In the latest instalment of our Meet the Team series, we're stepping out with the sales team. Rupert Sellers is our always-prepared Business Development Manager and has been with us for two years. Rupert is our man behind the London market, which means a lot of variety. From five-star spas tucked behind discreet entrances to soaring towers with panoramic views, Rupert’s job is to ensure their robes, towels and slippers are just as five-star as their penthouse suites.

“As there is such as wide range of hotels, spas, health clubs and beauty clinics in London, every day is different for me,” says Rupert. “Many of our luxury hotel clients are looking for a differentiator. They don’t want the same bathrobe as their nearby competitor hotels; they want something different. When guests are paying in excess of £1,000 per night, they expect a little something extra in every corner of the room, bathroom included! It’s always exiting to come up with new styles of robe or unique towel designs to help elevate the guest experience.”

A day in London with Rupert

“Most weeks I spend two to three days out meeting customers in London,” says Rupert.

“It’s busy, I plan back-to-back meetings where possible, allowing up to an hour with each customer. Pre-meeting, I make sure I am fully versed on that hotel or spa, so I know how many guest rooms they have, how big the spa is and how many treatment beds there are. I try to find out in advance what their current pain points are when it comes to towels, robes and slippers, so I can have the right samples to hand and examples to recommend to them.

“When I am not out on sales calls, I am in the office preparing quotations, qualifying new leads and scheduling future meetings.”

What do you enjoy about working for BC SoftWear?

“Although the company is growing, it’s still a ‘family’ business,” says Rupert. “Lines of communication are alays open and everyone can feel valued. Nobody is just a number, as can be the case in larger organisations, and there is no internal politics. There’s even fresh fruit in the office every day, which is a nice touch.”

One of Ruper’s most memorable moments is winning a 200,000-slipper deal for a hotel company! “That was quite the milestone,” he says. “Sales people are often considered to be single-minded with laser focus on the sale. While I love sales and closing a deal, I believe in that old acronym: ‘Together Everyone Achieves More’. I’m a real TEAM player and believe everyone plays a part in making the business successful.”

A Few Fun Facts

Favourite thing to do as a child: “Ride my bike and explore.”

Something most people don’t know: “I have a twin brother who doesn’t even look related to me. We are very different in many ways, but we’ve always been very close.”

Go‑to comfort food: “Mixed nuts. With a glass of wine of course.”

What should BC SoftWear’s mascot be: “A rubber duck. We have over 10 of them gracing the desks of our customer service team!”

Karaoke favourite: “Frank Sinatra’s My Way… which I’ve actually performed, off‑key, on stage in Tokyo, in front of 150 very serious Japanese businessmen. I got a big round of applause; it was a defining moment.”

Weirdest thing on his desk: “A disposable kimono sample. Don’t ask!”