General Manager - CEO

Point a La Ligne is the leading French brand in tapers and decorative candles (www.pointalaligne.fr). The company was recently acquired by Faienceries de Gien (www.gien.com), one of the finest French tabletop manufacturers, and a member of the prestigious Comité Colbert (www.comitecolbert.com).

Point a La Ligne is looking to hire a talented manager to head and develop its US business. In addition, within six to twelve months, the US manager will also have the opportunity to run the US businesses of two other leading French luxury brands within the home furnishings industry. 


Job description

Sales

·  Manage and motivate the sales force of 40 independent sales reps. Develop incentive programs

·  Organize monthly calls with each rep firm to get feedback and communicate objectives

·  Look for new sales reps when appropriate

Larger accounts/ Shop in shops

·  Oversee key accounts and build relationships

·  Develop partner store programs to display the brand

·  Generate private label programs with major retailers

Customer Service

·  Coordinate customer service. Review order releasing and damage logs

Marketing - Shows

·  Organize the company booth at the New York Gift show (display, staffing, etc.)

·  Coordinate samples and displays in Atlanta, Las Vegas and Toronto showrooms

·  Attend the New York and Atlanta shows twice a year, attend various regional shows

Marketing - Various

·  Assist in selecting products and approving catalog template. Follow up on production

·  Manage a press relations firm in order to generate press coverage on the brand

·  Coordinate the update and maintenance of the US section of the website

Purchasing

·  Reorder inventory when appropriate

·  Track all SKUs sold to major accounts, dispose of overstock

Operations

·  Logistics: ensure that the outsourced warehouse is running efficiently, analyze costs

·  IT: coordinate all IT issues

·  HR: hire a customer service employee and an administrative assistant. Grow the team and manage all HR related issues (hiring, HR policy, vacation, insurance, etc.)

Accounting

·  Manage payables and receivables

·  Coordinate payroll, bank reconciliations and various administrative tasks

·  Generate and review financial statements, prepare budget with parent company

·  Coordinate year-end review with CPAs

 

Requirements

·  Sales talent

·  Entrepreneurial, self-motivated, and independent

·  Detailed and well organized with good follow-through

·  Strong communication and interpersonal skills, nice to work with

·  Excellent computer aptitude, Excel skills