Toby Hall
Cambridge
Summary
Area Sales Manager in Toys and Games. Since graduating from the University of East Anglia I have pursued a variety of roles linked by my commercial communication skills. I am a confident storyteller and highly proficient at matching tone to the needs of my diverse client base. I stay on-top of market trends, maintain detailed personal sales data, and conduct regular competitor analysis, to direct my sales strategy. Seeking to take my skills into the marketing world, as my commercial sales experiences plus my creative background make me well-suited to lead generation and customer engagement.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Area Sales Manager
University Games
03.2024 - Current
- Manage a territory of independent businesses. I collaborate with major accounts like Gardners Books, Arsenal Football Club, and the British Museum, alongside family-owned book shops, independent gift and toy shops, garden centres, and online retailers.
- Generate sales leads by creating bespoke presentations, writing engaging emails, and making in-person calls to prospective accounts. Key achievement: in 2026 I opened a new account with Barnardo's, adding over £30,000 to the territory value.
- Maintain detailed sales records and conduct weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual analysis.
- Utilised AI to streamline journey planning process, allowing more time to be spent on lead generation.
Purchasing Manager
University Games
Royston, Hertfordshire
03.2023 - 03.2024
- Collaborated with MD to manage stock and produce purchase orders with suppliers. Coordinated shipping with freight companies, landed stock, and calculated cost prices.
- Negotiated contracts with freight companies, establishing quality, cost, and delivery requirements to optimise logistics.
- Monitored regulatory changes to ensure compliance with legal specifications and customer requirements.
Sales Office Administrator
University Games
Royston, Hertfordshire
11.2021 - 03.2023
- Managed the order pipeline from the sales team to the warehouse using the Pegasus Opera stock management system and related warehouse systems.
- Customer service representative, warehouse liaison, and office assistant for purchasing, finance, and marketing teams as needed.
Senior Associate
Holland and Barrett
Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
03.2018 - 11.2021
- Adapted to fast-paced, high-stress work environments, enhancing resilience and readiness for subsequent roles.
- Identified customer needs through direct engagement, employing open questions to facilitate multi-item sales and deepen understanding of unexpressed requirements.
Freelance
Bauer Media
Peterborough
03.2012 - 03.2018
- Contributed to the editorial process with Classic Cars Magazine and Trail Running while studying.
- Managed social media accounts through Hootsuite, writing articles specifically designed for online-only readers.
- Wrote UK Trail Race directories and formatted with Adobe InDesign.
- Key Achievement: this began as work experience, but I was paid for several Classic Car buying guides which were published in the weekly magazine, making for an early career achievement I still remember fondly.
Student
University of East Anglia
Norwich
09.2013 - 09.2016
- Philosophy and Film Studies. The foundation of my communication skills. The vast majority of teaching hours were spent in discussion, listening and engaging with new and challenging ideas.
- Engaged with the filmmaking society. Key achievement: I directed and edited an advert for the UEA Islamic Society. I was also afforded the chance to deliver coursework for a Media module in video format, achieving a First grade.
Education
Bachelor's (2.1) - Philosophy and Film Studies
University of East Anglia
Norwich01-2016
A Level (A) - Business Studies
Sawtry Community College & Sixth Form
01-2013
A Level (B) - History
Sawtry Community College & Sixth Form
01-2013
A Level (B) - Media Studies
Sawtry Community College & Sixth Form
01-2013
Various GCSEs - English [A] and Maths [B]
Sawtry Community College & Sixth Form
01-2013
Skills
- Account management
- Presentation skills
- Competitor analysis
- Storytelling
- Video editing (Adobe, DaVinci Resolve, Canva)
- Microsoft Office
- Wordpress
- Substack
Hobbies & Interests
Reading and writing: I love to write and always have. Please see my substack https://tobyhall.substack.com/ for samples.
Running: I have been running for a long time. I find that the routine of it quite simply makes my life better.
Timeline
Area Sales Manager
University Games
03.2024 - Current
Purchasing Manager
University Games
03.2023 - 03.2024
Sales Office Administrator
University Games
11.2021 - 03.2023
Senior Associate
Holland and Barrett
03.2018 - 11.2021
Student
University of East Anglia
09.2013 - 09.2016
Freelance
Bauer Media
03.2012 - 03.2018
Bachelor's (2.1) - Philosophy and Film Studies
University of East Anglia
A Level (A) - Business Studies
Sawtry Community College & Sixth Form
A Level (B) - History
Sawtry Community College & Sixth Form
A Level (B) - Media Studies
Sawtry Community College & Sixth Form
Various GCSEs - English [A] and Maths [B]
Sawtry Community College & Sixth Form