Sales Manager - Custom Apparel

Sales Manager – Custom Apparel

Lead the growth of our custom apparel business while coaching and developing a high-performing sales team.

Pay: Base Pay Uncapped Commission Bonuses

At Phelps, we believe the best sales leaders stay connected to customers, markets, and the realities of the sales process. We're looking for someone who enjoys building relationships, growing business, and helping others succeed.

As our Sales Manager, Custom Apparel, you'll lead the growth of our custom apparel business throughout the Midwest. You'll work alongside sales representatives in the field, help develop winning sales strategies, coach others on what works, and build strong customer relationships of your own.  This is a hands-on role for someone who likes being out with customers, not sitting behind a desk. You'll spend time supporting and developing the sales team while maintaining responsibility for key customer relationships and business development opportunities.

Travel throughout the Midwest is expected, approximately 40-60% of the time.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the growth of Phelps' Custom Apparel business
• Coach, mentor, and develop sales representatives through ride-alongs, joint customer visits, field coaching, and hands-on support closing business.
• Partner with sales representatives to identify opportunities, overcome obstacles, and help close business.
• Build and manage a personal portfolio of strategic custom apparel accounts.
• Own the sales process from prospecting through close.
• Identify market opportunities, customer needs, and new ways to grow the custom apparel business
• Develop and document sales best practices, messaging, and tools that can be used across the sales team.
• Serve as the go-to resource for custom apparel sales strategies and customer solutions.
• Provide feedback on products, pricing, and market trends based on customer and field insights.
• Track sales activity and customer opportunities within our CRM.

What We’re Looking For

• You're a strong salesperson who knows how to build relationships and win business.
• You enjoy coaching others and helping people improve.
• You're comfortable leading through influence and credibility.
• You like building something from the ground up and figuring out what works.
• You can balance big-picture thinking with day-to-day execution.
• You're organized, self-motivated, and able to manage multiple priorities.
• When something isn't working, you're willing to adjust and try a different approach.

What You Must Have:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, sales, or a related field preferred
• 7–10 years of B2B sales experience, ideally in custom apparel, promo products, uniforms, or branded merch
• Proven success building and growing a book of business
• Experience creating sales scripts, playbooks, or training materials preferred
• CRM experience required (Salesforce preferred)
• Willingness to travel for customer meetings, training sessions, and industry events

What Success Looks Like (6–12 Month View)

• A growing custom apparel business driven by both personal sales efforts and team development
• Clear, documented sales scripts and positioning that other reps can successfully use
• Sales representatives who are more confident and effective selling custom apparel
• Increased pipeline quality and revenue tied to custom apparel opportunities
• A repeatable, scalable approach to selling custom apparel that can be expanded across markets

Reality of the Role:

This isn't a desk-based management position. You'll spend much of your time in the field with customers and sales representatives, helping grow business, coaching through opportunities, and building relationships. If you enjoy developing people, creating practical sales processes, and rolling up your sleeves to help close business, you'll fit right in.

This role involves frequent travel throughout the Midwest, regular driving, and being on the move throughout the day.

Why Join Phelps?

We’re a family-owned company, and we work hard without taking ourselves too seriously.  We take pride in providing solutions that the customers can count on and treating our employees as valued members of our team. 

Your effort drives your income. You’ll have base pay, commission, and bonus opportunities—and there’s no cap on commission.

Real Independence – No micromanaging.  You’ll spend your day building business, not sitting behind a desk or having someone constantly checking over your shoulder. We trust our team to manage their time, own their results, and get the job done.

Supportive Team Environment – You’ll work with people who care about your success. We’re competitive, but collaborative. We want everyone to win.

You’re More Than a Number – we’re big on relationships, whether that’s with customers or employees.

Benefits 

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance 
• 401(k) with Company Match 
• Paid Vacation 
• Paid Holidays 

• Company-Paid Life Insurance 

• Flexible Work Schedule

• Employee Assistance Program 
• Phelps Apparel & Swag
• Community Involvement & Fundraising Opportunities

If you enjoy building business, helping others succeed, and spending time where the action is, we'd love to talk.

Come build something with us.