Head of Sales

The company:
Guardian Protection Products A/S produces and markets furniture care products to selected retailers and has a wide range covering all furniture product groups and materials that require maintenance. The company was founded in 2001 and has its head office and production in Vejen, Denmark. Guardian Protection Products A/S sells its products in both Denmark and abroad under the name "Guardian" as well as under private label names, to major international furniture retail chains and furniture producers.

Affiliated companies:
Kemisk Fagindustri ApS was founded in 1936, when master cabinetmaker G. Frølich began developing high-quality products for the care and maintenance of furniture. Today, the product is marketed under the name "Master Cabinetmaker's" and is sold primarily in the USA and Canada.

Leather Master Scandinavia AB has developed and sold products for professional furniture care since 1985. Its expertise covers most of the materials found in a home. Leather Master Scandinavia AB also supplies care products to the car industry. Production, packing, and warehousing take place in Sweden, and since 2020, the company has been ISO certified according to standards 9001-Quality and 14001-Environment.

Guardian Protection Products A/S is committed to continuing its significant international growth in the years ahead based on strong partnerships with national and international furniture retail chains. You will make an important contribution keeping the sales growth high in the at present +30 international markets.

As Head of Sales, a newly created position reporting to the CEO, you will be part of the management team and responsible for further developing the market position in Europe.

You have extensive experience selling to international retail chains and will be responsible for expanding sales and the customer base for Guardian's range of high-quality furniture care products.

You will join a strong business with a fast-growing turnover, and you will have a great deal of freedom to develop the sales organization and expand within the outlines of the strategy.

Sales development is an important part of the position, and we expect that you will quickly need to hire 3-4 sales representatives or merchandisers in selected European countries to help you realize the sales potential. Of course, you will be assisted by our skilled and hard-working team in Vejen, Denmark, the location of our main office, production facilities, and warehouse.

Your primary responsibilities as Head of Sales will be:

• Build and lead an international team of merchandisers.
• Plan and prepare a sales strategy/plan for your markets and merchandisers/salespeople in cooperation with the company's CEO.
• Execute the plans/strategy and produce measurable results.
• Acquire and develop new customers/chains.
• Ensure excellent handling of existing customers entailing growth in sales volumes.
• Development of sales potential for each individual customer, including structured education and product training.
• Ensure that Guardian's products are presented correctly and attractively in the customer's physical shops and online.
• Plan and implement various sales promotion activities.
• Plan and participate in relevant trade fairs.
• Ensure your salespeople plan their activities and follow up.

Qualifications and skills:

• Experience and documented results within sales to major European retail chains.
• Good at creating close and long-lasting partnerships with a win-win focus.
• Preferably experience with day-to-day management of a smaller team. Could be with sales reps and/or merchandisers in the field.
• Speaking and writing English fluently. Other languages will be an advantage (e.g. German, French, Spanish, and Polish).

You should expect around 70-80 days of travel per year.

You are offered an exciting position with a competitive compensation package and great possibilities of developing your international sales and leadership skills. You will be part of a company that is growing quickly and that produces and sells high-quality furniture care products to the furniture industry. Guardian Protection Products is a Danish owner-managed company proud of its values, fantastic team spirit, and solid economic foundation. You will have good opportunities for personal and career development. There is an informal and friendly tone in the company, a flat organizational structure, and a sense of working together towards a shared goal.

If you have any questions, please call Partner Frank Lajer at +45 2018 8818.

Please note that we only need your cv if you want to apply. Your approach is handled with confidentiality.