Area Sales Manager

SER Limited; Croydon; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company car

24 days holiday + bank holidays

Company pension scheme

Company laptop and mobile phone

Full training and personal development

Progression within a growing business

Job summary

SER Limited is seeking an Area Sales Manager to cover the Southeast from the Croydon region. This field-based role focuses on new business development while growing an existing customer portfolio.

You will report to the National Hire & Sales Manager and drive territory strategy, build relationships, and close deals. The ideal candidate has 5+ years in materials handling sales, strong account management, and demonstrable sales success.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in materials handling sales (forklift industry)
• Proven track record in new business development
• Strong account management & customer development experience
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills
• Confident customer-facing presentation and demonstration skills
• Experience negotiating prices, handling objections, and closing sales
• Strong commercial awareness of market and competitors
• Consultative, solution-focused sales approach
• Numerically competent with good attention to detail
• Good IT skills including MS Office, email, and CRM systems
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• Able to plan and manage a sales territory effectively
• Self-motivated with energy to develop new business
• Stable employment history and desire to build long-term career

Responsibilities

• Develop new business opportunities across the assigned territory
• Visit prospective customers and generate new sales opportunities
• Manage and develop existing customer accounts
• Identify opportunities to upsell and increase customer spend
• Build and maintain strong, long-term customer relationships
• Arrange and conduct customer meetings, presentations, and equipment demonstrations
• Provide accurate quotations and proposals
• Negotiate commercial terms and close sales
• Identify new markets, customers, and business opportunities
• Gather market and competitor information
• Maintain accurate records of sales activity and opportunities using CRM
• Analyse CRM activity and pipeline to identify further sales opportunities
• Plan and manage territory to maximise sales opportunities
• Work closely with internal teams to ensure a smooth sales process and high level of customer service

Skills

New business development

Account management

Relationship building

Presentation skills

Negotiation

CRM proficiency

Time management

Independent working

Tools

Microsoft Office

CRM systems

Job description

Area Sales Manager

Materials Handling

Location: Croydon

Package: Circa £40 + Commission + Company Car

Hours: Full-Time (40 hours per week, Monday-Friday)

About the Role

We are recruiting for an experienced Area Sales Manager to join a rapidly growing materials handling business.

This is a field-based sales role covering the Southeast, with a strong focus on new business development, whilst also managing and growing an existing customer portfolio.

Reporting to the National Hire & Sales Manager, you will be responsible for developing your territory, identifying new opportunities, building strong customer relationships, and taking sales from initial prospecting through to successful completion.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced materials handling sales professional who is commercially driven, enjoys winning new business, and wants to play a key role in the continued growth of the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop new business opportunities across the assigned territory
• Visit prospective customers and generate new sales opportunities
• Manage and develop existing customer accounts
• Identify opportunities to upsell and increase customer spend
• Build and maintain strong, long-term customer relationships
• Arrange and conduct customer meetings, presentations, and equipment demonstrations
• Provide accurate quotations and proposals
• Negotiate commercial terms and successfully close sales
• Identify new markets, customers, and business opportunities
• Gather market and competitor information
• Maintain accurate records of sales activity and opportunities using the CRM system
• Analyse CRM activity and pipeline to identify further sales opportunities
• Plan and manage your territory effectively to maximise sales opportunities
• Work closely with internal teams to ensure a smooth sales process and high level of customer service

About You

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in Materials Handling sales within the forklift industry
• Proven track record in new business development
• Strong account management and customer development experience
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills
• Confident customer-facing presentation and demonstration skills
• Experience negotiating prices, handling objections, and closing sales
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of the market and competitors
• Consultative and solution-focused approach to sales
• Numerically competent with good attention to detail
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office, email, and CRM systems
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• Able to plan and manage a sales territory effectively
• Self-motivated, driven, and comfortable working independently
• Strong work ethic with the energy and determination to develop new business
• Stable employment history and a genuine desire to build a long-term career

What’s on Offer

• Circa £40 salary depending on experience
• Company car
• Competitive commission structure
• Company laptop and mobile phone
• 24 days holiday + bank holidays
• Company pension scheme
• Full training and ongoing personal development
• Opportunity to progress within a growing business
• Supportive, team-focused working environment

Why Join?

Join a rapidly growing materials handling business where you will have the opportunity to make a real impact on the continued growth of the Southeast region.

This is a role for someone who enjoys being out in the market, building relationships, finding new opportunities, and ultimately winning business.

The business is committed to investing in its people, providing the support and development needed to help you build a long-term career.

If you are an experienced Materials Handling Sales professional with a strong background in new business development and are looking for your next opportunity, we’d love to hear from you.