Stephen Jones
Little Gaddesden,Herts
Summary
Results-driven Area Sales Head with over 20 years of experience in the clothing, merchandise, and work wear supply industry. Proven track record of delivering sustained revenue growth, building high-value client relationships, and leading sales strategies for SMEs and global organisations alike. Adept at territory management, new business development, and strategic account leadership, with consistent success in exceeding sales targets and driving profitability.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work history
Area Sales Manager
Portwest Ltd
County Mayo, Ireland
03.2022 - 09.2025
- Lead sales operations across London and Surrey, managing key distributor and end-user relationships, delivering consistent growth year on year.
- Negotiate contracts with key clients to secure valuable business deals.
- Conduct competitive analysis to identify business opportunities.
- Foster strong client relationships for higher customer retention.
- Consistently out-performed company sales forecasts: 13% above sales forecast in 2022, 25.94% above in 2023, and 28.4% above in 2024.
- Recognised as one of the top-performing Area Sales Managers in the UK for three consecutive years.
- Recipient of the Portwest Global Peak Performer Award for Vitality (new products).
Interim Sales & Business Development Manager
MPC Embroidery Ltd
07.2021 - 03.2022
- Provided strategic sales expertise to ensure service continuity during transitional period.
- Maintained key account relationships while driving new business development.
- Collaborated with stakeholders to align business goals and objectives.
Delivery Driver (Part-Time)
Sainsbury’s
02.2021 - 07.2021
- Position taken due to furlough at TeamTogs; delivered exceptional customer service and operational reliability and contributed to an award-winning delivery team.
Sales & Project Manager
TeamTogs
02.2020 - 07.2021
- Recruited to expand operations following the acquisition of SJL Garments’ accounts.
- Successfully integrated a £150K customer portfolio into TeamTogs.
- Led business development in the schools and college market, growing the client base and revenue streams.
- Contributed to the design and rollout of a bespoke CRM system (KIT), improving process efficiency.
- Enhanced e-commerce capability through the development of online wardrobes and web-shop services.
Owner / Director
SJL Garments LLP
Islington
12.2011 - 02.2020
- Founded and scaled successful work wear and sports clothing company with turnover exceeding £250K p.a.
- Secured high-profile clients including Currys, Samsung, Microsoft, HP, Coca-Cola, Honda Red Bull Racing, HBO Entertainment (Game of Thrones), and elite schools such as Wellington College.
- Supplied apparel for 2012 Lesotho Olympic Team and sponsors.
- Managed all aspects of business operations, from supplier contracts to staffing and premises expansions.
- Negotiated contracts with vendors, securing favourable terms and conditions for the company.
- Built strong relationships with suppliers, resulting in improved supply chain efficiency.
- Established long-term partnerships with clients, fostering customer loyalty and repeat business.
Teamwear Area Sales Manager
Canterbury of New Zealand
Stockport
03.2006 - 11.2011
- Managed South East England sales territory, exceeding £1.4M annual sales targets consistently.
- Negotiated contracts and sponsorships with flagship accounts including Portsmouth FC, Wasps RFC, London Irish RFC, Oxford & Cambridge Universities, Wellington College, and Harrow School.
- Collaborated with the Product Innovation team to launch new textiles and apparel ranges, driving market share growth.
- Pioneered introduction of the Base Layer Revolution in the UK, supplying performance gear to the Australian cricket team during the 2005 Ashes series.
- Propelled company towards achieving set KPIs and goals through comprehensive strategic planning and execution.
Education
Little Gaddesden Church of England Primary School
Skills
- Strategic Sales Leadership & Business Development
- B2B Account Management & Client Retention
- Revenue Growth & Forecasting
- Contract Negotiation & Key Account Management
- Solution Selling & Consultative Sales Techniques
- CRM Systems & Sales Process Optimisation
- Product Innovation & Market Expansion:
- Technical product understanding
Hobbies and Interests
Proud father of Freya; non-playing Vice President at Tring RFC after 25 years of active participation; Secretary and lifelong member of Little Gaddesden Cricket Club and enthusiast cyclist exploring trails across the UK including the Chilterns, Snowdonia, and the Cotswolds.
Accomplishments
- Sustained multi-year sales growth for Portwest Ltd, outperforming company forecasts by up to 28.4%.
- Integrated a £150K client portfolio into TeamTogs with zero client loss.
- Founded and scaled SJL Garments LLP to £250K+ turnover with global corporate clients.
- Consistently exceeded £1.4M sales targets at Canterbury of New Zealand.
- Led product innovations that shaped the UK sportswear market.
Timeline
Area Sales Manager
Portwest Ltd
03.2022 - 09.2025
Interim Sales & Business Development Manager
MPC Embroidery Ltd
07.2021 - 03.2022
Delivery Driver (Part-Time)
Sainsbury’s
02.2021 - 07.2021
Sales & Project Manager
TeamTogs
02.2020 - 07.2021
Owner / Director
SJL Garments LLP
12.2011 - 02.2020
Teamwear Area Sales Manager
Canterbury of New Zealand
03.2006 - 11.2011
Little Gaddesden Church of England Primary School