Business Development Manager - Retail Decor
About The Position
CIP Retail is seeking a motivated Business Development Manager to expand our client base by acquiring new customers. This role is exclusively focused on new business acquisition, meaning you will be responsible for the entire sales cycle, from identifying prospects and building relationships to closing deals. CIP Retail specializes in designing, manufacturing, and installing branded retail environments for national and international clients, offering a comprehensive service that includes custom décor packages, signage, graphics, millwork, store fixtures, and specialty fabrication. The Business Development Manager will target various markets such as retail, grocery, restaurant, convenience stores, hospitality, sports & entertainment, healthcare, and commercial construction. While this is a self-driven role, support is provided through trade show presence, a new CRM system for pipeline management, and a dedicated marketing/sales engineer for technical assistance and presentation support. The ideal candidate will have a background in architecture, interior design, or commercial construction, with a proven ability to sell custom solutions.
Requirements
- 5+ years of business development or consultative sales experience in retail environments, architectural products, commercial interiors, millwork, store fixtures, signage, branded environments, or design-build services
- A track record of generating and closing new business on your own — not managing existing accounts or working leads someone else found
- Comfort selling custom solutions to executive-level decision-makers
- Working knowledge of architectural drawings, specs, and construction documents
- Strong communication, presentation, and negotiation skills
- A self-starter mindset with the ability to work independently across multiple projects
- Valid driver's license and ability to travel
- Able to commute to our Fairfield, Ohio facility (Northern Cincinnati)
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor's degree in architecture, interior design, construction management, business, or marketing
- Existing relationships with architectural firms, developers, general contractors, or retail/restaurant operators
- Experience selling to national or regional retail brands
- Familiarity with AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, or Bluebeam
Responsibilities
- Source your own pipeline from scratch — this is full-cycle new business development, from first prospect to signed contract, with no warm leads provided
- Build and run a sales pipeline through networking, cold outreach, referrals, LinkedIn, trade shows, and industry events
- Prospect and close new business across grocery, retail, restaurant, hospitality, healthcare, and mixed-use markets
- Present to architects, interior designers, developers, general contractors, brand managers, and executive decision-makers
- Read and interpret architectural drawings, renderings, and specs to shape proposals
- Partner with our Design, Engineering, Estimating, Project Management, and Manufacturing teams to build custom solutions
- Prepare budgets, proposals, and quotes, and lead negotiations through contract award
- Track opportunities and keep forecasts accurate in the CRM
- Represent CIP Retail at trade shows and industry events, and stay on top of market and competitor trends
- Hand off awarded projects cleanly to our Operations team
Benefits
- Competitive base salary plus an uncapped, performance-based commission plan
- Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverage
- 401(k) with company match
- Paid vacation and holidays
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Associate degree
