Position: Area Sales Manager
Location/Region: Chicago, IL Territory 

ABOUT THE SHADE STORE® 
At The Shade Store, we have handcrafted the finest Shades, Blinds and Drapery for 75 years. We believe designing beautiful custom window treatments should be an effortless experience, so we offer outstanding services to help our customers every step of the way, from inspiration to installation. We are always looking for friendly, passionate people to help us deliver the finest custom window treatment experience to our customers. Our team is growing and expanding, and there has never been a more exciting time to be part of it.

THE POSITION: Area Sales Manager
Custom made simple is what we strive for to meet our customers’ needs here at The Shade Store.  The Area Sales Manager works directly with the Showrooms and Design Consultants to seamlessly deliver on these expectations while thriving results and supporting company initiatives.  As the Area Sales Manager, you will be responsible for managing Design Consultant performance and ensuring Showrooms are compliant to The Shade Store standards.  

RESPONSIBILITIES: WORK ACTIVITIES AND TASKS

Delivery of Showroom/Design Consultant Sales Performance

Utilize KPI reporting to create compelling action plans to improve and build on sales opportunities Conduct regular meetings with Showroom teams to drive promotional & open high value quote follow up Eliminate obstacles to driving sales by providing “Day to Day” support to Design Consultants Motivate the team through recognition to deliver on results Ability to shift sales focus based on softer sales trends Understand consumer and trade market trends to shift business strategies as needed Collaborate with Measure and Install team to support customer dema

Design Consultant Performance Management

Play an active role in the planning and onboarding of Design Consultants Conduct regular check-ins with new Design Consultants and their training partners Solicit feedback from business partners to support continuous improvement and training Monitor Design Consultant dashboards to ensure a healthy pipeline of active projects Use reporting to understand sales metrics as it relates to Design Consultant performance Weekly involvement with HR to review DCs with opportunities for improvement Strategic and Efficient handling of escalated/critical performance issues

Supporting Company Initiatives and Pilot Programs

Establish relationships with corporate partners Be the lead for a specific market in launching pilot programs Provide consistent feedback regarding issues, launches and pilots Identify and socialize trends that could have a positive impact on the market Establish channels for the team to communicate ideas and concerns Ensure showroom standards are maintained Support Trade Events 

CORE SKILLS

Mentor sales team to drive an exceptional Shade Store experience A “customer-first” approach in working with internal partners, combined with patience and a high degree of empathy when working with external customers. Effectively assesses team dynamics to identify successes and opportunities for positive change Demonstrates the ability to proactively identify showroom/business needs Effective, professional, verbal and written communications skills. Possess a collaborative and anticipatory approach to issue management; ability to partner with internal teams and use external resources wisely. Action-oriented with the highest level of professionalism and positivity. Extremely well organized and structured – with excellent project prioritization management skills. Able to effectively manage multiple tasks/projects simultaneously. Demonstrates excellent problem-solving skills through sound judgment, taking initiative, and being creative. Ability to excel in a fast-paced environment and challenging atmosphere that presents a significant and consistent work load.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Associate or Bachelor’s Degree preferred or equivalent experience in administrative and coordinator work. Minimum of two (2) years of high-volume, fast-paced and complex analysis and coordination experience. Proficient in managing Outlook and Microsoft Applications.

WHY WORK AT THE SHADE STORE®

We set out to create a company culture that is enjoyable and rewarding, where team members can have meaningful impact. Below are some of the perks and benefits of working at TSS: 

Competitive salary Medical Benefits 401k with Company Match Up to $100k Life Insurance & Short-Term Disability (Employer Paid) Legal and Pet Insurance Plans Employee Assistance Program Product discount

If you are looking to be part of a team of enthusiastic, collaborative, and hard-working individuals, we would love to hear from you! 

THE SHADE STORE offer is contingent upon: 

Successful completion of reference and background checks Proof of legal authorization to work in the United States for The Shade Store, which will be confirmed by E-Verify within three business days of your hire date

ABOUT US: Visit our website at https://www.theshadestore.com/corporate-info/careers to learn more about The Shade Store and our career opportunities.  ​​​​​​​
The Shade Store provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.