Design-Driven Trade Account Executive

Ernesta Inc.; Manhasset (NY); On-site; USD 34,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

Ernesta is seeking an experienced Retail Trade Account Executive to join our Retail team. You will own and nurture relationships with interior designers, architects, and other trade partners—becoming a trusted resource for their projects and helping them incorporate Ernesta into their work.

You will be equally focused on growing existing relationships and creating new ones, proactively developing a pipeline of trade business through thoughtful outreach, exceptional service, and consistent

Qualifications

• 1–2+ years of experience in interior design or design sales.
• Proven ability to build professional relationships and develop trust with clients or accounts over time.
• Entrepreneurial and self-motivated, with the drive to proactively create new business opportunities and grow a book of business.
• Commercially minded and motivated by achieving sales and relationship-growth goals.

Responsibilities

• Build and grow Ernesta’s local trade business by developing meaningful, long-term relationships with interior designers, architects, and other trade partners.
• Own a portfolio of trade accounts and proactively develop those relationships to drive repeat projects, retention, and revenue growth.
• Identify, prospect, and acquire new trade accounts within the local design community through targeted outreach, referrals, networking, and community engagement.
• Activate new trade accounts by understanding their business, introducing them to Ernesta’s products and services, and identifying opportunities to support active and future projects.
• Spend approximately 20–30% of your month externally meeting with the trade community through designer and firm office visits, Lunch & Learns, industry events, networking opportunities, and other relationship-building activities.
• Develop a strong understanding of each trade partner’s business, aesthetic, project pipeline, and needs to provide relevant and personalized support.
• Deliver exceptional product and design expertise across materials, construction, sizing, styling, custom services, and the Ernesta assortment.
• Provide an elevated, consultative sales experience rooted in listening deeply and recommending solutions tailored to each project.
• Maintain consistent and thoughtful follow-up across sample orders, open quotes, active projects, and previously engaged accounts.
• Maintain an organized and actionable account pipeline, including clear next steps, project timelines, relationship activity, and opportunities for growth.
• Partnerships within Retail and HQ: Partner with Design Assistants and the Showroom Leader to deliver a seamless experience when trade partners bring clients or projects into the showroom.
• Host and support showroom events that strengthen Ernesta’s presence within the local design community.
• Share feedback from the trade community with internal partners to help improve our products, services, tools, and overall trade experience.
• Track performance and maintain accountability to goals across trade revenue, new account acquisition, account activation, pipeline development, retention, and relationship growth.
• Represent Ernesta externally with professionalism, integrity, enthusiasm, and a genuine passion for design.

Skills

Trade sales

Account management

Relationship building

Sales prospecting

Education

BA or related field

Job description

Ernesta is seeking an experienced Retail Trade Account Executive to join our Retail team. You will own and nurture relationships with interior designers, architects, and other trade partners—becoming a trusted resource for their projects and helping them incorporate Ernesta into their work.

You will be equally focused on growing existing relationships and creating new ones, proactively developing a pipeline of trade business through thoughtful outreach, exceptional service, and consistent