Garden Centre Channel Manager

Location: Stoke-On-Trent

One of the UK's leading manufacturers is investing in a dedicated Channel Manager to take ownership of its Garden Centre customer base and drive the next phase of growth. Already supplying some of the UK's major garden centre groups, you'll be joining a business with strong foundations and the opportunity to influence how the channel develops. £Depending on Experience  Car Allowance  Performance Related Bonuses  Private Medical  Enhanced Pension THE COMPANY Supplying major retailers, garden centre chains, buying groups, and independents across the UK, this brand has built a strong reputation for innovation, service, and UK manufacturing.

They already have relationships with many of the key players in the garden centre market, but there has never been anyone dedicated to giving this channel the attention it deserves. That's why they're creating this role. The business believes there is untapped potential in existing accounts and the wider market, creating an opportunity for someone to take ownership and help drive the next phase of growth.

You'll inherit a channel with established customers, existing sales, and strong foundations, but you'll also have the freedom to bring your own ideas, try new approaches, and influence the future direction of the channel. It's an opportunity to put your own stamp on a growing area of the business.

THE ROLE Take ownership of the Garden Centre channel and lead the strategy for growing sales across major garden centre chains, buying groups, and independent garden centres. Spend time with customers, prospects, and sales agents across the UK, building relationships, identifying opportunities, and ensuring the channel receives the focus it deserves. New business development with major chains alongside growth within existing accounts.

Manage and support a small network of external sales agents who look after independents across the UK. Collaborate with Marketing to improve the proposition for garden centres through trade marketing, point-of-sale materials, merchandising ideas, and channel-specific initiatives. Identify opportunities for new product development that meet the needs of garden centre customers. Analyse sales performance, market trends, and competitor activity to identify opportunities for growth.

Represent the business at customer meetings, industry events, and trade shows, helping raise the profile of the brand within the garden centre sector. ABOUT YOU To be successful in this role you will need demonstrable experience selling into the UK garden centre market. The business is open on product experience within Housewares, Homeware, Kitchenware, Garden, Horticulture, FMCG, or DIY. You could currently be working as a Channel Manager, Head of Sales, Sales Manager, Senior National Account Manager, National Account Manager, Business Development Manager, or similar.

The business is open on seniority. If you've got the garden centre experience but are wondering whether you're quite at Channel Manager level yet, don't rule yourself out. The role can be shaped around the right person and could suit someone looking to step into a broader position with greater ownership and influence. Experience managing sales agents or field sales teams would be helpful but is not essential.

THE REWARD You will be paid a generous base salary plus car allowance, performance-related bonuses, private medical, an enhanced pension and other benefits. You'll be joining a business that already has some established relationships across the garden centre market, giving you a strong platform to build from rather than starting from scratch. At the same time, you'll have the autonomy to shape the channel, bring new ideas to the table, and make a genuine impact on its future growth.

You will be given the autonomy and the resources you need to achieve your goals including dedicated admin support. You will have the market advantage of representing a UK based manufacturer who can react quickly to customer requirements - scaling up production at short notice, delivering on tight deadlines, and adapting production to bespoke requests. This is a predominantly field-based role with regular…