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The furniture industry in Vancouver is small, to say the least. So when luxury furniture retailer, designer and manufacturer, Avenue Road, needed to bring in a Director of Sales and Business Development to lead their expansion into the western Canadian market, finding the right candidate was a challenge. They enlisted the help of recruiter Alessia who looked outside the box to find them the talent they needed.
Selling luxury goods is a relatively niche market that requires a specific skill set and a particular sales approach. Although a candidate with furniture industry experience would have been ideal, it wasn’t a necessity as they knew it would be hard to find. Having experience in the world of luxury mattered more. In addition, it was equally crucial to have a candidate capable of stepping in and leading a pre-existing team. Possessing the interpersonal skills to build relationships with team members was non-negotiable.
By being open to candidates of non-furniture backgrounds, Alessia was able fill the role with an individual who had the exact skills and strengths the client was looking for. The successful candidate came from the world of selling luxury cars. Focusing on the skills and experience of candidates rather than the industry often leads to finding exactly what you are looking for.
