Photography Expert / Sales Manager

What's the job?

ES Photo is a mostly-online reseller of used camera equipment. From a base in France, we serve customers in every country in Europe. While outwardly similar to other photographic resellers, ES Photo has an unusual focus: we offer exclusively second-hand Canon professional cameras and L-Series lenses. With the rarest of exceptions, we do not offer other brands, new products, or entry-level cameras or lenses.

To match the extremely high quality products we sell, we offer knowledgeable and professional customer service. Necessarily, we hire the very best people! The people we place in front of our customers are experienced photographers and long-term Canon users.

ES Photo has become a meaningful participant in our home market of France, but we believe our activities across the wider European Union could be significantly increased. The job is to do just that. According to the skills of the successful candidate, this could be a pan-European effort, or a focus on a single country or language.

We envisage that a pan-EU role would be based in Lyon, working primarily in English. If a single-country focus is chosen, the position would most likely be situated in that country, although quite a bit of time in Lyon would be required during the first few months.

We propose to begin with a role which is primarily commercial in nature, with most support functions provided by our existing team in Lyon. However, we are quite open to tailoring the role to the skills of an excellent applicant. Pitch us your ideas!

You would be responsible for sales and customer service for customers in the chosen markets, as well as for purchasing decisions in those markets. This would include customer trade-ins, as well as managing relationships with existing suppliers (we have a number across Europe, you would inherit the local ones). We would also expect you to build new relationships for both sales and purchasing. We have a number of ideas to get you started.

To deliver the customer service for which the business is renowned, you will need a comprehensive knowledge of professional Canon cameras and lenses. For financial success, you will need great commercial instincts, negotiation skills, and the passion and hunger of the entrepreneur. For both, you will need a high level of productivity & professionalism.

We expect the role will also entail assessing products purchased and performing quality control functions. Potentially, you might also undertake product photography, and prepare items for sale.

We prefer to get the right person and to tailor the job to fit. Your previous professional experience could be in almost any field, but will demonstrate a high level of ability, motivation, and autonomy. We expect to provide training tailored to address any gaps, and to immerse you in the ES Photo culture. Full-time is expected, but some flexibility is always possible. We will offer the job that you want.

You should speak one or more major European languages (or English) with native proficiency, as appropriate for the markets you propose to target. Internally, you can communicate with the team in French or English.

The mission is nothing less than to duplicate our success in France internationally.

Where?

If the approach is to be pan-EU, the job will be in our existing offices in Lyon. If a specific country is to be targeted, we consider it likely the role will begin in Lyon, and move to that market once you have demonstrated growth in sales, though starting directly in your home market is a possibility. We have some criteria for the choice of city, but there is a good chance we can base the job in the city of your choice.

We are generally open to hybrid working. Some travel is likely to be helpful.

Why work for ES Photo?

We handle only the very best cameras and lenses. These products sell themselves and we do not have to push. Our customers photograph Iberian Lynxes and Snow Leopards, the Olympic Games, heads of state, and their children growing up. Many of our customers are fulfilling a dream when they buy from us, and customer satisfaction is stratospheric.

To work in these conditions is a real pleasure.

There are few better places in Europe to buy, sell, or get advice about used Canon cameras and lenses. And the business is quite successful. By joining ES Photo, you would be helping build a business which is one of the best. We are small and dynamic, with clever things are happening in business development, information technology, and much else.

The opportunity we are proposing is challenging. We have a great platform, products, and reputation, and you will get all the support you need, but success or failure will be in your own hands. An adventure, with great cameras... What could be better?

We will encourage you to play with the latest super-telephotos, tilt-shift lenses, and other marvels. These products are the life-blood of the business. You should know them well.

The business is small. We’ll definitely notice that you’re here.

ES Photo is stable, fast-growing, profitable, has a strong balance sheet, and generates enough cash-flow to fund its expansion and new hires. The company founder has created, bought and sold several successful businesses in the past.

While we do sometimes have to work quite hard, we mostly try to work smart. And while we have real espresso, there’s no table football. If that strikes the right balance for you, and you’ve read this far, then you’ll be pleased to hear that the remuneration will be competitive!