Inside Sales Category Specialist, Quill

Staples; Lincolnshire (IL); Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO & Holidays

Discounts & 401(k)

Job summary

Staples’ Quill division is seeking an Inside Sales Category Specialist to be a trusted resource for customers and internal partners, helping businesses identify the right products and solutions to meet their needs. You will manage multiple lead channels, grow the opportunity pipeline, and deliver a positive customer experience through consultative selling and strong product knowledge.

This role requires a minimum of four in-office days with flexibility for remote work on Fridays, and

Qualifications

• 1+ year of sales or customer-facing experience.
• Experience with virtual selling or prospecting.
• Experience developing or converting sales pipeline.

Responsibilities

• Support high-value customers with account management.
• Manage inbound and assigned sales opportunities across multiple channels.
• Maintain and advance the opportunity pipeline.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create sales opportunities.
• Meet or exceed sales and margin expectations within guidelines.
• Serve as a category expert and recommend products/services.
• Grow share of wallet by consolidating vendors.
• Maintain client satisfaction with timely follow-up.
• Use CRM to track activity and capture notes.
• Participate in team meetings and training.

Skills

Customer focus

Communication

Organization

Time management

Tools

CRM software

Job description

This position is a minimum of 4 days in office with flexibility for remote work on Fridays.

Join a team that powers everyday impact.

As an Inside Sales Category Specialist for Quill, you will be a trusted category resource for customers and internal sales partners, helping businesses identify the right products and solutions to meet their needs. In this role, you will support new and existing customers, manage multiple lead channels, build opportunity pipeline, and help Quill win profitable business through strong follow-up, product knowledge, and a customer-first approach. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys consultative selling, problem solving, and partnering across teams to create a positive customer experience.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Partner with Account Managers and Key Account Managers to support high-value customers and secure one-time and recurring projects.
• Manage inbound and assigned sales opportunities across multiple lead channels, including web inquiries, customer chats, phone leads, and internally generated leads.
• Manage opportunity pipeline, moving deals forward while delivering a positive customer experience.
• Collaborate with sales teams, merchants, vendors, and internal business units to develop transactional and solution-based sales opportunities.
• Meet or exceed sales, margin, activity, and conversion expectations within approved margin guidelines.
• Support customers by serving as a category expert and recommending products and services aligned to their business needs.
• Grow share of wallet by identifying opportunities to consolidate business from other vendors and strengthen customer relationships.
• Keep current clients satisfied through timely follow-up, strong relationship building, and exceptional service.
• Effectively use CRM tools to track activity, capture customer information, and maintain accurate opportunity notes.
• Participate in team meetings, department training, coaching sessions, and ongoing development opportunities.

What You Bring To The Table

• Strong work ethic, sense of urgency, and focus to stay productive in a fast-paced sales environment
• Self-motivation and the ability to stay directed, organized, and accountable with limited day-to-day oversight.
• Strong prioritization skills, including knowing what needs attention first, when to act quickly, and when to involve others.
• Comfort balancing multiple lead channels, customer requests, and internal priorities while keeping opportunities moving.
• Clear, confident communication with merchants, internal partners, external customers, and sales teammates.
• Curiosity and confidence asking thoughtful questions to understand customer needs and identify the right next step.
• A customer-first mindset with the ability to make sound decisions quickly while creating a positive experience.
• Resilience, adaptability, and composure when managing changing priorities, or shifting customer needs.
• Strong organization and follow-through to maintain accurate notes, manage pipeline activity, and support timely decisions.
• Positive team contribution through collaboration, shared best practices, and a willingness to learn and improve.

What’s Needed- Basic Qualifications

• 1+ year of sales, customer service, or equivalent customer-facing experience.

What’s Needed - Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of category-specific products or services, such as Technology, Print & Promotional, Furniture, or Large Volume Quotes.
• Experience with virtual selling, prospecting, or consultative customer conversations.
• Experience developing or converting sales pipeline.

We Offer

• Inclusive culture with associate-led Business Resource Groups
• 112 Hours of PTO and Holiday Schedule (7 observed paid holidays + 1 floating holiday)
• Online and Retail Discounts, Company Match 401(k), Physical and Mental Health Wellness programs, and more!

The salary range represents the expected compensation for this role at the time of posting. The specific base pay may be influenced by a variety of factors to include the candidate's experience, skill set, education, business considerations, geography, and internal equity.Some roles may also be eligible for overtime pay, in accordance with federal and state requirements.