During my career the common theme has always been doing something that I love and enjoy.
Upon graduating from the University of Wales back in the UK, I combined my love of books and people to progress in the world of book publishing, specifically in the Sales & Marketing function at the University of Wales Press, managing five freelance sales representatives, key account sales and all marketing activities. This gave me my first career experience of Sales Management, Inside Sales, Business Development, Account Management, Key Accounts and a broad spectrum of Marketing skills. Within two years we had doubled sales revenue through promotions, focusing on pushing more commercial authors & books and innovative marketing on a slim budget.
After a few years, I progressed onto more mainstream publishing with the Orion Publishing Group, the number two book publisher in the UK, as one of their eleven Territory Managers representing such authors as Terry Pratchett, Michael Palin, Ian Rankin and Maeve Binchy. A Territory Manager for Orion was the archetypal Outside Sales role; looking after geographically based key accounts, merchandising, promoting books / authors and business development. Within approximately a year, I had nearly doubled the sales revenue of my area and also reduced dead-stock and returns, another key statistic in book publishing.
Despite moving between Canada & UK, all of my roles have featured the combination of Sales & Marketing. At Rettie & Co, a leading real estate agency, I was employed as a Marketing Account Manager and then progressed into a hybrid Sales Manager/Marketing Manager role. At any one time I was involved in the Sales and Marketing of between 10 and 25 new homes developments valued at millions of dollars and managing a team of five sales negotiators and a Marketing Account Manager. One particular highlight was selling a $5 million new home which was the most expensive Rettie & Co was selling at that time. I found out I still had my Canadian Permanent Residency status, so when the timing was right, it was off to Canada ... again with my partner and Black Labrador, Moose.
I’d had some exposure to recruitment agencies as a hiring manager and also as a candidate, and I could see the value in the agency service from both sides, so I secured a position with Hays Specialist Recruitment here in Vancouver. With Hays, I was primarily focused on Sales & Marketing recruitment and was one of the first recruitment consultants focused on that area for Hays Canada. I was particular successful at placing candidates and helping businesses with seasoned Mining Investor Relations professionals, experienced Online Marketers and also high-achieving Inside Sales people. It really was a fantastic experience telling candidates they had a new job and telling client companies that I had secured a great new employee for them.
My reputation reached Jamie and Sales Talent Agency who then offered me a position to help continue their track record of success in the Vancouver office. I felt a real synergy with Jamie and his team, on a professional and personal level. Best of all, it is continuing doing something that I love; consulting with companies on finding recruitment solutions and mentoring great candidates on achieving their career objectives.
For the love of sales!
Upon graduating from the University of Wales back in the UK, I combined my love of books and people to progress in the world of book publishing, specifically in the Sales & Marketing function at the University of Wales Press, managing five freelance sales representatives, key account sales and all marketing activities. This gave me my first career experience of Sales Management, Inside Sales, Business Development, Account Management, Key Accounts and a broad spectrum of Marketing skills. Within two years we had doubled sales revenue through promotions, focusing on pushing more commercial authors & books and innovative marketing on a slim budget.
After a few years, I progressed onto more mainstream publishing with the Orion Publishing Group, the number two book publisher in the UK, as one of their eleven Territory Managers representing such authors as Terry Pratchett, Michael Palin, Ian Rankin and Maeve Binchy. A Territory Manager for Orion was the archetypal Outside Sales role; looking after geographically based key accounts, merchandising, promoting books / authors and business development. Within approximately a year, I had nearly doubled the sales revenue of my area and also reduced dead-stock and returns, another key statistic in book publishing.
Despite moving between Canada & UK, all of my roles have featured the combination of Sales & Marketing. At Rettie & Co, a leading real estate agency, I was employed as a Marketing Account Manager and then progressed into a hybrid Sales Manager/Marketing Manager role. At any one time I was involved in the Sales and Marketing of between 10 and 25 new homes developments valued at millions of dollars and managing a team of five sales negotiators and a Marketing Account Manager. One particular highlight was selling a $5 million new home which was the most expensive Rettie & Co was selling at that time. I found out I still had my Canadian Permanent Residency status, so when the timing was right, it was off to Canada ... again with my partner and Black Labrador, Moose.
I’d had some exposure to recruitment agencies as a hiring manager and also as a candidate, and I could see the value in the agency service from both sides, so I secured a position with Hays Specialist Recruitment here in Vancouver. With Hays, I was primarily focused on Sales & Marketing recruitment and was one of the first recruitment consultants focused on that area for Hays Canada. I was particular successful at placing candidates and helping businesses with seasoned Mining Investor Relations professionals, experienced Online Marketers and also high-achieving Inside Sales people. It really was a fantastic experience telling candidates they had a new job and telling client companies that I had secured a great new employee for them.
My reputation reached Jamie and Sales Talent Agency who then offered me a position to help continue their track record of success in the Vancouver office. I felt a real synergy with Jamie and his team, on a professional and personal level. Best of all, it is continuing doing something that I love; consulting with companies on finding recruitment solutions and mentoring great candidates on achieving their career objectives.
For the love of sales!
Marketing Blogger Christine Till interviews STA’s Dean Mitchell
September 10, 2011
