Workplace Consultant – Columbus, OH

About the Role

This position is responsible for generating leads, qualifying potential customers, and driving sales of furniture and services from the dealership. The role focuses on achieving sales volume, margin percent, and new business goals on a monthly, quarterly, and yearly basis.

Responsibilities

• Lead Generation:
  • Network extensively for leads through business groups, real estate brokers, the architecture and design (A&D) community, local community organizations, and industry organizations (e.g., IFMA, BOMA).
  • Research leads via business journals, newspapers, industry periodicals, publications, and the internet.
  • Conduct cold calls to potential clients in person or by telephone.
  • Participate in dealership lead generation programs such as telemarketing, open houses, and industry events; follow up diligently on leads provided by the dealership.
• Selling:
  • Qualify leads into potential customers through thorough needs analysis to understand client requirements for furniture products and services.
  • Make persuasive presentations to customers on the dealership’s products and services, using in-person meetings, written/graphic documentation, and electronic means.
  • Develop detailed, accurate, and professional quotes independently or in collaboration with dealership personnel (designers, customer service representatives, project managers, etc.) and present them to the customer in a timely manner.
  • Work with service departments to develop service contracts for complex services (e.g., design) or major projects (e.g., installation, project management).
  • Provide the accounting department with timely information for necessary credit checks.
• Sale Implementation:
  • Set up sales to ensure efficient management and administration by the dealership’s operations and business personnel.
  • Ensure accuracy of specifications when entering orders; review specifications for errors when prepared by others (e.g., designers).
  • Provide complete, accurate, and timely sales order information (header data, pricing, contract numbers, etc.) and work order details (site and project parameters, installation schedule, etc.) for the proposal/sales order system.
  • Close sales responsibly by obtaining signed sales orders (and terms & conditions, if appropriate), client purchase orders, and deposits as required.
  • Stay involved throughout sale implementation to resolve bottlenecks, scope changes, and ensure satisfaction for both the customer and dealership.
• Customer/Account Interfaces:
  • Be available, responsive, and timely to customer inquiries, requests for information, quotations, and problem resolution.
  • Provide frequent and regular follow-up contact with customers regarding after-sale services and satisfaction.
  • Maintain a professional and cooperative interface with customers, their employees, and third-party consultants/subcontractors.
  • Ensure customers receive frequent and regular reports on order status, project progress, and overall activity.
  • Assist accounting in resolving late receivables or customer credit issues.
• Goals and Performance:
  • Meet monthly, quarterly, and yearly sales, margin, and new business goals as set by the dealership and sales manager.
  • Provide timely reports on sales forecasts and new leads as required.
  • Participate in special sales programs sponsored by the dealership or furniture manufacturers; attend training sessions as determined by the dealership.
• Contract Furniture Management:
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the dealership’s product lines, including product features, applications, technical capabilities, and specifications.
  • Understand contract furniture management at the dealer level, including account servicing, project management, order preparation, order management, factory interface, delivery, and installation.
  • Act as a customer advocate for internal order fulfillment performance and service products.
  • Stay informed about office environment issues (e.g., ergonomics, technology integration, office productivity) and general business trends.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• 3-5 years of sales experience within the architecture, interior design, or furniture industry preferred.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, problem-solving, presentation, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency with sales management software and CRM systems.
• Personal integrity and a proven success rate at exceeding sales quotas.
• Ability to balance persuasion with professionalism.
• Strong organizational skills and knowledge of the furniture industry and manufacturers.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Ability to travel at least 25% of the time for customer events and host in-house events.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

Pay

$85,000 to $120,000 per year plus commission.