The Wheel Group is seeking a hands-on Business Development Manager for the automotive aftermarket, focusing on wheels, tires, and related accessories within an assigned territory centered on Columbus, OH. This is a true outside sales role that emphasizes field prospecting, customer visits, and CRM-driven pipeline management to drive new business growth.
Responsibilities
- Spend the majority of time in the field prospecting, cold calling, and visiting prospective customers to generate new business opportunities.
- Conduct back-to-back sales calls and customer visits across the territory to maintain a consistent pipeline.
- Identify, qualify, and pursue new customer opportunities through networking, referrals, cold calling, and in-person prospecting.
- Own the full sales cycle from prospecting and qualifying to presenting, negotiating, and closing new business.
- Meet or exceed daily, weekly, and monthly activity goals, including customer visits, prospecting, and new account acquisition.
- Develop strategic territory plans to maximize market penetration and revenue growth.
- Build strong relationships with new customers while coordinating with internal account teams for long-term growth.
- Maintain accurate CRM records, pipeline activity, customer visits, and sales forecasts.
- Research market trends, competitors, and growth opportunities within the territory.
- Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, and Operations to ensure a seamless customer experience.
Requirements
- Automotive aftermarket sales experience is required.
- 3+ years of outside B2B sales or business development with a proven track record of opening new accounts.
- Demonstrated success generating new business through face-to-face prospecting, cold calling, and territory development.
- Comfortable spending the majority of the workweek in the field making back-to-back customer visits and prospecting for new business.
- Strong communication, presentation, negotiation, and closing skills.
- Ability to work independently while managing an assigned territory, sales pipeline, and daily activity.
- Experience using CRM software to manage customer relationships, pipeline, and sales activity.
- Ability to travel throughout the assigned territory, including overnight travel (up to 50%).
- Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or a related field preferred (or equivalent sales experience).
Technologies
About The Wheel Group
Founded in 1997, The Wheel Group is a leading designer, developer, and owner of aftermarket automotive wheel, tire, and accessory brands, with a focus on quality, innovation, and performance.
Headquartered in Ontario, California, the company operates 15 distribution centers across the U.S. and Canada and maintains a QC, engineering, and support services office in Shanghai, China, serving customers across North America and globally.
About the Role
The Business Development Manager drives new business by identifying, prospecting, and acquiring customers within an assigned territory. This outside sales role suits a proactive hunter who excels at in-person selling, cold outreach, and opening new accounts. You will work closely with internal teams to expand TWG's market presence and deliver wheel, tire, and accessory solutions to customers.
Compensation
Base salary: $55,000 with uncapped performance-based commissions. Typical annual earnings range from $20,000 to $40,000 in addition to base pay.
Education and Experience
- Automotive aftermarket industry experience: 5 years (Preferred)
- Outside B2B sales or business development: 5 years (Preferred)
- Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or a related field preferred, or equivalent sales experience
Application Questions
- Do you have sales experience in the automotive aftermarket industry?
- Are you comfortable spending the majority of your workweek in the field prospecting, cold calling, and meeting with prospective customers?
- What automotive aftermarket products have you sold?
- Which CRM systems have you used?
- What geographic territory have you managed?
- This role is a true outside sales position requiring field-based activity. Are you comfortable with this environment?
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience selling wheels, tires, accessories, or other automotive aftermarket product lines.
- Experience calling on automotive retailers, distributors, dealers, warehouse distributors, or wholesale customers.
- Proven ability to develop new business while building long-term customer relationships.
- Strong business acumen with the ability to identify market opportunities and grow market share.
