At Clarion, our people are at the absolute heart of what we do. We’re proud that our core values ofPASSION,CARE,IMAGINATION, andTRUSTdefine the way we carry out our work across all of our teams.
If you share our values and want to be a part of a successful, dynamic, and creative global business then we want to hear from you.
The Opportunity:
We have an exciting career opportunity for a commercially driven and experienced Sales Manager to lead the sales function across Clarion’s market-leading Baby Show portfolio, the UK’s leading consumer exhibitions in the pregnancy, baby and early-years sector.
Our flagship events include The Baby Show at ExCeL London, NEC Birmingham and Olympia London.
Our flagship events includeThe Baby Show @ ExCel, NEC and Olympia
Managing a small team of one sales executive, the ideal candidate will have a proven track record of delivering sales revenue, developing new business and managing high-performing sales teams. They will take ownership of the sales strategy and commercial performance across all three events, driving revenue growth through exhibitor sales, account development, retention and identifying new commercial opportunities.
This is a hands-on management role requiring a strong sales leader who can motivate and develop their team while leading by example in prospecting, negotiating and closing business. They will be commercially astute, confident in using data to inform decisions and experienced in managing sales pipelines, forecasting revenue and delivering against ambitious targets.
Working closely with Marketing, Operations and Finance, the Sales Manager will play a key role in maximising commercial opportunities, developing long-term exhibitor relationships and ensuring the continued growth and success of The Baby Show portfolio.
Based within Clarion’s Enthusiast Department, there may also be opportunities to contribute to other events across our wider portfolio.
Key Responsibilities:
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and deliver the sales strategy across all three events, taking ownership of revenue targets, budgets and commercial performance.
- Lead, motivate and develop the sales team, setting individual targets, monitoring performance and providing regular coaching and support.
- Drive new business acquisition, existing account growth and exhibitor retention to maximise revenue across the portfolio.
- Identify and develop new revenue opportunities, including sponsorship, partnerships, premium positioning and additional commercial products.
- Manage key accounts and build strong relationships with exhibitors, sponsors and strategic partners.
- Oversee sales pipelines, revenue forecasting and performance reporting, using Salesforce to monitor progress, identify risks and implement corrective actions.
- Analyse sales results, market trends and competitor activity to identify opportunities for growth and inform commercial planning.
- Oversee the development and management of commercially effective floor plans in collaboration with the Sales and Operations teams, maximising space utilisation and revenue yield.
- Ensure the exhibitor mix reflects the quality, positioning and target audience of The Baby Show
- Work closely with Marketing to align sales activity with marketing campaigns, audience development and exhibitor promotional opportunities.
- Liaise with Finance to monitor invoicing, outstanding payments and debt collection.
- Ensure contracts, CRM records, sales administration and reporting are accurate and completed within agreed deadlines
- Resolve exhibitor issues and commercial conflicts professionally, both in the office and on-site.
- Represent Clarion Events at client meetings, industry functions and relevant UK and international exhibitions, including occasional weekends.
- Contribute to post-event reviews and future business planning to support continuous improvement and portfolio growth.
Knowledge, Skills& Behaviours:
- Proven experience in a sales management or team leadership role, ideally within exhibitions, events or a related commercial environment.
- A strong track record of achieving revenue targets, winning new business and growing existing accounts.
- Experience of running an onsite rebook campaign and team is highly desirable
- Demonstrable experience managing, motivating and developing a sales team.
- Experience in sales strategy, pipeline management, revenue forecasting and performance reporting.
- Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to identify new revenue streams and maximise existing opportunities.
- Experience in consultative selling, negotiation and building long-term client relationships.
- Experience using Salesforce
- Strong analytical, organisational and problem-solving abilities, with excellent attention to detail.
- A proactive, resilient and results-driven approach, with the ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively under pressure.
- A collaborative leadership style, with the ability to motivate others, take ownership and lead by example.
Ability to work calmly under pressure with a consistently high level of output.
About Clarion Events
Clarion Events is one of the world’s leading event organisers, producing and delivering innovative and market-leading events since 1947. (https://clarionevents.com/welcome)
Clarion Events embrace diversity and equal opportunities in all that we do. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.
Clarion is private equity backed and owned by Blackstone. Blackstone is one of the world’s leading global investment funds, investing capital for the long term in order to build successful, resilient businesses. (https://www.blackstone.com/)
Our purpose is to deliver exceptional customer outcomes and experiences, by making every connection count.
Our vision is we want every one of our products to be a market leader in customer satisfaction and delight.
Benefits
25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays
End of year wellbeing shutdown (closed for the last week of the year)
Employees on a permanent or fixed-term contract are gifted an extra day of leave that can be used for a celebration of your choosing, e.g. birthday, Eid, Diwali, etc.
Summer Hours in August (3pm finish on Fridays)
Helping Our World (HOW) Days – one paid day per quarter to carry out charity work
Pension Scheme
Private Medical Insurance
Health Cash Plan
Wellbeing Library (MYNDUP)
Mentoring Programme
Season Ticket Loan
Cycle to Work Schemes
Free on-site gym and shower facilities
Free eyesight tests
Free flu vaccination – offered on site once a year for all employees
Our Values
PASSION
We deliver all our events with passion for people, the environment and businesses. We form connections with those who are just as passionate about what they do as we are. We always strive to exceed expectations and celebrate success. We love what we do, and it shows.
CARE
We care about our people and our products and work tirelessly to achieve lasting connections and satisfaction for ourselves, our customers and the businesses they support. We really get people - everyone is welcome.
IMAGINATION
Everything is possible. We constantly challenge the status quo and create amazing experiences and opportunities. We take huge satisfaction in solving problems. As open-minded and fun-loving people, the sky is our limit.
TRUST
We trust our skills, people and partners to deliver extraordinary events our customers have come to rely on. We support everyone around us and always learn through our experiences. We are honest and straight forward. You can always rely on us.
Equal Opportunities
We encourage employees to be open and confident and recognise that every member of the team makes a vital contribution.
Clarion embraces equality, diversity and inclusion and seeks to promote these principles in all of our business activities.
When recruiting new employees or providing opportunities for promotion, we will:
- Recruit, develop and retain the most talented people, regardless of background, and make the best use of their talents;