Design + Sales Specialist

Description

Department: Design + Sales

Classification: Exempt

Reports To: Senior Design & Sales Manager

Supervises: No

Work Location: On-site — Raleigh, NC

In-Office Requirement: Two days per week minimum after training

About the Role

The Design + Sales Specialist at Custom Patch Hats creates custom product designs and owns the client relationship from first quote through close. This is not a back-of-house design role. You are also the salesperson. You create the mockup, deliver the quote, manage revisions, follow up, and close the deal, all while maintaining the quality and craftsmanship CPH is known for.

On a typical day, you will manage 30 to 75+ active client projects simultaneously, create 5 to 10 custom mockups and quotes, communicate with clients via email about designs, pricing, revisions, timelines, and coordinate with production to ensure accuracy. You will work primarily through email in a fast-paced, high-volume environment where your ability to stay organized, move quickly, and build client trust directly determines your success.

This role is ideal for someone who loves design, thrives on variety and volume, and gets satisfaction from turning a client’s idea into a finished product they’re proud of.

What You Will Do

Design & Creative Development

• Create custom hat, apparel, and product mockups from client artwork and design requests
• Translate client ideas into production-ready designs using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
• Prepare and revise artwork to meet production specifications and CPH quality standards
• Recommend design approaches that work best for specific patch types, materials, and production methods

Client Engagement & Sales Execution

• Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned clients throughout the full sales cycle
• Deliver quotes and mockups with clear pricing, options, and next steps
• Follow up consistently with prospects and manage your pipeline to maximize conversion
• Identify opportunities to expand client orders, including apparel and additional product lines
• Build and maintain long-term client relationships that drive repeat business
• Report sales numbers on a weekly basis and maintain accountability for your individual results

Pipeline & Workload Management

• Manage a personal pipeline of 30 to 75+ active opportunities at any given time
• Prioritize daily work across new leads, returning clients, active revisions, and follow-ups
• Maintain organized records of all client communications, artwork, and order details in the CRM
• Make smart daily decisions about where to invest your time for the highest return

Cross-Team Collaboration

• Coordinate with Production to ensure design accuracy and manufacturability
• Communicate clearly with internal teams on specifications, timelines, and revisions
• Partner with the Lead Coordinator on lead intake and assignment

What Success Looks Like

In the first 30 days, you are completing quotes independently, learning which designs work for which patch types, and building comfort with the CRM and internal workflows.

In the first 60 days, you are managing your full pipeline with minimal supervision, getting consistent client responses, and contributing to team revenue goals.

In the first 90 days, you are producing at the pace and quality level of an established designer, building repeat client relationships, and advancing toward the next tier in the compensation structure.

Who Thrives Here

Beyond design skill, the designers who succeed at CPH share four attributes:

Productive Pace

You are naturally wired to keep things moving. You are comfortable producing 5 to 10+ quality quotes per day without sacrificing accuracy, and you measure your own success partly by how 

much work gets out the door. Volume is part of the job, and you find a rhythm in it rather than getting overwhelmed by it.

Product Curiosity

You are the kind of person who learns by doing and pays attention to what works. Over time, you build deep knowledge of which designs work for which patch types, which materials hold up, and which recommendations earn client trust. This knowledge is the #1 differentiator between good designers and great ones here, and it only comes from caring enough to learn from every order.

Self-Direction

No one is going to tell you what to work on each hour. You manage your own day, your own pipeline, and your own follow-up cadence. You know when to prioritize a returning client over a new lead, when to move on from a prospect who has gone silent, and when to push for the close. You take ownership of your results.

Coachability

You are open to feedback, willing to try new approaches, and able to adapt when processes change. CPH is growing, and the way we work continues to evolve. The designers who thrive here are the ones who engage with new ideas rather than resist them.

What This Role Is Not

This is not a pure design studio position. The client-facing, revenue-generating side of the role is equal to or greater than the creative side. If you are looking for a role where you design in isolation and hand work off to a sales team, this is not the right fit. If you want to combine your design talent with real client ownership and see your work drive business results, this is the place.

Our Values

At Custom Patch Hats, we value Human Connection, Accountability, Authenticity, Client Focus, and being Unafraid. We look for team members who take pride in craftsmanship, communicate openly, and thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

Compensation

CPH operates a tiered compensation structure with base salary plus commission. Designers advance through tiers based on performance, with increasing earning potential at each level. 

Requirements

Education & Experience

Education: Associate Degree in Graphic Design or equivalent experience.

Experience: At least 1 year of professional design experience preferred, particularly in apparel, branding, or product-based design. Experience managing high-volume client communication or working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment is a strong plus.

Skills & Competencies

Design Skills

• Strong proficiency in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator
• Ability to prepare artwork suitable for production and embroidery

Communication Skills

• Strong written communication — you will write dozens of client emails daily
• Ability to explain design and production concepts clearly to non-designers
• Comfort managing multiple client conversations simultaneously

Professional Skills

• Strong attention to detail
• Creative problem-solving ability
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines without external direction
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to work cross-functionally

Physical Demands

• Sit for extended periods while working at a computer workstation
• Perform repetitive hand and finger movements using a keyboard and mouse
• Use hands to handle or control tools and equipment related to design work