Area Sales Manager

Global Commercial Laundry Equipment & Solutions

Our client is a global manufacturer of professional laundry equipment, trusted by laundromat investors, commercial laundries and on-premise laundry operations in hospitality, healthcare and facility management. With a broad portfolio of established brands and a strong international distribution network, they work closely with distributor partners to deliver reliable, efficient laundry solutions worldwide.

They are now looking for an Area Sales Manager to grow their distribution business across the UK. As the main commercial contact for distributors and prospects in the region, you will strengthen existing partnerships, open up new markets and verticals, and position our client as the preferred partner for professional laundry solutions. The role suits a commercially sharp, relationship-driven seller who enjoys channel sales and the independence of running a territory.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver a UK regional sales plan aligned with the commercial strategy, sales targets and growth objectives

• Manage and grow relationships with existing distributors and key accounts across the region, with one major national account managed separately

• Identify and convert new business, from new distributors and strategic accounts to laundromat investors, commercial laundries, hospitality, healthcare and facility management

• Build trusted relationships with decision makers at distributor, investor and end customer level

• Help distributors grow through joint customer visits, sales training, product knowledge, project support and market development activity

• Organise and host distributor and customer visits to the client's manufacturing facilities

• Promote the full product portfolio, including new launches, key innovations and strategic brands

• Track market developments, competitor activity, pricing trends and customer needs, turning insight into commercial action

• Keep forecasts, pipelines, visit reports and account development plans accurate and up to date in Salesforce

• Negotiate commercial terms within company guidelines, protecting pricing, margin and profitability

• Work closely with Product Management, Marketing, Customer Service, Finance, Pre-Sales and Operations, and support campaigns, trade shows and distributor events

• Contribute to annual budget planning, sales reviews and regional business reviews

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Must-Haves

• At least 5 years in B2B sales, business development or account management

• Proven distribution or channel sales experience, working with distributors, dealers or channel partners

• A track record of growing existing accounts and winning new business from prospecting through to close

• Strong understanding of consultative, project-based selling and long-term account development

• Confident with CRM systems, sales forecasting, pipeline management and structured account planning

• Good knowledge of regional market dynamics across the UK

• Excellent negotiation, influencing and presentation skills, with the confidence to engage at every level of an organisation

• Self-motivated and well organised, able to run a region independently and balance multiple accounts and priorities

• Fluent English

• Based in the UK within easy reach of a major airport, with willingness to travel frequently across the region and occasionally internationally

Nice-to-Haves

• Experience in equipment sales, professional laundry, HVAC, facility management, hospitality or a related technical commercial environment

• Dutch language skills are favourable, not mandatory

• A degree in Business, Sales, Marketing, Engineering or a related field, although equivalent commercial experience is equally valued

• Additional sales, negotiation or technical training

• Experience working within an international organisation alongside cross-functional teams

What's in it for you?

• Competitive salary and benefits package

• The backing of a global market leader with a strong portfolio of trusted brands and a steady pipeline of product innovation

• Genuine ownership of a UK region, with the freedom to build your own plan and partnerships

• Home-based working, supported by a wider international business and specialist internal teams

• Varied travel, including visits to manufacturing facilities, distributor events and international trade shows