Category Specialist – Furniture – On-site – Germiston Gauteng

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:-

The Category Specialist – Furniture role involves consultative selling and project management to develop customized workspace solutions for corporate and SMME clients. Key responsibilities include providing expert advice on furniture choices, meeting revenue goals, identifying new business opportunities, and managing furniture projects from start to finish. Essential requirements include a tertiary degree, extensive sales experience, project management skills, and proficiency in negotiation and CRM systems.

Job Title: On-site Furniture Category Specialist – Germiston Company: Datafin Recruitment

Description

A prominent Retailer is seeking a Category Specialist to propel the expansion of its furniture division by crafting, conceptualizing, and executing customized workspace solutions for corporate and SMMEs.

This position entails a blend of consultative selling and project management, overseeing furniture projects from the initial customer consultation and CAD-based layouts to solution design, quotations, negotiations, delivery, installation, and final completion.

The specialist will establish the company as a trusted partner in workspace solutions, going beyond mere product provision.

Duties include

• Providing expert advice to customers on furniture choices, focusing on ergonomics, space planning, aesthetics, and functionality to develop bespoke solutions within budget constraints. • Meeting regional revenue and profit goals for furniture across corporate and SMME sectors, while nurturing and expanding existing client relationships via continuous engagement and proactive opportunity identification. • Identifying new business opportunities through prospecting, referrals, and interactions with industry professionals; creating precise quotations, proposals, and presentations that highlight added value. • Collaborating with interior designers, architects, construction firms, and project managers; performing in-depth consultations to identify customer needs and presenting tailored solutions using CAD visuals and real-case studies. • Handling furniture opportunities as comprehensive projects, setting clear scopes, timelines, team assignments, supplier collaborations, delivery, and installation schedules; coordinating effectively with internal teams and external suppliers to ensure flawless execution. • Engaging in negotiations with clients and suppliers to safeguard margins while remaining competitive; bringing instances of price pressure and risk to the line manager with proposed solutions and recommendations. • Keeping abreast of market trends, competitor strategies, and customer preferences; sourcing unique items and buyout products; supplying market insights to management for strategic decision-making.

Requirements include

• A tertiary degree in Sales, Marketing, Business Administration, Interior Design, Project Management, or a related field. • Extensive experience in external sales within corporate or SMME settings, with a focus on new business development and account management. • Proficiency in managing project-based sales, furniture solutions, or workspace design, incorporating consultative selling and solution configuration. • Familiarity with furniture retail, office supplies, or workspace solutions; adeptness with CRM and sales pipeline management systems. • Proven negotiation skills with clients and suppliers; excellent communication and presentation abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Postgraduate degree in Sales, Marketing, Project Management, or Interior Design. • Certifications in project management (PRINCE2, PMP) or CAD/space planning software. • Experience working with interior designers, architects, and construction professionals.

Attributes

• Technical: expertise in furniture products, CRM and sales pipeline management, ERP and order management systems, Microsoft Office Suite, quotation generation and pricing, supplier negotiation, space planning and solution design, project management. • Soft skills: consultative selling, commercial insight, negotiation, communication, presentation, stakeholder engagement, relationship building, problem-solving, analytical thinking, time management, composure under pressure.