What are the responsibilities and job description for the Speciality Sales Manager position at Thames and Kosmos?
Thames & Kosmos - Specialty Sales Manager
Overview
We are looking for a hard-working, professional, and smart individual to join our rapidly growing company. We believe in approaching every interaction with empathy and integrity. We value the power of curiosity, intelligent risk-taking, and informed dialogue. And we “sweat the small stuff”, striving to deliver extraordinary quality and results through our attention to detail and commitment to excellence.
The Specialty Sales Manager serves as the main point of contact for specialty retailers and independent sales representatives. The primary responsibilities are to develop sales strategies within our specialty distribution channels, to execute product training in both in-person and virtual environments, and to nurture the growth of our reps and retailers through KPI’s, education, and programs. Strong interpersonal skills, a passion for learning, and sound account management skills are essential to success. Ideal candidates will be available to work out of our Providence office a minimum of three days a week.
Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Managing potential new leads and existing accounts within specialty toy, gift, games, and hobby channels throughout North America
- Identifying and cultivating new opportunities to grow current business relationships and open new markets
- Ensuring satisfactory sales rep performance by providing organized group and 1-on-1 trainings, incentives, and tools and resources to help them fulfill their goals
- Establishing strong relationships with key decision makers within the specialty community
- Monitoring, and reporting on measurable and achievable KPIs to all stakeholders
- Communicating key information regarding products, policies, and procedures to wholesale customers, sales reps, and internal staff
- Planning, attending, and executing trade shows, gift shows, consumer shows, and/or customer meetings (moderate travel required - about 25%)
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop planograms, merchandising tools, and sales programs
- Continually increasing knowledge of our product line, including building models, trying experiments, reading through manuals and rulebooks, etc. A comprehensive understanding of our catalog is crucial to success in this role!
- Helping to identify gaps in existing processes or knowledge and implement solutions.
- Staying current with industry developments and share insights with relevant team members
- Offering support with:
- Ongoing development and maintenance of Key Accounts
- Preparation of sales documents, training tools, product models, other support materials
- Generation of sales reports and forecasts
- Responding promptly and professionally to incoming wholesale and retail customer inquiries via phone and email
- General customer service and wholesale order processing, as necessary
The ideal candidate will possess these special skills and experience:
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to create and execute energetic and effective presentations in both virtual and real-life environments
- High degree of computer literacy; proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel), Google Docs, and some visual presentation software (e.g., Powerpoint, Canva).
- Natural curiosity and passion for continuous learning and professional growth
- Ability to remain calm, focused, and resilient when faced with new challenges, priorities, and deadlines
- Ability to learn, retain, and apply a large amount of information quickly
- Sound critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Previous account management experience within toy, gift, or related consumer products industry is preferable
- Experience with SAP Business One, CRM software, Vendor Extranets, and/or Adobe Creative Suite is a plus
Compensation:
- This position is full-time.
- Salary commensurate with experience.
- Full company-paid medical, dental and vision insurance options
- Generous vacation and sick day policy
- Health and wellness stipend
- 401K options available after one year of employment
- Plus additional benefits
Application:
To apply, please submit the following:
- Resume
- Cover letter
- References
- Video Introduction - 2 minutes max.
- Why is this role interesting to you?
- What’s your favorite T&K product and why?
- What was your favorite toy or game when you were a kid?
About Thames & Kosmos
Thames & Kosmos (T&K) is a publisher of products that inspire kids and families to think deeper, play longer, and figure stuff out! T&K makes science toys and kits that teach through fun, hands-on experimentation; games that challenge the mind and bring people together; activity toys that encourage imagination and open-ended play; and curricula that support educators to make learning enjoyable and effective. The T&K brand is highly regarded by parents, teachers, and members of the toy, game, and educational industries and its products have been the recipient of hundreds of accolades including TIME’s Best Inventions list, the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Awards, The Toy Association’s Toy of the Year Awards, among many others. T&K is headquartered in Providence, RI, and is the North American subsidiary of Franckh-Kosmos Verlags-GmbH & Co. KG. https://thamesandkosmos.com
