Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Yankee Candle is making ‘significant’ changes to its UK sales team network as part of its investment strategy for the brand.
Since its UK launch, the sales network for the UK and Ireland has been supported by a combination of employed area sales managers and freelance sales agents. Now, the candle manufacturer is in the process of employing 10 dedicated area sales managers to replace the agents.
Currently, the self-employed sales agents include: Barry Halstead covering Scotland; Anna Bedford covering Southwest England and South Wales; Don Hill covering South East England; Sandra Mamane, Jackie Rabbitte and Catherine Duke covering Southern Ireland; and Keith Gouk covering Northern Ireland.
The new area sales managers will replace the agents with effect from April 2014. Each of the new recruits will be reporting to director of wholesale, David Crawford, and supported by the customer care team based at the European headquarters in Avonmouth. The new team members will each undergo a three-week induction before taking responsibility for their areas.
Yankee Candle said: “The increase in the dedicated sales team resource will enhance the retailer and Yankee Candle relationship, with each new manager gaining in-depth knowledge of their customers ensuring they are working in partnership with the brand to reach their maximum growth potential.
“These significant changes are part of an investment into the growth strategy for the brand. During 2014, there will be a number of new positions recruited across all key departments in order to meet the growing business and future growth plans.”
The company added: “Yankee Candle would like to take this opportunity to thank each of the agents for their support and dedication to the brand since its launch in the UK in 1999 and wish them all the best for the future.”
