Sales Manager, Women's Apparel (Wholesale Focus)

About Us

Jude Connally is a premium women's fashion brand known for vibrant prints, effortless silhouettes, and versatile, American-made designs that celebrate real women and their everyday lives. Founded by Jude Connally Zimmerman, the brand's mission is to help women feel confident, polished, and empowered through clothing that is comfortable, stylish, and easy to care for. The collection began with dresses and has grown into a full lifestyle brand, featuring signature fabrics like "Jude Cloth" that are wrinkle-free and machine washable, emphasizing practicality without sacrificing style. The brand is carried in more than 350 specialty and department stores nationwide, as well as online at JudeConnally.com.

Job Summary

We are seeking a results-driven and strategic Sales Manager to lead our women's apparel wholesale division. This role is responsible for driving revenue growth, cultivating strong B2B relationships, and managing the entire wholesale sales cycle. The ideal candidate possesses strong business acumen, a deep understanding of the fashion market, and proven experience in exceeding wholesale targets.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

Sales Strategy & Execution:

• Develop and execute comprehensive strategic sales plans to meet and exceed annual sales.
• Analyze market trends, competitive landscape, and sales data to identify new opportunities and inform product development strategies.
• Manage the departmental budget, optimize pricing strategies, and negotiate contracts and terms with key accounts.
• Track and manage key performance indicators (KPIs) such as sales growth, average order value (AOV), win rate, and sales cycle length.

Account Management & Business Development:

• Cultivate and maintain strong, long-term relationships with existing wholesale clients, including department stores, specialty boutiques, and e-commerce platforms.
• Identify and secure new wholesale accounts to expand market penetration and increase overall distribution.
• Present seasonal collections to buyers at showrooms, market weeks, and trade shows.
• Handle escalated client issues and ensure a high level of customer satisfaction and retention.

Team Leadership & Operations:

• Recruit, train, coach, and motivate the wholesale sales team to achieve individual and team quotas.
• Collaborate closely with the Design, Merchandising, and Production teams to align sales efforts with product availability and brand vision.
• Oversee order processing, inventory forecasting, and logistics to ensure efficient order fulfillment and high order accuracy rates.
• Monitor inventory levels, sell-through rates, and inventory turnover to optimize stock management and minimize backorders.

Qualifications & Skills

• Experience: Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in wholesale/B2B sales management, specifically within the apparel or fashion industry.
• Industry Knowledge: Deep knowledge of the women's apparel market, seasonal cycles, trends, fabrications, and the B2B sales landscape.
• Skills: Proven negotiation and presentation skills. Strong analytical abilities with proficiency in sales forecasting and performance metrics.
• Technical Proficiency: Experienced with NuOrder, Blue Cherry and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Education: A Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Fashion Merchandising, or a related field is preferred.
• Travel: Ability to travel frequently to client meetings, trade shows, and corporate offices as required.

Benefits

Salary range: $110,000–$130,000 (based on experience), plus bonus/commission opportunities, comprehensive benefits, 401(k), healthcare, and an employee discount.