Trade Marketing Manager

Trade Marketing Manager. Hybrid Remote. London (West End). Competitive

AKT (pronounced "act") is The Personal Performance Company with multi award-winning body care that may change your life. Founded by West End stars Ed Currie and Andy Coxon, AKT is by and for those who are "Born to Perform" - on the stage, at work, or in life.

In 2020, The Deodorant Balm made its stunning debut to rave reviews and awards from Vogue, GQ, Esquire, and Harper's BAZAAR. Plastic-free, aluminium-free, and gender-free, The Deodorant Balm instantly resonated with those looking for a natural deodorant that genuinely worked. Five fragrances and over 700,000 happy armpits later, The Deodorant Balm is already becoming a household name.

To this day, every new AKT product is put through its paces by London's hard-working theatre community to ensure it lives up to the high standards of its founders. As a rule, AKT's products don't break character - ever. It's this effectiveness that has propelled AKT from the backstage to bathroom cabinets, bedside tables, duffel bags, and carry-on luggage worldwide. And the good news is - the performance is just getting started.

Here's the script for the part you'll play: the key lines you'll deliver, the ensemble members you'll collaborate with, and the backstage perks that come with it.

The Part:

As Trade Marketing Manager, you'll set the stage for AKT's growth across global retail and wholesale channels. Reporting into the Head of Brand Marketing, you'll develop and deliver show-stopping trade marketing strategies and promotional campaigns - from in-store activations and merchandising to digital trade partnerships - ensuring our products always perform in the spotlight. You'll build strong retailer relationships, collaborate with sales and brand teams to keep the storyline aligned, and use data-driven insights to fine-tune every scene for maximum impact. With a flair for strategy, creativity, and commercial results, you'll make sure AKT's presence steals the show wherever it appears.

The Role You'll Play:

Strategy Development: Develop and implement effective trade marketing strategies and promotional plans aligned with brand objectives and sales targets.

Campaign Execution: Deliver impactful in-store and online campaigns, including point-of-sale materials, merchandising, and digital trade activations.

Retailer Relationships: Foster strong partnerships with key retailers and distributors, collaborating on joint business plans and promotional calendars.

Performance Monitoring: Analyse trade marketing effectiveness, sales data, and market trends to optimise future campaigns and maximise ROI.

Budget Management: Oversee the trade marketing budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and adherence to financial guidelines.

Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with Sales, Brand Marketing, and Product Development teams to ensure integrated campaign execution.

Market Intelligence: Monitor competitor activities and market trends to identify new opportunities and adapt strategies accordingly.

Category Management Support: Provide insights and support for category management initiatives, contributing to assortment optimisation and shelf presence.

Spotlight on You:

• A solid background in trade marketing, ideally within beauty, skincare, or personal care, with experience across both online and offline retail.
• A strategic thinker with a proven ability to develop and deliver trade marketing plans that drive commercial results.
• A confident communicator and negotiator, skilled at building strong relationships with retailers, sales teams, and internal stakeholders.
• Data-driven with an analytical mindset, comfortable tracking campaign performance, spotting market trends, and making optimisation decisions.
• Highly organised with strong project management skills, able to deliver multiple campaigns on time and within budget.
• Creative and innovative, bringing fresh ideas for promotions, activations, and merchandising that capture attention in a competitive market.
• Deep knowledge of the UK retail landscape, including key retailers, consumer behaviour, and promotional tactics.
• A brand guardian at heart, ensuring every trade activation is aligned with AKT's identity and high standards.
• Experience in digital trade marketing, e-commerce platforms, and retailer media (desirable).
• Exposure to international markets and an understanding of diverse consumer preferences (desirable).

Backstage Perks:

• Make a real impact on our next act by joining AKT at an exciting stage of growth, following our recent USA, Australia and New Zealand launches.
• Flexible working: work from home, at our Oxford Circus office, or in co-working spaces across the UK. We'll reimburse you if you prefer a co-working space over working from home.
• Monthly team days in London to connect with the AKT ensemble.
• Be part of a collective of creatives where the arts underpin everything we do.
• A funny, kind, and inclusive work environment - we are banter, but we get sh t done.
• Discounts on our products for ensemble members to give you the confidence to step onto the stage and perform.
• Intervals encouraged: 36 days holiday, including bank holidays (Pro-rata for part-time roles)
• Pension contribution matching via salary sacrifice up to 5% of your salary.

Doors Open to All

AKT London is for everyone. We believe that an inclusive work environment and a diverse, empowered team are key to achieving our mission. Our products are gender free and built for every BODY to help give them the confidence to step onto their stage - whatever that may be - and PERFORM. Our work environment is no different.

AKT London is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, colour, ancestry, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital or family status, disability, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other legally protected status. We commit to a focused and sustained action to dismantle racist systems, policies, practices, and ideologies within ourselves and our networks. We have zero tolerance for intolerance. With our Founders belonging to a minority community, we commit to difference and diversity from the beginning, and we know what a rich and creative work environment can cultivate.