CHINAKWE
Sales Business Development Manager
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SALES & BUSINESS MANAGER
CHINAKWE | London
5 days per week | Store-based
ABOUT CHINAKWE
CHINAKWE is a globally minded creative house rooted in African heritage and contemporary culture, founded by British-Nigerian artist and Creative Director Caroline Chinakwe. Bringing together contemporary art, design, lifestyle, interiors and cultural experiences, CHINAKWE is building a distinctive creative world where culture is not simply observed, but lived. From original and limited-edition artworks to design-led products, collaborations, pop-ups and events, CHINAKWE works across art, culture and commerce. As the business enters its next stage of growth, we are looking for an ambitious, commercially minded Sales & Business Manager to become a key part of that journey.
THE ROLE
This is much more than a traditional retail management position. We are looking for someone who loves selling, loves people and is excited by the opportunity to help grow a creative business. Working from our London store, you will take ownership of the day-to-day commercial performance of the space while actively developing sales, customer relationships and new business opportunities. You will be comfortable selling everything from accessible art and lifestyle products to higher-value original and limited-edition artworks. We want someone who doesn’t simply wait for customers to walk through the door. You will proactively follow up enquiries, reconnect with previous customers, develop relationships with collectors and clients, identify opportunities and constantly think about how CHINAKWE can generate more business. For the right person, this is a role with genuine room to grow alongside the company and take on increasing commercial and leadership responsibility.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Sales & Commercial Growth
- Take ownership of sales performance within the CHINAKWE store.
- Work towards agreed weekly and monthly sales targets.
- Proactively engage customers and confidently convert interest into sales.
- Sell original artwork, limited editions, prints, homeware and lifestyle products.
- Develop strong knowledge of Caroline Chinakwe’s artwork, collections and the wider CHINAKWE brand.
- Follow up customer enquiries and potential sales rather than waiting for customers to return.
- Identify opportunities to upsell and cross-sell across CHINAKWE’s collections.
- Develop relationships with collectors, interior designers, businesses and potential clients.
- Re-engage previous customers and encourage repeat purchases.
- Identify potential new sales channels and commercial opportunities.
- Maintain an organised pipeline of prospective customers, enquiries and opportunities.
Customer & Collector Relationships
- Deliver an exceptional, warm and knowledgeable CHINAKWE customer experience.
- Build genuine long-term relationships with customers and collectors.
- Understand individual customers’ tastes, interests and purchasing history.
- Maintain customer information and ensure appropriate follow-up.
- Introduce customers to new artworks, collections, launches and events.
- Develop confidence selling higher-value artwork and discussing commissions where appropriate.
- Represent CHINAKWE professionally with private clients, partners and collaborators.
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Store Management
- Take responsibility for the smooth running of the CHINAKWE store during your working days.
- Open and close the store and maintain excellent presentation standards.
- Ensure artwork and products are displayed effectively.
- Maintain awareness of stock levels and flag replenishment requirements.
- Process sales and customer orders accurately.
- Respond to customer enquiries across email and other agreed channels.
- Ensure enquiries are dealt with promptly and professionally.
- Maintain an environment that feels welcoming, premium, creative and representative of the CHINAKWE brand.
Business Development
- This is an important part of the role.
- We want you to actively look beyond the store and identify ways to grow CHINAKWE.
- This could include:
- Developing relationships with potential collectors and corporate clients.
- Identifying hospitality, interior design and commercial art opportunities.
- Generating leads for artwork placements and commissions.
- Supporting opportunities for collaborations and partnerships.
- Identifying businesses and organisations that could become CHINAKWE clients.
- Developing ideas for increasing store traffic and customer conversion.
- Working with the wider team to turn marketing activity into measurable sales.
Marketing & Team Collaboration
- You will work closely with Caroline Chinakwe and the wider CHINAKWE team.
- You will:
- Share customer insights with the marketing and content team.
- Identify products and artworks customers are responding to.
- Help turn social media and marketing enquiries into sales.
- Support launches, exhibitions and key store activations.
- Communicate sales opportunities and customer feedback to the team.
- Contribute ideas for campaigns, events and commercial initiatives.
WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR
We are particularly interested in finding someone who is commercially hungry, personable and entrepreneurial. You may come from art, galleries, premium retail, interiors, fashion, hospitality, luxury, business development or another customer-focused sales environment. More important than your exact background is your attitude.
You are someone who:
- Genuinely enjoys selling.
- Is entrepreneurial.
- Is confident starting conversations and building relationships.
- Understands that great sales are built through trust rather than pressure.
- Is comfortable working towards targets.
- Is proactive and doesn’t need to be constantly directed.
- Notices opportunities and follows them through.
- Is organised and reliable.
- Has excellent communication skills.
- Has strong commercial instincts.
- Understands premium customer service.
- Has an interest in art, design, culture and creative businesses.
- Can work independently while contributing to a small collaborative team.
- Wants responsibility rather than simply a job.
- Is excited by joining a growing independent business and helping shape what it becomes.
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Previous experience selling art would be advantageous, but strong sales ability and the capacity to learn are more important.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
Within this role, success won’t simply be measured by whether the store has been managed well. We will look at:
- Monthly sales performance.
- Sales conversion.
- New customers acquired.
- Repeat customer sales.
- Customer and collector follow-up.
- Development of a strong sales pipeline.
- Higher-value artwork sales.
- New business leads generated.
- Customer experience.
- Contribution to the overall commercial growth of CHINAKWE.
THE OPPORTUNITY
CHINAKWE is still a growing independent business, which means this role offers something that a conventional retail position cannot. You will have the opportunity to work closely with the founder, understand how the business operates and contribute directly to its future.
As CHINAKWE grows, we want this person to grow with us. For someone who demonstrates strong commercial results, leadership and commitment to the business, there is significant potential for the role to develop into a more senior position within CHINAKWE.
We are looking for someone who wants to be able to look back several years from now and say: “I helped build this.”
WORKING ARRANGEMENT
5 days per week Primarily based at the CHINAKWE store in Brixton South West London.
Some flexibility may occasionally be required around launches, exhibitions, events and other important CHINAKWE activities.
Compensation
Base salary + performance-related commission
The commission structure will reward strong individual and business sales performance, giving the successful candidate the opportunity to significantly increase their earnings as they help grow CHINAKWE.
Full details will be discussed during the recruitment process.
HOW TO APPLY
Please send your CV together with a short introduction telling us:
- Why CHINAKWE interests you
- Why you believe you are good at selling
- What you think makes an exceptional customer experience
We are interested in meeting people with energy, ideas and ambition, not simply the perfect CV.
Send CV To: caroline@chinakwe.com
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