Vice President / Director of U.S. Sales – Furniture & Pet
Reports To: President / Executive Leadership Team
Location: United States (Remote with Extensive U.S. & Canada Travel)
COMPANY OVERVIEW
Our client is a well-established, fourth-generation, family-owned consumer products company with more than 80 years of experience designing, manufacturing, importing, and supplying innovative products to many of North America's leading retailers.
Originally founded in the mid-1940s, the company has evolved from its early roots into a diversified supplier serving multiple product categories including home furnishings, furniture, pet products, home textiles, bedding, bath, and baby. Through continued investment in product innovation, global sourcing, design, and customer partnerships, the organization has earned a reputation for quality, reliability, and long-term retail relationships.
Today, the company maintains North American headquarters along with international sourcing and product development operations and a permanent showroom in High Point, North Carolina. The business partners with many of North America's largest retailers through both branded and private label programs while continuing to invest aggressively in future growth.
As part of its continued U.S. expansion strategy, the company is seeking an experienced sales executive to lead the growth of its Furniture and Pet divisions throughout the United States.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Vice President / Director of U.S. Sales – Furniture & Pet will be responsible for developing and executing the overall U.S. sales strategy for the Furniture and Pet business. Reporting directly to executive leadership, this individual will drive revenue growth by expanding strategic retail partnerships, identifying new business opportunities, strengthening existing customer relationships, and positioning the company as a preferred supplier across multiple retail channels.
This executive will work closely with Product Development, Merchandising, Design, Global Sourcing, Marketing, Operations, and Customer Service to develop innovative product programs that meet retailer needs while supporting the company's long-term growth objectives.
This is an opportunity for a highly entrepreneurial leader who enjoys building businesses, creating strategic partnerships, and identifying new opportunities within a dynamic, family-owned organization.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Leadership
- Develop and execute the long-term U.S. sales strategy for the Furniture and Pet divisions.
- Identify and prioritize the highest-value market opportunities to drive profitable, sustainable growth.
- Analyze market trends, competitive positioning, retailer needs, and geographic opportunities to develop strategic growth initiatives.
- Establish annual sales plans, revenue forecasts, budgets, and key performance metrics.
- Develop strategic account plans that strengthen existing partnerships while identifying opportunities for expansion.
- Partner with executive leadership to support continued growth initiatives.
- Collaborate with Product Development, Design, Merchandising, and Global Sourcing to ensure customer insights influence future product development.
- Implement sales processes, forecasting, reporting, and performance metrics that support scalable growth.
U.S. Growth Strategy
- Develop and execute a comprehensive market expansion strategy across North America's leading retail channels.
- Evaluate opportunities within warehouse clubs, mass merchants, furniture retailers, home improvement retailers, specialty retailers, e-commerce, independent dealers, and buying groups.
- Develop business with major retailers including national furniture retailers, warehouse clubs, mass merchants, e-commerce platforms, specialty retailers, independent dealers, and leading regional furniture retailers throughout the United States and Canada.
Business Development
- Develop executive-level relationships with merchants, category managers, and senior buying teams.
- Expand strategic partnerships across all targeted retail channels.
- Drive growth through branded, private label, and exclusive retail programs.
- Negotiate annual business plans, promotional programs, pricing strategies, and long-term customer agreements.
- Expand existing customer relationships while securing new national retail partnerships.
- Represent the company at High Point Market, major trade shows, retailer meetings, and industry events.
Account Management
- Serve as executive relationship manager for key national retail accounts.
- Conduct strategic business reviews that identify growth opportunities.
- Develop collaborative business plans aligned with retailer objectives.
- Partner with retailers on merchandising programs and product assortments.
- Monitor sales performance, profitability, inventory, and customer satisfaction.
Product Strategy
- Partner with Product Development, Merchandising, Design, and Global Sourcing to develop innovative furniture and pet product programs.
- Collaborate across functional teams to optimize pricing, merchandising, packaging, speed-to-market, and product positioning.
- Utilize the company's High Point showroom to introduce new collections, strengthen customer relationships, host retailer meetings, and support year-round business development.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or related field preferred.
- Minimum five years of progressive sales leadership experience within furniture, home furnishings, pet products, or home textiles.
- Demonstrated success developing business with major national retailers.
- Proven experience opening new accounts while expanding existing strategic partnerships.
- Strong relationships with merchants, buyers, and senior retail executives.
- Experience selling both branded and private label programs.
- Understanding of global sourcing, product development, and overseas manufacturing.
- Strong financial acumen with forecasting, budgeting, pricing strategy, and sales analytics.
- Excellent presentation, negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to travel extensively throughout the United States and Canada.
LEADERSHIP PROFILE
The successful candidate will be:
- An entrepreneurial, growth-oriented executive with a passion for building businesses.
- A strategic thinker capable of identifying market opportunities and developing long-term growth strategies.
- A collaborative leader who works effectively across multiple functional areas.
- An exceptional relationship builder with executive-level presence.
- Highly analytical with strong financial and business acumen.
- Results-driven with a demonstrated history of profitable revenue growth.
- Comfortable working within a fast-paced, privately held organization that values innovation, agility, and customer partnerships.
- Experienced selling across a broad range of retail channels.
- A hands-on, customer-facing sales executive.
- Experienced within upholstery and pet products.
- Skilled at leveraging independent sales representatives and regional sales organizations to accelerate market penetration.
OPPORTUNITY
This is an exceptional opportunity to join a financially strong, multi-generational family-owned organization with a long-standing reputation for innovation, quality, global sourcing excellence, and trusted retail partnerships.
The Vice President / Director of U.S. Sales – Furniture & Pet will play a key leadership role in shaping the company's future growth strategy, expanding its U.S. market presence, strengthening strategic customer relationships, and driving continued long-term success.