European Sales Director - Licensed Socks/Underwear - Remote

Location: Ideally Netherlands, Germany or Central Europe Reporting To: President Work Setup: Home office or regional office with regular travel across Europe

About the Role: We are seeking an experienced, commercially driven, and highly connected Sales Director to lead the growth of our branded socks and underwear business across Europe. This is a unique opportunity for a hands-on sales leader who enjoys winning business, developing strategic retail partnerships, and driving sustainable growth across multiple European markets. The successful candidate will combine strong account management and business development skills with the ability to lead and mentor a small sales team. The role is focused on building and expanding relationships with major retail groups, including supermarkets, sporting goods retailers, outdoor chains, department stores, and off-price retailers, while identifying new opportunities to increase market penetration and brand presence across Europe.

Key Responsibilities: Sales & Business Development Drive sales growth across European markets through strategic account management and new business development. Develop and strengthen relationships with major retail groups and buying organisations. Secure new listings, negotiate trading terms, and identify opportunities to increase distribution and market share. Open new accounts and expand business in untapped territories and channels. Build long-term partnerships with key customers to maximise sales and profitability. Key Account Management Manage a portfolio of major European retail accounts. Develop account plans and growth strategies tailored to individual customers. Lead commercial negotiations, annual reviews, promotional planning, and pricing discussions. Ensure delivery of sales, margin, and growth objectives across all key accounts. Leadership & Team Development Lead, coach, and develop a small sales team (1–2 direct reports).Create a collaborative, performance-focused culture. Set clear objectives, monitor performance, and support professional development. Share best practices and provide guidance on customer strategy and execution. Commercial Strategy Work closely with internal teams to develop forecasts, pricing strategies, and go-to-market plans. Provide market intelligence, competitor analysis, and customer insights to support strategic decision-making. Identify emerging trends and opportunities within the European apparel and retail sectors. Contribute to product and assortment planning based on customer and market requirements.

Candidate Profile: Essential Experience Minimum 10 years' sales experience within branded socks, underwear, hosiery, apparel, or closely related categories. Proven track record of delivering profitable sales growth across European markets. Significant experience managing large retail key accounts at a European level. Strong network within major supermarket groups, sporting goods retailers, outdoor retailers, department stores, and off-price channels. Demonstrated success in both account development and new business acquisition. Experience leading and mentoring small sales teams. Skills &

Competencies: Excellent commercial negotiation and relationship-building skills. Highly driven, hands-on, and results-oriented. Strong analytical and strategic thinking abilities. Self-motivated and comfortable working independently in a remote environment. Excellent communication and presentation skills. Ability to balance strategic planning with day-to-day sales execution. Languages Fluent English is essential. Additional European language skills such as Dutch, German, Spanish, or French are highly desirable. If you are a commercially focused sales professional with deep European retail relationships and a passion for building brands, we would love to hear from you.