Vice President of Wholesale

Life is Good•Boston, MA

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

This role is for a rare sales leader who excels at strategy, entrepreneurship, team building, and hands-on execution. The ideal candidate is a strategist who can envision the future of the wholesale business, an entrepreneur energized by turning ideas into results, and a leader who can build plans, rally teams, and create systems for reliable growth. This person is comfortable in customer meetings, solving operational problems, and helping the team land key accounts. They have a history of spotting opportunities before they become obvious and understand that great wholesale leadership combines vision, relationships, operational discipline, and a willingness to roll up their sleeves. They appreciate the magic of acquiring new customers and the essential machinery behind it, including forecasting, assortment strategy, account planning, margins, process, talent, and follow-through. At Life is Good, this role will lead more than a sales channel; it will shape the brand's presence in stores, build lasting partnerships, and help retailers bring optimism to their customers. The company seeks a builder and coach who can see the big picture and the details, someone who can zoom out to the horizon and zoom in to resolve shipping issues. The company is looking for someone who has a story to tell about what they have built, who they have helped grow, and their vision for the future of wholesale.

Requirements

Minimum 3 years of P&L responsibility for an enterprise Wholesale business
Minimum 10 years of industry experience
Documented success growing top and bottom-line results with a large team
Knowledge gained through achieving at least a bachelor’s degree level of educational experience
Willing and able to travel regularly to support the business
Live near, or are willing to relocate to Boston, Massachusetts

Nice To Haves

Maintain a steady and optimistic demeanor
Enthusiastic brand ambassador and a cultural leader
Speak and write clearly, simply, and succinctly
Share passion for social impact

Responsibilities

Lead, manage, and grow the Wholesale business in a brand-enhancing manner.
Have full P&L responsibility for the Wholesale business unit.
Lead a large team encompassing Sales, Sales Operations, Merchandising, Shops, and Customer Care for Life is Good and Keep it Simple.
Lead a team of 19 Independent and In-House sales representatives.
Travel to meet key customers and attend relevant trade shows.
Build sales plans and implement strategies that support strong customer retention and acquisition.
Lead the team that manages wholesale-specific applications (e.g., the B2B websites), produces sales reports, analyzes account sell-in / sell-through, forecasts inventory needs, and collaborates with the production & fulfillment team to ensure timely and accurate delivery.
Lead the group that collaborates with the Product team to determine the seasonal, monthly, and at-once product offerings.
Oversee the management of the 51 independently owned and operated Life is Good Shops (along with 1 company-owned location).
Ensure that the assortment, marketing, and in-store experience needs of the Shops are met.
Travel to visit stores.
Recruit new owners and encourage existing owners to open new locations.
Lead the team entrusted with providing outstanding service to wholesale customers.
Analyze the business by effectively using Life is Good technology and tools, including AI.
Grow the company's social mission through the Playmaker Project.