Inside Sales Category Specialist, Quill

Staples, Inc.; Lincolnshire (IL); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO & holidays

Discounts (Online & Retail)

Job summary

Staples, Inc. is seeking an Inside Sales Category Specialist for Quill to act as a trusted category resource for customers and internal partners.

You will manage multiple lead channels, build the opportunity pipeline, and help win profitable business through product knowledge and a customer-first approach. You will collaborate across teams to create a positive customer experience, drive sales, and meet or exceed targets while balancing in-office days with remote Fridays in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• 1+ year of sales, customer service, or equivalent customer-facing experience.
• Experience with virtual selling, prospecting, or consultative customer conversations.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Account Managers to support high-value customers and secure projects.
• Manage inbound and assigned sales opportunities across multiple lead channels (web inquiries, chats, phone leads).
• Maintain and advance the opportunity pipeline while delivering a positive customer experience.
• Collaborate with sales teams, merchants, vendors, and internal units to develop sales opportunities.
• Meet or exceed sales, margin, activity, and conversion targets within approved guidelines.
• Assist customers as a category expert and recommend products aligned to business needs.
• Grow wallet share by identifying opportunities to consolidate business from other vendors.
• Provide timely follow-up and build strong relationships to keep clients satisfied.
• Use CRM tools to track activity, capture customer information, and maintain notes.
• Participate in training and development opportunities.

Skills

Sales experience

Customer service

Communication

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 businessesidentifythe right products and solutions to meet their needs. In this role, you will support new and existing customers, manage multiple lead channels, buildopportunitypipeline, 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.

Whatyou’llbe 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.
• Manageopportunitypipeline, 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 byidentifyingopportunities toconsolidatebusiness from other vendors and strengthen customer relationships.
• Keep current clients satisfied throughtimelyfollow-up, strong relationship building, and exceptional service.
• Effectively use CRM tools to track activity, capture customer information, andmaintainaccurateopportunity notes.
• Participate in team meetings, departmenttraining, 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 confidenceaskingthoughtful questions to understand customer needs andidentifythe 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 tomaintainaccuratenotes, manage pipeline activity, and supporttimelydecisions.
• Positive team contribution through collaboration, shared best practices, and a willingness to learn and improve.

What’sneeded-Basic Qualifications

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

What’sneeded-Preferred Qualifications

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

We Offer

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

The salary rangerepresentsthe expected compensation for this role at the time of posting. The specificbasepay 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 withfederal and state requirements.