Peak District Based with UK Travelling Required
Cotic is a growing bike company based in the Peak District, specialising in high performance bikes which we design and develop, market, distribute and sell directly ourselves. We now need a new member to join our team to help expand our demo service provision and make best use of the demo fleet and premises.
We have a core team of 7 people, so you have the opportunity to have a big impact on the company and the future direction we will take.
Our current demo service has our demo rep out on the road 3 weekends in 4, and this is supported by a demo administrator and our workshop to keep the fleet running. However, our fleet is now of a size that we can't get it all on the van every weekend, and demand for the demo service is incredibly high. With the 'off' weekends and annual leave the van and fleet are under-used for around 17 weekends per year, and with being increasing busy in production the workshop capacity to maintain the fleet is getting limited.
The role on offer is aiming to solve all of these capacity problems. It is 3 days per week, working 3 weekends in 4. For 2 of the 3 weekends per month you work you will be based at our premises at Calver in the Peak District, running local demos around our mapped demo loops, letting people Factory Collect their bikes, allow potential customers to come and have a look at the bikes and a chat about them, helping customers choose and specify their new Cotic. It's very much a sales role.
For the one weekend each month you will be out on the road in our demo van delivering demos on our demo reps' weekend off. You will liaise with our other demo rep and our demo administrator regarding the organisation of these trips, and you will be expected to accompany demo rides, set up customers with bikes, and run formal and informal demos in locations around the UK.
On your 'off' week you will work your three days on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at our base in the Peak District. There is some flexibility in these days with prior agreement from a Director and the Demo Team.
The weekends you will be on the road or at Calver will vary, and will be based around the demands of the main demo tour, and other annual leave and company requirements. A level of flexibility on hours, days worked and which weekends you are on the road will be required. We will strive to keep things planned out in good time and to keep to some level of 'beat rate', but it's simply not always possible so this needs to be considered when applying.
On the Friday before each weekend at the premises, and during your weekdays working during your 'off weekend' week, you will be expected to prepare and maintain the demo fleet in top condition, catalogue and order replacement parts, clean the bikes and generally keep everything in great condition.
For the sales and the on-the-road demo service you will be confident and easily approachable, happy to talk to groups or one-to-one, technically adept, with a good knowledge of cycling and mountain biking in particular. You will be on the road our your own, or at our premises on your own, so you will be self-starting, calm, enthusiastic, flexible and highly committed. You will be able to work with little direction, and be confident and creative enough to make decisions in the field.
These two elements of the role require you to be able to setup demo riders and customers on their bikes, as well as keeping the fleet running. Although brand specific training will be provided, a high level of mountain bike mechanic skills is essential.
No bike industry experience is required, but mechanical aptitude definitely is. Given this is broadly a traditional bike shop sales/mechanic type role, industry experience will be an advantage. A First Aid certificate would be useful, but training will be provided in its absence. The successful applicant will be first and foremost organised, happy to work alone, a fast learner, and a problem solver. You will be good with people, and happy to talk to customers. Be patient, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. You will be computer literate – competent with email, spreadsheets, data entry, social media, e-commerce systems. Some basic HTML would be useful but not essential as we will train you. You need a clean UK driving licence in order to get insurance our on demo van.
This position is 75% office/warehouse based, 22.5 hours per week, working mostly weekends with one weekend in four on the road as explained above. It is a permanent, salaried position. Salary offered is £12,500 per year, and includes a bonus scheme connected with overall company performance. Benefits include a Workplace Pension, a company bike, branded riding clothing for demo duties, access to all Cotic's trade accounts for bike parts at cost, and 15 days per year annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays. There will be an initial 6 month trial period with an option to finish at that point from both sides.
Please submit a CV and covering letter via email to cy@cotic.co.uk or post it to us at:
Cotic Bikes
Unit 6 Calver Works
Calver
Hope Valley
S32 3XH
UK
Closing date for applications is midnight on Friday 5th April.