Business Development Manager (Normal, IL)

Ace Hardware Corporation; Normal (IL); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Ace Retail Group, a division of Ace Hardware Corporation, seeks a Business Development Manager for Westlake Commercial to drive incremental commercial sales and champion a B2B culture across stores nationwide, aligning local efforts with corporate strategies and customer needs.

You will lead and motivate store teams, grow commercial accounts through relationship-based strategies, coordinate with district managers, and identify new business opportunities while ensuring responsive service to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or related discipline (or 5+ years relevant work experience).
• Deep understanding of retail operations and relationship sales.
• Strong interpersonal, negotiating, and communication skills.
• Ability to train and motivate store teams.
• Willingness to travel.

Responsibilities

• Pursue commercial sales to businesses and multifamily property management customers.
• Grow sales with existing commercial accounts through relationship-based tactics.
• Develop new commercial accounts via marketing and client visits.
• Coach store teams on B2B fundamentals and align culture with strategy.
• Partner with staff to meet commercial product needs promptly.

Skills

Retail operations

Relationship sales

Inventory management

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or related discipline

Tools

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Outlook

Job description

About Ace Retail Group

Ace Retail Group (ARG), is a division of Ace Hardware Corporation that owns and operates several Ace brands, including Westlake Ace, Great Lakes Ace, Buikema’s Ace, Outer Banks Ace, Dennis Company, and Breed & Company. ARG is one of the largest hardware retailers in the United States and has two headquarters located in Lenexa, KS and Farmington Hills, MI. ARG’s origins date back over a century and operates over 250 neighborhood stores located throughout the United States. Great people make ARG stand out in our industry, and we are looking for individuals who strive for personal and professional growth, and who want to work with a company founded on (and still led by) our solid Core Values of: Winning, Excellence, Love, Integrity, Gratitude, Humility and Teamwork.

General Summary

As a successful BDM of Westlake Commercial (Commercial Division of Westlake Hardware), you will not only create incremental sales but will lead and motivate stores and their team members by example. In addition to the overall goal of “more sales” your charge will be to create a new sales minded culture in these stores which supports repeatable, predictable and sustainable sales to our business customers.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Customer Facing: Pursue commercial sales to businesses and multifamily property management customers which present opportunities for growth as a commercial account. Opportunities will be identified in cooperation with the Director of Commercial Business, District Manager, Store General Managers, store personnel and market activities.

Focused attention on growing sales with existing established commercial / business accounts through relationship based sales techniques and tactics. Utilize reporting and in-store shopping habits / frequency to maximize sales growth opportunities among this customer group. Within pre-determined guidelines the Business Development Manager will have the flexibility to establish special pricing, special orders and custom solutions as needed. Target specifically defined new commercial customer opportunities which are relevant in the market and have proven to represent significant potential of successful growth.

In cooperation with local in-store teams, develop new and existing commercial accounts through a variety of marketing, events, promotions, personal visits and special selection of merchandise. Participate in all local trade shows and attend client sponsored meetings.

Store Team Facing: Business Development Manager will act as a conduit between our commercial customers and other store team members including the store’s General Manager and sales associates. Coach, lead and train store team on best practices of business customer interaction and B2B fundamentals. Assist store’s team members in developing a B2B centric focus including developing a deeper relationship with new and existing commercial accounts. Assist store’s leadership in developing a culture which is supportive of commercial sales growth. Specifically, partnering with store GM and store’s B2B Champion to instill an understanding of the why and how to implement recommended business to business best practices and weave the B2B strategy into the store’s culture and daily operational practices. Partner with store staff to ensure B2B product needs and customer demands are met in a prompt fashion. Perform other related duties and special projects as assigned.

Other Essential Requirements

Ability to exhibit and incorporate our Core Values into daily decisions and interactions with others: WINNING – In business, money is the score. To win, we must perform, compete, and have fun. At Ace, we win through people- our strength is being helpful. EXCELLENCE – Excellence honors God and inspires people. We aspire to be the best, to continuously improve and to inspire others by giving the team our very best. LOVE – Love the people, love the work and love the results. INTEGRITY – For Ace to win, we need to be able to trust each other. And trust will require us to be honest, reliable, caring, of high character and of unquestioned ethics. GRATITUDE – We recognize that we are blessed to be in the business of serving others. HUMILITY – We strive for greatness with a humble, modest and respectful attitude. TEAMWORK – We will fight the natural tendency for control and credit in favor of collaboration and mutual success, recognizing that…Together, we are Ace.

Minimum Skills, Requirements and Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or related discipline (or 5+ years relevant work experience). Deep understanding of retail operations, relationship sales skills, inventory management and business fundamentals. Refined interpersonal skills to engage with others, solid negotiating and conflict resolutions abilities. Able to foster teamwork and collaboration. Can motivate others both internal and external to perform enthusiastically. Ability to deliver necessary training across all levels inside the store. Ability to access the local competitive environment and develop appropriate B2B strategies. Must have excellent leadership capabilities, communication written and verbal, and attention to detail and follow up. Excellent PC skills including skilled knowledge of Excel, Word, PowerPoint & Outlook as well as various MS Operating Systems. Ability to work independently with little or no supervision. Ability to work flexible hours. Ability to work remotely with various corporate departments. Travel as required. Standing, walking, lifting (up to 50lbs) and climbing.

Compensation Details

$55000 - $60000 per year

Equal Opportunity Employer

Ace Retail Group is committed to a policy of promoting equal employment opportunities. The company recognizes the importance of diversity and leveraging the skills and talents of all people to the mutual advantage of each individual and the organization. The company is committed to the prevention of employment discrimination related to race, religion, color, sex (including sexual harassment), gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, disability and military discharge, or any other action covered by federal or state laws.