Sales Manager

KENTWOOL; South Carolina; On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Health insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability coverage

Job summary

KENTWOOL is seeking an experienced Yarn Sales Manager to lead and grow its yarn business in Pickens, SC. You will manage existing customer relationships, pursue new accounts, and develop a focused sales strategy for the yarn market.

The role combines account management with hands-on sales, pricing, and market assessment to drive sustainable growth. Based in the Pickens manufacturing facility, you will report to the President, supervise one employee, and travel for customer meetings and events as

Qualifications

• Direct yarn sales experience is highly preferred.
• At least five years of successful B2B sales and account-management experience.
• Textile industry experience preferred; otherwise strong ability to learn complex products.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, textiles, or related field preferred; relevant experience considered.

Responsibilities

• Own and grow yarn business by managing existing customer relationships and pursuing new accounts.
• Develop and implement a focused yarn sales strategy and pricing approach.
• Manage quotes, pricing coordination, and forecasting with leadership.
• Maintain accurate customer, pricing, pipeline, and account records.
• Supervise one employee and provide mentorship in sales activities.
• Travel for customer meetings, business development, and industry events.

Skills

Account management

Relationship development

Negotiation

Closing skills

Communication

Organization

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or marketing

Textiles or related field preferred

Tools

CRM software

Microsoft Office

Job description

Location: On-site in Pickens, SC (An easy, reverse-commute from the greater Greenville area).

Job Overview

KENTWOOL is seeking an experienced B2B sales professional to manage and grow its yarn business. As KENTWOOL’s primary yarn salesperson, the Yarn Sales Manager will spend substantial time working directly with existing customers to understand their businesses, maintain strong relationships, respond to changing needs, and identify opportunities for account growth. The position will also be responsible for developing new customers and creating a focused sales strategy for the yarn market.

This is primarily a hands-on sales and account-management position. The successful candidate must be equally comfortable managing established customer relationships and pursuing new business. The role requires regular customer communication, responsiveness, strong follow-through, and the ability to manage the sales process from initial inquiry through pricing, agreement, and ongoing account support.

Direct yarn sales experience is the strongest qualification for this position, followed by sales experience involving fiber, fabric, apparel components, or other textile products. Candidates with textile industry experience will receive priority consideration. Candidates without textile experience must bring substantial B2B sales experience in a technical manufacturing environment and demonstrate the ability to learn complex products, applications, and production capabilities quickly.

The position will also provide limited supervision and mentoring to two employees. Managing employees will be a small portion of the role. The primary focus will remain on yarn sales, customer relationships, account growth, and new business development.

This position reports to the President and is based at KENTWOOL’s manufacturing facility in Pickens, South Carolina.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Existing Customer Relationships and Account Growth

• Serve as KENTWOOL’s primary sales contact for their yarn customers.
• Maintain regular communication with existing customers and develop a thorough understanding of their businesses, products, applications, purchasing patterns, and future needs.
• Build and preserve long-term customer relationships through responsiveness, reliability, and consistent follow-through.
• Monitor customer satisfaction and respond promptly to questions, concerns, and changing requirements.
• Identify opportunities to expand existing accounts through additional products, applications, or programs.
• Monitor customer activity and anticipate changes that may affect demand, purchasing decisions, or the customer relationship.
• Address potential concerns or competitive risks before they affect existing business.
• Communicate customer needs, commitments, and concerns to the appropriate internal personnel.
• Review account activity, sales trends, pricing, and future opportunities with company leadership.

New Business Development

• Identify and pursue prospective customers and new market opportunities for KENTWOOL yarns.
• Develop new business through direct outreach, referrals, industry relationships, customer visits, and selected trade events.
• Learn about prospective customers’ businesses, products, manufacturing processes, and material requirements.
• Present KENTWOOL’s capabilities and recommend yarn products based on each customer’s intended application and requirements.
• Manage new sales opportunities from initial contact through sampling, pricing, negotiation, and receipt of order.
• Maintain an active new business development pipeline and provide regular updates on prospects, timing, anticipated revenue, and potential obstacles.
• Develop relationships that support sustainable, long-term business rather than one-time sales.

Sales Strategy, Forecasting, and Pricing

• Develop and implement a yarn sales strategy that supports customer retention, account growth, and responsible new business development.
• Establish account priorities and sales objectives in collaboration with company leadership.
• Prepare sales forecasts based on existing customer demand and potential new business.
• Prepare quotes and coordinate pricing with company leadership.
• Assume greater responsibility for pricing decisions after developing sufficient knowledge of KENTWOOL’s products, manufacturing capabilities, and cost structure.
• Consider product costs, market conditions, customer expectations, and account value when making pricing recommendations.
• Monitor customer demand, competitive activity, and textile industry developments.
• Maintain accurate customer, pricing, pipeline, sales, and account records.

Additional Responsibilities

• Develop a working knowledge of KENTWOOL’s yarn products, manufacturing capabilities, terminology, and production processes.
• Represent KENTWOOL professionally during customer meetings, facility visits, and industry events.
• Participate in limited travel for customer meetings, business development, and selected trade events.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Depending on the selected candidate’s experience and sales capabilities, provide sales oversight, mentorship, and guidance for KENTWOOL Performance Apparel and assist with developing and closing larger strategic or multi-location accounts.

Education and Experience

• Direct yarn sales experience is highly preferred.
• At least five years of successful B2B sales and account-management experience.
• Sales experience involving fiber, fabric, apparel components, or other textile products will receive priority consideration over experience outside the textile industry.
• Candidates without textile experience must have substantial sales experience involving technical or specification-driven products in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated success maintaining and growing established customer accounts while also developing new business.
• Experience with pricing, negotiation, sales forecasting, and account planning.
• Established relationships within the yarn or textile industry are highly valued.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, textiles, or a related field preferred. An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered.

Skills and Abilities

• Strong account-management, relationship-development, prospecting, negotiation, and closing skills.
• Ability to understand customer applications, specifications, and purchasing requirements.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple accounts and opportunities.
• Understanding of pricing, product costs, margins, and account value.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong presentation and negotiation abilities.
• Consistent follow-through and attention to customer needs.
• Ability to work independently, establish priorities, and take responsibility for sales results.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and customer relationship management or comparable sales-tracking systems.

Additional Responsibilities

• Develop a working knowledge of KENTWOOL’s yarn products, manufacturing capabilities, terminology, and production processes.
• Participate in limited travel for customer meetings, business development, and selected trade events.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• At least five years of successful B2B sales and account-management experience.
• Direct yarn sales experience is highly preferred.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position directly supervises one employee. Supervisory responsibility is a limited portion of the overall role.

Work Schedule and Travel

This is a full-time, primarily on-site position based in Pickens, South Carolina. The standard schedule is Monday through Friday. Limited work outside normal business hours may occasionally be required to support customer or business needs.

Limited travel is required for customer meetings, business development, and selected industry events.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

The physical requirements and working conditions described below are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform those functions.

• Ability to work primarily in an office environment and regularly enter an active manufacturing facility.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, communicate, and use a computer for extended periods.
• Ability to travel occasionally for business purposes.
• May be exposed to wool, dust, machinery noise, and temperature changes while in production areas.
• Must follow applicable safety procedures and wear designated personal protective equipment while in manufacturing areas.
• 401(k)
• Company 401(k) match
• Health insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage