Sales

Richard Heath

Job title: Sales Manager

Time with company: 12 years

Location: Manchester

When I was asked to take part in the Our People page of Why Office Depot, my immediate reaction was, ‘great’. Then reality sets in when you realise you have to talk about yourself. It’s so much easier when somebody else talks about you, providing it is all complimentary. But anyway, here goes…

Well, believe it or not, I have been selling stationery and office equipment for the past, wait for it, 32 years! I started off in a small stationery warehouse in a little village outside Manchester called Leeds (we had a great football team in those days!) How things change.

On my road to Office Depot I have worked for Universal Office Supplies and also had my own stationery business for about three years.

Nowadays I can be found somewhere between Manchester and Leicester managing the Midlands Key Account Team under the watchful eye of Paul Turton!

I started work for the organisation over 12 years ago under the Ofrex side of the business, covering parts of Lancashire as a Major Account Manager. Major accounts in those days weren’t quite as big as they are today, but the title looked good on my business card. They obviously felt sorry for this lonely Yorkshire man in Lancashire because I had a fantastic first year that resulted in promotion to Sales Manager of the Northern Supplies Team. This team included two well know sales professionals still operating in the North today, Jason Llewellyn from the Public Sector and Ian Wilkins who works with me in the Midlands team today.

One question you always get asked: ‘ What do you do in your job?!’

The answer is easy. I see my role as leader, coach, motivator and supporter (and sometimes agony aunt). I wouldn’t expect my team to do anything I hadn’t already done or wasn’t prepared to do myself. 

I have been very fortunate to manage some great teams and work with some fantastic account managers in my 12 years with the company. The highlights of which have resulted in winning the Champion’s circle or equivalent three times in the last five years. The biggest achievement has to have been representing Office Depot in the National Sales Awards in direct competition with the old enemy ‘Lyreco’. How did I win it? Simple, I had a great team with me all the way, which reminds me of what I like most about working for office depot.

The people!