VP Sales

 

THE OPPORTUNITY

We are a design-led apparel company with a proven portfolio of owned and licensed brands sold across mass, club, mid-tier, and specialty retail channels. As we enter our next phase of growth, we are seeking a Vice President of Sales who combines sharp commercial instincts with a hunter's drive to open new doors and deepen existing partnerships.

This is a rare opportunity to own the full sales function — setting strategy, building the team, and personally driving high-stakes relationships at the most influential retailers in the country. You will be handed a warm foundation with key accounts and given the runway to build something significant on top of it.

WHAT YOU'LL OWN

• Lead all commercial activity across wholesale and mass-market channels, with personal ownership of priority account relationships including Walmart, Target, and Costco.

• Define and execute the annual sales strategy — account planning, seasonal sell-in, margin targets, and volume forecasts — in close partnership with design, merchandising, and operations.

• Identify, pursue, and close new retail partnerships; actively expand the brand's distribution footprint through a disciplined, pipeline-driven approach.

• Nurture and grow the existing account base provided at hire, building trust and unlocking incremental shelf space, category expansion, and program depth.

• Build, coach, and scale a high-performance sales organization; establish clear KPIs, accountability structures, and a culture of winning.

• Collaborate with marketing to align account-level activation, co-op programs, and in-store execution with broader brand strategy.

• Represent the company at key retail summits, trade shows, and industry forums as a credible executive voice.

• Deliver accurate and timely revenue reporting, providing the leadership team with clear visibility into pipeline health and forecast accuracy.

WHO YOU ARE

You have built your career in apparel and know this industry from the inside — the seasonal rhythms, the buyer dynamics, the margin conversations, and what it takes to earn and hold shelf space at the largest retailers in the world. You don't wait for business to come to you.

• 10+ years of progressive sales leadership in apparel, with direct experience selling into mass and/or club retail channels (Walmart, Target, Costco, or comparable).

• Demonstrated track record of opening new accounts — you have a verifiable history of building relationships from scratch and converting them into meaningful revenue.

• Experience managing a portfolio of active accounts while simultaneously developing new business; comfortable operating as both a player and a coach.

• Deep buyer-level relationships at major mass or club retailers; you know the people, understand the processes, and can move deals forward.

• Strong merchandising sensibility — able to translate product stories into compelling commercial pitches that resonate with retail buyers.

• Experience building and developing a sales team; you know how to hire, motivate, and hold people accountable.

• Analytical and data-literate; comfortable with POS data, open-to-buy conversations, and building a business case from the ground up.

• Entrepreneurial mindset — you thrive in a growth-oriented environment and are energized rather than frustrated by ambiguity.

NICE TO HAVE

• Experience with licensed or private label apparel programs sold into mass or club channels.

• Existing buyer-level contacts at Walmart, Target, and/or Costco in apparel, basics, or adjacent categories.

• Familiarity with EDI, retailer-specific compliance requirements, and the operational realities of large-scale mass retail.

• Background managing international or direct-import sourcing programs in coordination with retail customers.