Design Trade Account Executive

Ernesta; Mill Valley (CA); On-site; USD 62,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Ernesta in Mill Valley, CA is seeking an experienced Retail Trade Account Executive to join our Retail team. You’ll own and grow Ernesta’s trade business with interior designers, architects, and other trade partners, building lasting relationships and a healthy project pipeline.

You will spend 20–30% of your time in the local trade community, travel locally when needed, and partner with Showroom Leader and Design Assistants to deliver a best-in-class Ernesta experience from intro to project

Qualifications

• 1–2+ years of relevant experience within interior design, home furnishings, architecture and design sales, trade sales, account management, or a related design-focused industry.
• Entrepreneurial and self-motivated with the drive to proactively create new business opportunities.

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.
• 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

Interior design knowledge

Relationship building

Communication

Job description

Ernesta in Mill Valley, CA is seeking an experienced Retail Trade Account Executive to join our Retail team. You’ll own and grow Ernesta’s trade business with interior designers, architects, and other trade partners, building lasting relationships and a healthy project pipeline.

You will spend 20–30% of your time in the local trade community, travel locally when needed, and partner with Showroom Leader and Design Assistants to deliver a best-in-class Ernesta experience from intro to project