At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team of designers to create stunning kitchen layouts and drive sales.
- Company: Join Howdens, the UK's top trade kitchen supplier with a strong team culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, bonuses, generous leave, and staff discounts.
- Other info: Be part of a successful team with great growth opportunities and a supportive culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in kitchen design, strong sales record, and excellent communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Join the UK's number one trade kitchen supplier. Join Howdens as a Lead Kitchen Sales Designer and play a key role in driving sales performance while leading and developing your Kitchen Sales Designer team. We're looking for an experienced designer who thrives in a fast-paced, sales-led environment and is motivated by delivering results.
You'll manage your own pipeline of customers and designs while coaching your team to deliver consistent sales and an outstanding customer experience. Building strong trade relationships will be at the heart of what you do, contributing to the success and growth of your depot.
What we can offer you:
- Competitive salary, brilliant bonuses and outstanding depot incentives
- Kitchen Sales Designer training programme
- Excellent pension plan with up to 12% company contribution
- Up to 32 days annual leave, including bank holidays
- Holiday entitlement rises with service
- Generous staff discount on Howdens products
- Buy-as-you-earn share scheme
- 40 hour working week
- No evening, Sunday or Bank Holiday working
- Virtual GP access and wellbeing support for you and your family
- A strong team culture that genuinely sets us apart
What we are looking for:
- A strong track record of delivering and exceeding sales targets as a Kitchen Sales Designer
- Advanced CAD skills with the ability to create accurate, inspiring designs
- Confidence in coaching, mentoring, and developing people
- Strong organisation and attention to detail across multiple projects
- Excellent communication skills, able to influence customers and inspire colleagues
- A solid understanding of the local market and competitor landscape
- Full UK Driving license with access to your own vehicle for home visits
What you will be doing:
- Coaching Kitchen Sales Designers to deliver high-quality designs and a consistent customer experience, providing feedback to the Depot Manager on performance
- Managing and maximising leads and collaborating with your team to identify and convert opportunities
- Creating accurate, inspirational designs and quotations, ensuring pricing, delivery and stock requirements are clear and correct
- Ensuring a high-quality customer journey from initial enquiry through to final sale
- Planning and managing individual and team workloads to ensure timely design presentations and follow-up
- Maintaining strong knowledge of the local market, product range, and competitor activity to identify opportunities
What it's like to work here:
- We take pride in getting things right first time for our customers
- Everyone pulls their weight and supports each other as one team
- It's a busy depot, so we keep things simple, work fast and get the job done
- We all play a part in the depot's success and share in the team bonus
- We build trust by doing what we say we will, every day
How to apply: If Howdens sounds like the kind of place where you can build and develop your career as a Lead Kitchen Sales Designer, then we are keen to hear from you.
About Howdens: Howdens Joinery is a highly successful FTSE 100 business, with more than 900 depots nationwide and more than 11,000 staff. Last year our sales reached circa 2.3bn, and we continue to experience significant growth and success. Despite our scale, Howdens remains a local business with traditional values. There is a strong entrepreneurial ethos and the opportunity to develop within a fast-paced and commercial environment. That, along with a competitive salary, development opportunities, and exciting rewards, are among the reasons why our people enjoy working for Howdens - and why we have been named one of the 10 Best Big Companies to Work For.
Howdens is founded on the principle of being Worthwhile for ALL concerned. We're working hard to ensure we provide an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome. We will do everything we can to support you during your application. If you need us to make any adjustments to our recruitment process, please email with the job title and location, and we will be happy to help you.
Please note that candidates applying for this role must have a valid right to work in the UK, we do not offer sponsorship of employment for any depot positions at this time. We appreciate your understanding.
Lead Kitchen Sales Designer Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire Howdens Joinery Competitive 15 hours ago employer: Gumtree
Howdens Joinery is an exceptional employer, offering a competitive salary and a range of benefits including generous annual leave, a strong pension plan, and a supportive team culture that fosters collaboration and growth. As a Lead Kitchen Sales Designer in Aylesbury, you'll have the opportunity to develop your skills through our training programme while enjoying a work-life balance with no evening or Sunday shifts. Join us to be part of a thriving business that values its employees and encourages career progression in a fast-paced, rewarding environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Kitchen Sales Designer Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire Howdens Joinery Competitive 15 hours ago
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like Gumtree, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like Gumtree!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Kitchen Sales Designer Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire Howdens Joinery Competitive 15 hours ago
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at Gumtree, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at Gumtree and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show Gumtree that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Gumtree
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
