Maxx Group Companies, when beneficial to our clients, can seamlessly integrate to provide an end-to-end solution that enables brands to monetize their intellectual property across markets. We offer unparalleled expertise in product design and development, manufacturing, brand-extensions, licensed-promotions, and retail marketing activities, for corporate, sport, entertainment, celebrity, and lifestyle brands. Maxx Group follows professional and ethical business practices, based on organizational values such as team cooperation, reliability, high quality, long-term focus, social responsibility, and sustainability.

Maxx Marketing is a full-service, global licensing, and merchandising solutions provider. As an industry leader with specialized skills in monetizing IP and extending entertainment properties through thoughtful, innovative, and authentic products, Maxx delivers the highest value return for some of the world’s most recognizable brands. In addition to its brand marketing agency DNA, Maxx has seven creative hubs, an R&D center, insights-led product development capabilities, and total supply chain infrastructure, enabling turnkey product solutions in over 100 markets worldwide.  

https://www.maxx-marketing.com/

YuMe Toys is an award-winning global toy brand that dreams of bringing people together through imagination, fun, and entertainment. YuMe, inspired by the word meaning “to dream” in Japanese, is recognized for its highly stylized plush and toy lines, which have gained strong momentum in North America, Europe, and Asia since 2018. The YuMe brand designates the highest quality soft toys featuring Warner Bros. Consumer Products’ most popular entertainment brands, including JK Rowling’s Wizarding World/Harry Potter & Fantastic Beasts franchise, DC Universe, Scooby-Doo, Looney Tunes, Tom & Jerry and the studio’s most iconic horror movie titles.  

https://www. yumetoys.com/

Licensing Matters is a global, full service licensing agency with a twist.   In addition to offering best-in-class agency services, we have the resources to develop, source, and sell products if our licensor partners desire it. This model has several transformational benefits, namely increased speed to market and improved retail response times. The team has experience with all brand genres, including entertainment, sports, and corporate, and has delivered award-winning programs around the globe.   Our newest clients are Shell, the European Space Agency, and BuzzFeed.  

https://www.licensingmattersglobal.com/  

Opportunity:  

Maxx Marketing is a global licensing and product solutions agency serving some of the world’s most recognizable brands and managing a growing portfolio of top entertainment licenses. As one of the largest producers of originally-designed products, Maxx helps differentiate brands by creating marketing programs and merchandise solutions tailored to our clients’ business objectives.

We have an immediate requirement for an experienced, highly motivated Sales & Marketing Manager to join our North America team to create, manage, and maintain sustainable merchandising revenue growth at key retail accounts in all distribution channels. The Sales & Marketing Manager will support the Vice President, Sales, working with our retail partners, sales reps, and distributors to implement toy and consumer products retail sales growth initiatives, develop promotions, execute sell-in, and activate key retail strategies that align with our strategic marketing, sales, and brand portfolio initiatives. The Sales & Marketing Manager will act as a brand ambassador, key influencer, and change agent, leveraging retailers, licensors, and promotional clients, and will be responsible for annual sales and growth targets. The incumbent will collaborate with local and remote creative and account management teams, providing guidance and ideas to develop consumer products/retail programs for leading brands, celebrities, media properties, manufacturers, and retailers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Responsible for sales, negotiating, and securing retail sales programs at all channels of distribution.
• Developing and maintaining retail buyer and senior relationships to assist licensees with the buyer and senior merchant-level retail sell-in.
• Collaborate on developing retail initiatives, work closely with retail licensing category development, marketing, and promotional partners to ensure all activity aligns with the brand strategy and guidelines.
• Develop clear and effective written proposals/quotations for current and prospective customers.
• Collaborate with licensors and retailers to implement and drive various financial business models (DTR, Licensed, and Promotional Solutions) to develop and maintain consumer products brand presence, sell-in, and activation at retail.
• Identify and develop new business strategies and categories outside of traditional licensing categories with an entrepreneurial approach to new business growth.
• Conduct and coordinate sales presentations.
• Attend and represent the company at key trade shows, maintaining up-to-date knowledge of industry trends and developments.
• Build annual budgets, retail sales, pricing, and marketing plans.
• Build joint retail sales business plans and reporting.
• Communicate effectively in written, visual, and interactive formats.
• Identify new trends to maintain our position as an industry leader and innovator.
• Expedites the resolution of customer problems and complaints.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Advertising, Marketing, or similar preferred.
• Minimum 5 years experience in retail-related buying, product development, and/or sales at a manufacturer, retailer, rep group, distributor, or licensor.
• Minimum 5 years of sales and marketing experience in the toys, soft lines, hardlines, consumer products, promotions, or e-commerce industries.
• Existing relationships with mass, specialty, e-commerce, senior merchants, buyers, distributors, and marketing teams at all North American retail distribution channels. 
• High-powered sales/marketing orientated individual with highly developed relationship building, presentation, and influencing skills, coupled with excellent leadership and managerial skills.
• Strong knowledge of the retail industry and retail operations, including planogramming.
• Understanding of product development, product ranges, and key categories.
• Proven and effective interpersonal skills and ability to develop relationships with personnel at all levels, both internally and externally.
• Strong knowledge of advertising fundamentals, including brand development, strategy, and management.
• Experience implementing brand and license guidelines
• Hands-on as well as strategic
• Fluent in Microsoft Office Suite - Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Frequent travel may be required in the future.

Application Process:
Please email resume and a cover letter outlining why you are a good fit for this position by responding to this post. No telephone calls, please. We employ a three-step hiring process: 1) Review applications and respond within two weeks 2) Conduct a phone or video screen 3) Hold an in-person interview.  All responses will be kept strictly confidential. Maxx Marketing is an equal opportunity employer that employs individuals based on job-related qualifications regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, age, disabilities, or any basis prohibited by law.

Key Words:
Toy Designer, Product Designer, Designer, #ToyJobs