Specialty Sales Manager

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in New York.

📋 Description

• Oversee and enhance relationships with specialty toy, gift, game, hobby, and boutique retailers across North America.

• Discover new business opportunities, cultivate prospective accounts, and broaden specialty distribution channels.

• Act as the main point of contact for trade associations, catalog groups, and buying groups.

• Manage, train, and assist independent sales representative teams through product education, sales tools, incentives, and ongoing support.

• Formulate and implement specialty sales strategies, set measurable KPIs, and create sales reports and forecasts.

• Establish relationships with specialty retailers and industry partners to pinpoint growth opportunities and reinforce existing business.

• Organize, coordinate, and participate in trade shows, gift shows, industry events, and customer meetings.

• Work collaboratively with marketing, product development, and operations teams on merchandising materials, planograms, promotional programs, and sales initiatives.

• Collect retailer feedback and market insights to bolster product development, sales strategies, and business decisions.

• Maintain product knowledge and disseminate information on new releases, product updates, and sales opportunities.

• Enhance sales processes, communication, and channel efficiency.

• Assist with wholesale inquiries, sales documentation, and order-related requirements.

⛳️ Requirements

• A bachelor's degree is required, preferably with a focus in business, sales, marketing, or a comparable field.

• A minimum of 4 years of prior account management or sales experience in toys, gifts, collectibles, or a related consumer products sector is essential.

• Experience engaging with specialty retailers, independent sales representatives, and wholesale distribution channels is preferred.

• Established connections within the specialty toy and gift retail community, including trade associations and buying groups, are highly preferred.

• Proven ability to devise and implement sales strategies, recognize growth opportunities, and manage customer relationships.

• Willingness to travel approximately 25% for trade shows, industry events, and customer meetings.

• Strong understanding of specialty retail channels, wholesale distribution, and independent sales representative networks.

• Proficient in using CRM systems to manage leads and existing customer relationships; experience with NetSuite, MarketTime, and/or vendor extranets is advantageous.

• Experience in developing sales reports, tracking KPIs, analyzing performance, and presenting actionable recommendations.

• Intermediate skills in Excel and Word, proficient in Google Workspace and presentation tools.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including engaging presentations and effective stakeholder communication.

• Capacity to adapt to shifting priorities, evolving market conditions, and frequent new product launches.

• Ability to independently manage schedules, prioritize responsibilities, balance multiple projects, and meet deadlines.

• Strong critical thinking, attention to detail, and a proactive problem-solving approach.

🏝️ Benefits

• 100% employer-paid health insurance.

• 100% employer-paid short- and long-term disability insurance.

• 100% employer-paid life insurance.

• Affordable vision and dental insurance.

• 18 days of PTO per year, plus 2 floating holidays.

• 401(k) with employer match.

• Generous employee discount (hello, giant plush!).