Area Sales Manager

Kemp Recruitment Ltd; Croydon; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company car

Pension

Training & development

Career progression

Company laptop

Mobile phone

Holiday allowance (24 days + 8 stat)

Job summary

Kemp Recruitment Ltd is seeking an experienced Area Sales Manager in Croydon to drive growth across the South East, focusing on new business development while managing key existing accounts.

You will own the full sales cycle—from prospecting and appointments to negotiation and closing—using a consultative approach to match customer needs with our materials handling solutions.

The role offers a competitive salary plus a company car, with clear opportunities for progression and ongoing training.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years' sales experience within the Materials Handling / Forklift Industry.
• Strong new business development and prospecting experience.
• Proven account management and customer development skills.
• Excellent relationship-building skills.
• Strong presentation and customer-facing abilities.
• Experience with equipment demonstrations, price negotiation and objection handling.
• Strong commercial awareness.
• A consultative / solution-based approach to sales.
• Good numerical and commercial understanding.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office, email and CRM systems.
• Excellent organisation and time-management skills.
• The ability to effectively plan and manage a sales territory.
• The ability to understand technical information and communicate features and benefits clearly.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop new business opportunities across the territory.
• Prospect and arrange appointments with potential customers.
• Visit prospective customers to generate new sales.
• Manage and develop existing customer relationships.
• Upsell and increase account value.
• Understand customer requirements and recommend appropriate solutions.
• Prepare and provide customer quotations.
• Deliver customer presentations and equipment demonstrations.
• Negotiate commercial terms and close sales.
• Research and monitor market and customer information.
• Identify new markets and potential business opportunities.
• Maintain accurate sales and activity records within a CRM.
• Analyse CRM data to identify further sales opportunities.
• Effectively plan and manage your territory, diary and customer visits.

Skills

New business development

Territory planning

Relationship-building

Presentation skills

Negotiation

Consultative selling

CRM usage

Time management

Customer servicing

Tools

CRM systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Title: Area Sales Manager (Materials Handling / Forklift Industry)

Location: You will reside in the Croydon area

Patch to cover: South East

Salary: Competitive + Company Car

Hours: Monday–Friday, 40 hours per week

We’re looking for an experienced Area Sales Manager to grow sales across the South East, with a strong focus on new business development and territory growth.

You’ll manage an existing customer portfolio while actively identifying and winning new business, taking ownership of the full sales cycle from prospecting and appointments through to negotiation and closing.

Using a consultative sales approach, you’ll build strong customer relationships, understand their requirements and provide the right solutions.

Success in the role will come from strong territory planning, relationship management and a proven ability to win new business.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and develop new business opportunities across the territory
• Prospect and arrange appointments with potential customers
• Visit prospective customers to generate new sales
• Manage and develop existing customer relationships
• Identify opportunities to upsell and increase account value
• Understand customer requirements and recommend appropriate solutions
• Prepare and provide customer quotations
• Deliver customer presentations and equipment demonstrations
• Negotiate commercial terms and close sales
• Research and monitor market and customer information
• Identify new markets and potential business opportunities
• Maintain accurate sales and activity records within a CRM
• Analyse CRM data to identify further sales opportunities
• Effectively plan and manage your territory, diary and customer visits

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years' sales experience within the Materials Handling / Forklift Industry
• Strong new business development and prospecting experience
• Proven account management and customer development skills
• Excellent relationship-building skills
• Strong presentation and customer-facing abilities
• Experience with equipment demonstrations, price negotiation and objection handling
• Strong commercial awareness
• A consultative / solution-based approach to sales
• Good numerical and commercial understanding
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office, email and CRM systems
• Excellent organisation and time-management skills
• The ability to effectively plan and manage a sales territory
• The ability to understand technical information and communicate features and benefits clearly

Package & Benefits

• Competitive salary (to be discussed at interview stage)
• Company car
• Company laptop and mobile phone
• 24 days' holiday + 8 statutory days
• Pension contribution
• Training and development opportunities
• Career progression opportunities