Sales Manager / Sales Director

Vida Shoes International•New York, NY

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Since 1973, Vida Shoes International has been committed to becoming a global leader in the footwear industry. We are dedicated to designing, producing, and marketing quality branded footwear using our expansive international resources. Our wealth of knowledge stems from the diversity of brands and successful products we have produced year after year. We are looking for a hands-on, results-driven sales leader to own and grow our Active footwear business. This is an active selling role: the right person is in the market, in front of buyers, and walking stores, personally driving volume while building the long-term strategy for the business. You will work closely with Design, Product Development, Production, and Planning to build seasonal collections that sell through for our retail partners and meet our internal margin expectations. Vida Shoes is seeking a high-performing, hands-on Sales Manager / Sales Director who wants to own a business, not just maintain one. You will manage and grow key department store, sporting goods, specialty, off-price, club, and e-commerce accounts, open new doors, and deliver against sales, margin, and sell-through targets. Candidates with deeper experience and a proven leadership track record will be considered at the Director level, with responsibility for leading and developing the sales team.

Requirements

Minimum 5 years of wholesale sales experience in active, athletic, or lifestyle footwear; 10+ years with team leadership experience for the Director level
Established relationships with buyers and merchants at major department stores, sporting goods, and specialty retailers
Proven track record of growing accounts and hitting targets, with results you can point to
A self-starter and closer who is energized by being in the market and in front of customers
Strong analytical skills and a solid grasp of retail math: sell-through, margin, open-to-buy, and forecasting
Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills; experience with retailer vendor portals a plus
Excellent presentation, negotiation, and communication skills
Ability to travel regularly for market weeks, account meetings, and store visits

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Responsibilities

Personally manage and grow a portfolio of key accounts across department stores, sporting goods, specialty, off-price, club, and e-commerce
Identify and close new account opportunities; expand door counts and line distribution with existing partners
Lead seasonal line presentations and market appointments, and build assortment recommendations tailored to each account
Negotiate orders, terms, and markdown and margin support with buyers and merchandise managers
Visit stores regularly to walk the floor, train sales associates, and build relationships at every level of the account
Deliver seasonal and annual sales, gross margin, and sell-through targets
Build annual and quarterly plans by account, breaking goals into clear, actionable steps
Analyze weekly selling, inventory, and open-to-buy data; recommend reorders, promotions, and markdown strategies
Prepare and present sales results, revenue, and realistic forecasts to the management team
Organize and submit buys to the management team
Bring market insight and customer feedback back to Design and Product Development to shape winning collections
Partner with Production and Planning to ensure on-time deliveries and healthy inventory positions
Director level: lead, coach, and develop account executives and sales support staff
Plan and execute market weeks, trade shows, and other events
Keep abreast of the competitive marketplace, emerging channels, and market shifts
Oversee sales support activities such as order entry, sample trafficking, and account follow-up as needed