Sales Manager

Job title	Sales Manager (New business and international)
Department	Sales
Location	Remote or Norwich Head Office.
Working hours	40 hours per week, Monday - Friday 8.45am - 5.15pm

What you'll be doing - the overview
Start‑Rite Shoes is a leading UK children’s footwear brand with over 230 years of heritage. We are looking for a driven, commercially minded Sales Manager to accelerate our growth through new business development across the UK and international markets. This role focuses exclusively on securing new accounts, strong partnerships, and opening strategic opportunities that expand the reach of the Start‑Rite brand. You will be responsible for identifying, pitching, and onboarding new customers across three priority growth areas: • New UK national accounts (online and/or instore) • New International accounts (online and/or instore) • New national partnerships and opportunities This role is ideal for someone who thrives on building relationships from scratch and delivering high‑value commercial wins.

What you'll be doing - the overview

Start‑Rite Shoes is a leading UK children’s footwear brand with over 230 years of heritage. We are looking for a driven, commercially minded Sales Manager to accelerate our growth through new business development across the UK and international markets. This role focuses exclusively on securing new accounts, strong partnerships, and opening strategic opportunities that expand the reach of the Start‑Rite brand.

You will be responsible for identifying, pitching, and onboarding new customers across three priority growth areas:

• New UK national accounts (online and/or instore)
• New International accounts (online and/or instore)
• New national partnerships and opportunities

This role is ideal for someone who thrives on building relationships from scratch and delivering high‑value commercial wins.

Who we're looking for
Children are innovative, creative, and always on the move. They are constantly growing and exploring new ways of doing things – the same can be said for Start-Rite Shoes. You are passionate about our brand, with effective communication skills with a proven ability to organise and prioritise workloads efficiently and effectively. You will be proactive and self-motivated with the ability to work in a fast-paced and constantly changing environment, whilst working under pressure and tight deadlines. You must be strong in relationship building and can communicate well in both written and spoken forms. You must have the confidence to express opinions and provide direction and guidance to colleagues within the Company when required.
What you'll be doing - the detail
New UK National Accounts (online or instore) • Identify, target, and secure new UK national retailers (brick‑and‑mortar and e‑Commerce). • Develop tailored pitches based on customer format, channel, and consumer profile. • Lead commercial negotiations, terms of trade, and onboarding processes. • Collaborate with product, merchandising, and marketing teams to build winning assortments and launch plans. • Track and analyse category opportunities within the UK children’s footwear and apparel sectors. New International Accounts (online or instore) • Prospect and win new retail partners in key international markets. • Build market‑specific entry strategies and identify channel‑appropriate partners (online marketplaces, specialist retailers, department stores). • Manage first‑stage demand forecasts and commercial planning/budgets for new regions. • Work with operations and logistics teams to support set‑up, compliance, and supply chain requirements. • Represent Start‑Rite at global trade shows, virtual buying meetings, and distributor presentations. New National Partnerships & Strategic Opportunities • Identify and bring in new brand collaborations, licensing opportunities, corporate partnerships, and industry alliances. • Explore partnerships with childcare groups, schools, parenting organisations, or wellbeing initiatives aligned to Start‑Rite’s core purpose. • Develop proposals and build commercially attractive partnership models. • Evaluate long‑term growth potential and provide recommendations to the leadership team. General Responsibilities • Own the full new‑business sales pipeline from prospecting to deal closure. • Deliver against annual new‑business revenue targets. • Maintain a structured CRM approach and accurate sales pipeline reporting. • Analyse market trends, competitor activity, and category insights to inform commercial strategy. • Collaborate cross‑functionally with marketing, digital, product, and operations to ensure successful onboarding of new partners. • Prepare clear, compelling presentations for internal and external stakeholders. • Report weekly in the trade meetings.

Who we're looking for

Children are innovative, creative, and always on the move. They are constantly growing and exploring new ways of doing things – the same can be said for Start-Rite Shoes.

You are passionate about our brand, with effective communication skills with a proven ability to organise and prioritise workloads efficiently and effectively. You will be proactive and self-motivated with the ability to work in a fast-paced and constantly changing environment, whilst working under pressure and tight deadlines.

You must be strong in relationship building and can communicate well in both written and spoken forms. You must have the confidence to express opinions and provide direction and guidance to colleagues within the Company when required.

What you'll be doing - the detail

New UK National Accounts (online or instore)

• Identify, target, and secure new UK national retailers (brick‑and‑mortar and e‑Commerce).
• Develop tailored pitches based on customer format, channel, and consumer profile.
• Lead commercial negotiations, terms of trade, and onboarding processes.
• Collaborate with product, merchandising, and marketing teams to build winning assortments and launch plans.
• Track and analyse category opportunities within the UK children’s footwear and apparel sectors.

New International Accounts (online or instore)

• Prospect and win new retail partners in key international markets.
• Build market‑specific entry strategies and identify channel‑appropriate partners (online marketplaces, specialist retailers, department stores).
• Manage first‑stage demand forecasts and commercial planning/budgets for new regions.
• Work with operations and logistics teams to support set‑up, compliance, and supply chain requirements.
• Represent Start‑Rite at global trade shows, virtual buying meetings, and distributor presentations.

New National Partnerships & Strategic Opportunities

• Identify and bring in new brand collaborations, licensing opportunities, corporate partnerships, and industry alliances.
• Explore partnerships with childcare groups, schools, parenting organisations, or wellbeing initiatives aligned to Start‑Rite’s core purpose.
• Develop proposals and build commercially attractive partnership models.
• Evaluate long‑term growth potential and provide recommendations to the leadership team.

General Responsibilities

• Own the full new‑business sales pipeline from prospecting to deal closure.
• Deliver against annual new‑business revenue targets.
• Maintain a structured CRM approach and accurate sales pipeline reporting.
• Analyse market trends, competitor activity, and category insights to inform commercial strategy.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with marketing, digital, product, and operations to ensure successful onboarding of new partners.
• Prepare clear, compelling presentations for internal and external stakeholders.
• Report weekly in the trade meetings.

What you need
• 5+ years’ experience in wholesale, retail, or e‑commerce sales — ideally within footwear, apparel, consumer goods, or a related product category. • Strong track record of winning new accounts and delivering commercial growth. • Experience selling into national retailers, online platforms, or international partners. • Confident negotiator with experience building terms of trade and commercial propositions. • Excellent relationship‑building skills and communication skills at all levels. • Strong analytical mindset with the ability to interpret sales data and market insights. • Self‑starter who thrives in a growth‑driven environment and is motivated by stretching targets. • Comfortable managing multiple prospects simultaneously and working autonomously. • Willingness to travel for meetings, trade shows, and international development.

What you need

• 5+ years’ experience in wholesale, retail, or e‑commerce sales — ideally within footwear, apparel, consumer goods, or a related product category.
• Strong track record of winning new accounts and delivering commercial growth.
• Experience selling into national retailers, online platforms, or international partners.
• Confident negotiator with experience building terms of trade and commercial propositions.
• Excellent relationship‑building skills and communication skills at all levels.
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to interpret sales data and market insights.
• Self‑starter who thrives in a growth‑driven environment and is motivated by stretching targets.
• Comfortable managing multiple prospects simultaneously and working autonomously.
• Willingness to travel for meetings, trade shows, and international development.

How do I become part of the team?
If you think that the above describes you, all you need to do is send your CV and a covering letter to sarah.lazzari@startriteshoes.com and then we will be in touch if we like what we see. STRICTLY NO AGENGIES.