AREA SALES MANAGER – PAPER & OFFICE SUPPLIES
Location: Loughborough – covering the Midlands
Basic Salary: £40,000–£45,000
OTE: £80,000+ with uncapped commission
Benefits: Company Car + Fuel Card | Laptop | Mobile Phone
The Opportunity
An established £1.4m territory. 140 existing customers. £80k+ earning potential.
We are recruiting for an ambitious and commercially driven Area Sales Manager to take ownership of an established Midlands territory, developing approximately 140 existing customers and growing an annual turnover of around £1.4m.
Working for a well-established, family-run business with over 50 years of experience, you'll focus on growing core paper and education supplies sales, predominantly within schools and education establishments, while identifying opportunities to develop wider product sales across its furniture stationery and workplace supplies portfolio.
This is an 80% existing account development and 20% new business role, offering a fantastic opportunity to inherit a warm customer base, build long-term relationships and unlock significant further growth.
Education sector experience is desirable, but proven B2B physical product sales experience is essential.
The Role
Based from Loughborough, you'll manage and develop your own Midlands territory, with responsibility for:
Existing Customer Development – 80%
- Manage and grow an established portfolio of approximately 140 customers.
- Increase paper sales by winning a greater share of existing customer spend.
- Build strong relationships with key decision-makers and purchasing contacts.
- Identify opportunities to for furniture projects, educational stationery cross-sell stationery, office supplies and other workplace products.
- Re-engage dormant accounts and develop long-term customer relationships.
New Business Development – 20%
- Identify and secure new business opportunities across the Midlands.
- Target schools, education establishments and other organisations with regular paper and furniture project requirements.
- Introduce the business as a competitive and reliable supplier.
- Develop new accounts for our range of over 50,000 products. starting with paper sales and building wider product opportunities.
You'll have the autonomy to manage your diary, plan your territory and take responsibility for profitable growth.
About the Business
The business is a well-established, family-run company based in Loughborough, supplying paper, education supplies and workplace products to businesses and educational organisations across the Midlands for over 50 years.
With a 17,000 sq. ft. warehouse, its own delivery fleet and 94% of orders arriving the next day, the company prides itself on competitive pricing, reliable service and building long-standing customer relationships.
Requirements
We're looking for a commercially driven sales professional who enjoys developing customer relationships and growing revenue.
Essential experience and attributes:
- Proven experience in a B2B product sales environment, selling physical products.
- A successful track record of managing and growing existing customer accounts.
- Experience identifying opportunities to increase customer spend, cross-sell and win new business.
- Strong commercial awareness, negotiation and relationship-building skills.
- A self-motivated and organised approach to managing your own territory.
- Full UK driving licence.
Desirable, but not essential:
- Experience selling into schools, colleges, academies or Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs).
- A background in paper, stationery, furniture supplies, office supplies or educational products.
- Existing relationships within the education sector.
Education sector experience would be an advantage, but isn't essential. Equally, we're interested in successful B2B product salespeople from other industries who can demonstrate the commercial ability, relationship-building skills and drive to develop a territory.
Benefits
- £40,000–£45,000 basic salary, depending on experience.
- £80,000+ OTE with uncapped commission.
- Company car and fuel card.
- Laptop and mobile phone.
- An established portfolio of approximately 140 warm customers.
- An existing territory generating around £1.4m annual revenue.
- A strong foundation of existing paper business.
- Significant opportunity to grow existing accounts and win new business.
- A predominantly relationship-led sales role rather than a cold-calling position.
- Autonomy to manage and develop your own territory.
- The backing of a well-established, family-run business with over 50 years of experience.
Ready to Make Your Mark?
If you're an ambitious B2B product sales professional looking for your next challenge, enjoy developing existing customers and want the opportunity to earn £80k+, we'd love to hear from you.
Take ownership of the territory. Grow the paper business. Unlock the opportunity.
Apply today to find out more about this exciting opportunity.
Please note: Due to the nature of the customer base, the successful applicant will be required to successfully complete a DBS background check.
IND25