Business Development Manager

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Business Development Manager with a passion for children’s books to join our team. We are looking for an enthusiastic individual with excellent customer service and communication skills to sell to key existing US & Canada accounts and seek new opportunities to drive sales.

This opportunity would suit a highly motivated individual who is well organised, loves a challenge and takes an active selling approach to drive growth across a varied account base.

JOB OVERVIEW

This role requires a proactive approach to business development, excellent relationship-building skills, and a collaborative mindset.

The Business Development Manager will work in close collaboration with the Account Management and Business Development teams, as well as coordinate with Production, Distribution, and the Studio. This role involves actively identifying and capitalising on opportunities to drive business growth within our North American accounts. The Business Development Manager will build relationships, fostering and sustaining strong relationships with customers to ensure top-notch customer service standards are consistently met.

Previous experience selling to US & Canada based customer accounts within a Publishing or Toy sales environment is desirable but not essential.

Working at Make Believe Ideas is an opportunity to be part of our exciting story.  We’re a well-established children’s publishing company based in central Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire (30 minutes north of London with a direct train link to Euston). We’re proud of our family culture and we believe we are unique in the world of publishing with creative, innovative formats and our speed to market approach.

DUTIES

Your duties and responsibilities as Business Development Manager include:

• Consistently achieve sales targets and growth forecasts for your territories in line with company global strategy.
• Develop and maintain relationships with new and existing customers and provide outstanding customer service.
• Investigate and collaborate with customers to find creative product solutions in line with customer requirements.
• Identify new markets and potential opportunities to drive growth, agree and implement plans to secure them.
• Use contacts to identify and explore new business to maximise sales and profitability.
• In collaboration with the Account Management team, Studio and Production teams, review existing product and develop formats and price points that can work in your markets.
• Communicate closely with the Account Management team to maximize sales and print run opportunities worldwide; ensuring product development is in line with company global strategy.
• Represent the company at trade fairs and networking events utilising the opportunity to attract new customers.
• Attend customer meetings and events.
• Provide sales projections on a regular basis to ensure print runs can be adequately planned.
• This role is based in our Berkhamsted office and will require some international travel.

IDEAL CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

Skills and Experience required for the Business Development Manager:

• Previous experience selling to retailers and distributors (ideally US & Canada based)
• Strong sales and negotiation skills
• Experience of children’s publishing and or toys sales
• Excellent administrative skills with the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and prioritise accordingly
• The ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• High attention to detail
• Excellent written, numeracy and verbal communication skills
• Intermediate/Advanced use of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word and PowerPoint)

We offer excellent benefits including career development, 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, contributory pension scheme, life assurance, substantial discounts on our books, subsidised hot food served in our on-site café, discounts to many high street and online stores, employee assistance programme, social events throughout the year, complimentary massages at our on-site wellness centre and many more.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome and encourage applications from candidates who are under-represented in the creative industries.

HOW TO APPLY

To be considered for this role, please submit a Cover Letter and CV to careers@makebelieveideas.com for review.