The highlights: Rapidly growing & exciting product market Premium brands with an outstanding reputation Existing customer base of quality independent pet shops & country stores An established area with huge potential for development The company: A leading, highly successful and fast - growing importer and distributor of premium pet products to the independent and specialist pet trade. The role: As an experienced account management and business development professional from within the Pet/Garden Trades or similar, you will join this thriving business to manage, nurture and build on an established customer base of high - quality customers across the Southeast (Berks, Oxon, Wilts, London, Kent, Hamps, Dorset, Brighton, Cambs etc). You will inherit an established business base and be targeted to achieve sales growth within these accounts whilst also prospecting for new, suitable retail customers. Duties will include: Build trusting relationships with pet shop owners using a consultative sales approach Actively prospect for new stocklists by communicating and reinforcing the benefits of stocking the brands to retailers Provide training and education to retailers, owners and sales assistants Create eye catching product displays using point of sale and promotional material effectively Report against your sale plan on a weekly basis, achieving revenue, targets and KPI’s set by the business Journey plan to ensure call coverage targets are achieved and planned in the most effective and efficient way in order to reduce travel time Attend consumer tradeshows, sales meetings and training sessions when required Assist with the training of new colleagues when required The person: In order to be considered for the role of Area Sales Manager, you must possess the following; Based 'on patch’ in the South East of the UK (Surrey, London, Kent, Hamps, Dorset, Brighton, Cambs etc) A wealth of account management and sales experience gained from working with pet stores/garden centres etc. Experience of working with independent retailers, dealing with store owners and closing sales with decision makers A proven ability to open new accounts, extend ranges, win additional retail space and grow a sales territory The ability to build sales arguments, influence decision makers and close sales orders A positive and likeable personality enabling effortless relationship building Experience of running small training sessions with the confidence to do so Happy to travel regularly Able to work autonomously without close supervision Effective negotiation and presentation skills The benefits: The job holder will enjoy a basic salary of up to £45,000 p.a, bonus hybrid company car. Contact: Sophie Simmonds Reference: SS/87027 Candidate care: By responding to this advert you consent to Cavendish Maine processing the personal data included within this application. If your application is successful we will contact you to discuss the opportunity in more detail, within 48 hours of receiving your application. Should you not hear from us within 3 working days please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. Please be advised that if unsuccessful for this role we may keep your details in our hold file, during which time you may be contacted for other suitable vacancies. If you do not want us to do this please call us to advise. In the meantime, we would like to thank you for your interest in Cavendish Maine.