Sales & Marketing - Didsbury

Sales & Marketing - Didsbury

• Up to 32 hours per week 
•  £basic plus bonus

Founded in 1881, The Northern is the longest established racquets and fitness club in the North West. Located in Didsbury, South Manchester, we boast 23 tennis courts, six squash courts, a well-equipped gym, spacious fitness studio and a comfortable lounge bar and eatery.

 We are a private members' club and, despite a short period of enforced closure due to COVID-19, have succeeded in retaining a large proportion of our membership and even gained some new ones.

 We are now looking for a sales and marketing professional to build our brand and drive real membership growth as the sector returns to normal.

 The person we are looking for will be energetic and enthusiastic with good interpersonal skills, a whizz at social media and with an understanding of sport - able to work with our tennis, squash and gym professionals as well as with our close-knit management/ reception team.

The Role

You will be responsible for leading the increase in sales of the following core business areas:

1. New Memberships (all categories)
2. Tennis, squash and fitness programme 
3. Facility bookings (tennis, squash, bar/room hire for functions/events)
4. Corporate events and sponsorship

This will involve working closely with the Finance & Member Services Manager and the front of house team to secure (and retain) new business in the areas noted above.

You will be responsible for all marketing and communication for The Northern and have the ability to deliver online marketing and social campaigns to raise awareness of The Northern attracting new members and users.  You will support the executive committee and management team to achieve The Club’s objectives, as well as our departments Tennis, Squash, F&B, and Gym. In addition, you will be expected to sit on the steering committee of The Manchester Trophy, to help organise and support the LTA and The Northern’s biggest yearly event.

The role will also need you to work closely with our brand partners and corporate sponsors to help achieve their marketing objectives and ensure they meet their objectives and The Club retains their sponsorship.

You will act as a brand champion and lead all day to day marketing initiatives, with a hands on, experienced approach to drive sales in all areas.

Specific Responsibilities of The Role:

Sales

Increase sales in the following areas:

1. New Memberships (all categories)
2. Tennis, squash and fitness programme 
3. Facility bookings (tennis, squash, bar/room hire for functions/events)
4. Corporate events and sponsorship

Potential Customer Engagement

• Implement a clear customer engagement plan for all potential membership enquiry types to enable sales to be secured
• Review and amend a show round protocol for all potential customer
• Manage all enquiries through the Mind/Body database including prospect lists
• Input into the new member journey

Digital & Social

• Ensure The Northern is at the forefront of digital tactics and are executing them where necessary
• Creating engaging social media advertising campaigns to ensure The Northern is seen online and being considered by the targeted audience as a potential fitness/tennis/ squash club
• Create and post engaging content to ensure our membership and non-members are engaged and informed
• Respond to enquiries via our social channels and interact with potential customers
• Create online job advertisements across social channels to help aid recruitment for The Club
• Have an understanding of Google Ads, and SEO to ensure we are discovered online

Website 

• Be the central point of all communication across The Club
• Maintain and update the website when relevant
• Write news posts with key words to attract search volume to aid our SEO
• Write and distribute club updates via email to our database

Local Marketing 

• Build stronger relationships with key businesses in the local area 
• Participate in local events where possible such as The Christie open day and The Didsbury Festival to raise awareness and attract new members

Customer Service, Onboarding Process and Member Retention

• Work closely with the Member Services Manager to support the new member journey to enable increased member retention. 
• Write and brief in to staff the process of welcoming new members 
• Show new members around and introduce them to key personnel when possible

Marketing Offers

• Devise Marketing offers and incentive with the approval of the executive committee to attract and retain new members into The Club

Corporate Sponsors

• Keep in contact with our key sponsors and build on the relationship to ensure they are hitting their marketing objectives and The Northern retains their sponsorship
• Identify and approach new potential sponsors

Reciprocal Links

• Identify potential reciprocal links and develop 

The Manchester Trophy

• Work alongside the LTA to help make the Manchester Trophy a successful event
• Co-ordinate mailer to 10,000+ corporate businesses
• Execute a specific online marketing campaign to drive people to the ticket site
• Encourage local businesses to support the event
• Approach business for advertising in the programme
• Post on social channels in co-ordination with Metrolink, LTA and Manchester City Council
• Manage the guest list, throughout the tournament week
• Upsell corporate tables in conjunction with F&B