Assistant Branch Manager - Builders Merchants

Arco Recruitment Ltd; Woburn Sands; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company benefits package

Pension scheme

Career development and progression

Join a well-established independent MB

Job summary

Arco Recruitment Ltd is supporting a leading UK builder’s merchant in recruiting an ambitious Assistant Branch Manager for one of their successful branches. You will drive sales, develop existing customer accounts and build long-term trade relationships while guiding the internal sales team.

You will engage with customers face-to-face and over the phone, prepare competitive quotations, and convert enquiries into profitable orders.

Qualifications

• Experience in a builders' merchant or related trade distribution.
• Strong sales background in internal sales, trade counter sales, sales management or assistant branch management.
• Proven ability to develop customer relationships and identify opportunities to increase sales.
• Proactive follow-up of quotations and generating business.
• Good knowledge of building materials and trade customer requirements.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and customer service skills.
• Strong commercial awareness including pricing, margins and profitability.
• Hands-on leadership to motivate and support colleagues.
• Ambition to progress within a growing business.

Responsibilities

• Identify new sales opportunities and drive branch turnover and profitability.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with trade customers, being their trusted contact.
• Increase customer spending, reactivate dormant accounts and secure additional business.
• Prepare competitive quotations and convert enquiries into orders.
• Collaborate with Branch Manager to attract new customers in the local area.
• Deliver excellent service with knowledgeable advice and competitive pricing.
• Support and develop the internal sales team.
• Assist with pricing, margins and sales performance to keep the branch competitive.
• Cover day-to-day branch operations in the Branch Manager's absence.

Skills

Sales

Customer relationships

Team leadership

Negotiation

Communication

Commercial awareness

Pricing & margins

Account development

Job description

About Our Client

Our client is one of the UK's leading independent builders' merchants, with an excellent reputation for customer service, quality products and strong relationships within the local trade community.

Due to an internal promotion, an exciting opportunity has arisen for an ambitious and commercially minded Assistant Branch Manager to join one of their most successful branches.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys the sales side of merchanting, thrives on building customer relationships and has the drive and enthusiasm to help take an already successful branch to the next level.

The Role

Working closely with the Branch Manager, you will play a key role in driving sales, developing existing customer accounts and identifying opportunities to grow the branch's customer base.

We are particularly interested in individuals who are passionate about sales, customer service and developing long-term trade relationships, rather than those whose experience is predominantly operational.

You will be comfortable dealing with customers both over the telephone and face-to-face, preparing quotations, following up on enquiries and proactively turning opportunities into profitable business.

Key Responsibilities

• Sales & Business Development: Proactively identify new sales opportunities, develop existing accounts and help drive branch turnover and profitability.
• Customer Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with trade customers, understanding their requirements and becoming their trusted point of contact.
• Account Development: Identify opportunities to increase customer spending, reactivate dormant accounts and secure additional business from existing customers.
• Quotations & Sales Conversion: Prepare competitive quotations, follow up on outstanding enquiries and maximise opportunities to convert quotations into orders.
• New Business Opportunities: Work alongside the Branch Manager to identify and attract new customers within the local trading area.
• Customer Service: Deliver an exceptional level of service, ensuring customers receive knowledgeable advice, competitive pricing and a positive experience.
• Team Leadership: Support, motivate and develop the internal sales team, encouraging a proactive, customer-focused approach.
• Commercial Awareness: Assist with pricing, margins and sales performance, ensuring the branch remains competitive while maximising profitability.
• Branch Management: Support the Branch Manager with the day-to-day running of the business and take responsibility for the branch in their absence.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for a motivated, personable and commercially driven individual who enjoys working in a busy builders' merchant environment.

The successful candidate will ideally demonstrate:

• Previous experience within a builders' merchant or a closely related trade distribution environment.
• A strong sales background, ideally gained in internal sales, trade counter sales, sales management or assistant branch management.
• A proven ability to develop customer relationships and identify opportunities to increase sales.
• A proactive approach to following up quotations, generating business and achieving sales targets.
• Good knowledge of building materials and an understanding of the requirements of trade customers.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and customer service skills.
• Strong commercial awareness, including an understanding of pricing, margins and profitability.
• A positive, hands-on leadership style with the ability to motivate and support colleagues.
• The ambition and enthusiasm to progress within a successful and growing business.

Importantly, you do not necessarily need to be an existing Assistant Branch Manager. We would also welcome applications from experienced Internal Sales Managers, Sales Supervisors or commercially minded merchanting professionals who are ready to take the next step in their careers.

Salary & Benefits

• £45,000 basic salary (dependent on experience)
• Company benefits package
• Pension scheme
• Opportunities for career development and progression
• The opportunity to join a highly successful and well-established independent builders' merchant