Elizabeth O'Brien

I am a confident, people‑focused professional with strong skills in customer development, relationship management, and clear, supportive communication. I excel at understanding customer needs, building trust quickly, and guiding individuals toward the right solutions. My organised approach and natural ability to connect with people make me highly effective in sales environments where rapport, clarity, and reliability drive results.
 

I have built a long and successful career in sales, customer development, and procurement, working across major organisations including Jewson, Ferns Group, and Kent County Supplies. I’m confident building strong relationships with customers, suppliers, and internal teams, and I’m experienced in managing accounts, driving sales growth, and delivering excellent customer experiences.
In my most recent role as a Buyer at Ferns Group, I supported the purchasing department with order processing, supplier communication, and cost‑saving initiatives. I built relationships with key suppliers, negotiated best value, coordinated deliveries, and ensured smooth procurement processes from start to finish.
Before this, I spent several years at Jewson in customer‑focused sales roles. As a Customer Development Manager, I onboarded and developed new accounts, supported external sales teams, and managed key accounts across 13 branches. I worked closely with multiple functions to maximise performance and convert live quotes into sales. Prior to that, as an Internal Business Developer, I handled customer enquiries, promoted products, generated leads, and expanded the account base through proactive outreach and strong relationship management.
Earlier in my career, I gained extensive experience at Kent County Supplies, progressing from Product Assistant to Assistant Product Specialist, then to Consumables Buyer, and later taking on a secondment as Internal Sales Supervisor. Across these roles, I managed product ranges, built supplier relationships, negotiated contracts, led sales teams, handled escalated customer issues, and supported marketing campaigns aimed at growing and retaining business. I consistently met or exceeded targets and was recognised for my performance through annual bonuses.

Across all roles, I’ve developed strong commercial awareness, excellent communication skills, and a natural ability to understand customer needs and guide them toward the right solutions. I’m organised, proactive, and confident working in fast‑paced, target‑driven environments. My background in both sales and procurement gives me a well‑rounded understanding of customer value, product knowledge, and business performance — all of which support my success in customer‑focused sales roles.

I have a strong educational foundation that supports my commercial, customer‑focused career. My qualifications include GCSEs in core subjects, giving me solid communication, numeracy, and organisational skills that I’ve applied throughout my roles in sales, buying, and customer development. Alongside this, I’ve completed extensive on‑the‑job training in areas such as account management, procurement processes, customer service, and product knowledge, all of which have strengthened my ability to build relationships, understand customer needs, and deliver value in fast‑paced business environments.