An area sales manager is responsible for managing the overall success and responsibility of a number of stores, or companies for example within a specified area or territory. This role does have a slight difference to a sales manager job, as an area sales manager would tend to have more than one team to manage, for example, between five and twenty different stores for the same organisation. 

Many area sales managers are hired on their initiative and ready-to-work attitudes, giving candidates with less experience but high levels of enthusiasm a good chance at beginning their career in a fantastic position. It’s often a preference of larger companies to take on candidates with less experience or a proven track record of being adaptable and flexible so that they can be “built” to suit their role.

 

Average salary for an area sales manager

With roles starting at around £23,000 p.a for candidates with limited experience to upwards of £40,000 p.a for applicants with a few years of experience in sales in a relevant field, the opportunities presented to area sales managers are as varied as their job descriptions.

According to our latest data collected in 2018, £46,865.49 was the average salary recorded by recruiters advertising jobs for area sales managers.

 

The main skills an area sales manager needs include:

  • Meeting targets set by senior management
  • Excellent time management skills and the motivation to succeed

  • Effective communication and organisational skills

  • Ability to cope under pressure and multi-task

  • Positive and professional attitude

  • Driven and enthusiastic attitude to work

  • Excellent listening skills and creative thinking

  • High attention to detail

  • Computer skills

  • Experience in dealing with larger sales projects

  • Proven ability in dealing with similar or relevant clients and understanding their needs and requirements

 

A full driving licence is also usually a requirement, given the nature of the role will include travelling from client to client to secure sales and generate new leads.

Sales targets are also often set out in the job description, to highlight the areas in which applicants should be well-versed in. These targets include working towards developing specific relationships with new clients,, dealing with higher-level projects of up to £70k, and a breakdown of the way time will be managed within the role.

A comprehensive knowledge of the business and each product/project to sell is imperative to a good area sales manager, so reaching an interview with the right information will stand you in good stead.

To be an excellent area sales manager and continue your career path through to regional sales management and above, knowledge of your industry is vital, as is the drive to create and follow-up leads, to reach sales targets and to work as part of a well-oiled team.

 

To view all of our current area sales manager roles, visit the Simply Sales Jobs website.

[simplyjobs site_url=”https://www.simplysalesjobs.co.uk/” placement=”post” site_name=”Simply Sales Jobs” username=”SEO_TEAM” password=”fmgseo” feed_identifier=”blog_area_sales” category=”Area Sales jobs”][/simplyjobs]

Day in the life of a business manager

Day in the life of a business manager

Mark Stern is a business manager at PromoVeritas. He gives us an insight into his career and how he got there: How did you get into this career?I took an odd path. I came from an IT background, where I was a top salesman for an Apple computer company....

Sales interview questions and how to answer them

Sales interview questions and how to answer them

So your CV hit the spot? Now it’s time to interview for the job you want. The sales industry is filled with talented and skilled professionals, and if you’re one of them, you should have no problem getting your foot in the door for an interview. Interviews are tricky,...

Group interviews for sales jobs: What to expect

Group interviews for sales jobs: What to expect

Group interviews are used by large employers who are aiming to fill multiple vacancies. They are frequently used by sales firms when selecting a new intake of trainee sales executives, graduate recruits and telesales professionals, for example.