend weekly brand Opps meeting to represent sales and to update all other Heads of departments.
• Represent sales at senior management meetings
• Provide reports as necessary to the management team and the business
• Manage Budgets relating to the Sales Department Cost Centre.
• Organise and Manage quarterly sales meetings
Needs to Be
• Credible and confident
• Tenacious
• Team player
• Engaging and enthusiastic
• Honest
• Flexible
• Willing to travel
• Willingness to get involved
Desired Skills & Experience
Successful Applicant must be able to demonstrate:
• Strong people management skills
• A proven track record in sales and business management gained within leading brands ideally with experience of fashion footwear market
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills (both internal and external)
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Proven ability to operate with targeted key accounts
• High levels of personal motivation
• Excellent presentation skills
• An empathy with the target market, and ability to position the brand accurately
• An understanding of the importance of developing and maintaining our brand image
• IT literacy essential (EXCEL, WORD, POWERPOINT).
• Extensive current market knowledge & knowledge of competitor activity.
• Face to face relationships with major buyers in relevant distribution channels
• An ability to train / guide / support and advise their team to create excellent team spirit.