Antique Sales Manager & Assistant
We are looking for TWO confident, helpful and extremely organised people to join our Antique Sales team! A Showroom Manager based in our spectacular new Howe gallery on Bloomfield Terrace, Belgravia and an Antiques Assistant based largely at largely at our Pimlico Showroom, but also from time to time at our Battersea Warehouse.
You will be working along side Christopher Howe and Claire assisting with all aspects of selling ~ We have the most wonderful, interesting clients and as part of the front of house team you will need to be engaging, proactive and presentable, becoming knowledgeable and familiar with our large inventory in order to best assist clients in discovering what they are looking for.
Other varied responsibilities include responding promptly to email enquiries, arranging shipping and delivery, scrupulous maintenance of our inventory system, researching and cataloguing of antiques for the website, composing interesting newsletters to proactively engage with our clients and assisting with content creation for our Instagram account.
Arguably the most fun part of the job will be assisting with and ensuring the showrooms always looks fantastic. Experience styling/visual merchandising is not essential but unless you have a naturally good eye and strong ambition to learn how to arrange interiors please do not apply.
Chief requisites are some knowledge of antique furniture and accessories, the world of decorating, a good eye, excellent writing skills, some sales experience, great administration skills and copious amounts of common sense.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
– Ensure the smooth running of the gallery
– Assist with the assessment and selection of pieces for the showroom
– Promote and sell the inventory, both by using the regular Howe channels and coming up with new ideas
– Check inventory entries, improve them if necessary and ensure everything is priced
– Plan, organise, present and market exhibitions and events, including responsibility for public relations
– Have overall responsibility for the Howe mailing list, perfecting the system and ensuring it is maintained
– Arrange transportation of pieces to and from the gallery, both fresh items for display and sold items
– Develop client lists by notifying potential clients of particular pieces according to their interests
– Extend the client database
– Keep up to date with industry developments and market trends
FRONT OF HOUSE
– Greet & assist all clients who enter Bloomfield Terrace
– Organise client visits, extending to other Howe sites
– Ensure everything in the showroom is labelled, priced and looking its best
– Work closely with Christopher & James to plan arrangement of showroom and ensure it always looks excellent and enticing
– Carry out constant checks that the showroom is in order
– Work with Facilities Manager on anything that is not working properly
– Ensure excellent communication with the staff of Woven who share the gallery
SALES
– Maintain and develop relationships with both old and new clients
– Deal with all aspects of sales to walk-in clients
– Study sales figures for sales originating in Bloomfield with the Business Manager every month and report to Christopher
– Pro-active selling to specific clients: keeping a comprehensive list so as to be able to match items to wishes
– Proactively seek new clients and figure out best approach
– Work with Holly Howe on ideas for increasing turnover generally
EVENTS
– Come up with ideas for events to be held at the Gallery
– Assist as necessary with the preparation of events
LOGISTICS
– Work with the warehouse staff on all logistics connected to setting up the showroom
– Work with the warehouse staff on all logistics connected to sales
SPECIAL PROJECTS
– Mailing List Management
– Work with Diana (Business Manager) on managing the Howe mailing list
To apply for this role please send your CV and a detailed cover letter with your application to Diana Bellew, diana@howelondon.com