SALES COACHING AND HEADHUNTING FOR LUXURY TEAMS
EXCLUSIVE SEARCH AND HEADHUNTING
We don't just find
your next hire.
We prepare them
to perform.
Retained executive search for senior managers, directors and C-suite leaders in luxury product businesses - with one difference no other recruitment firm offers. Every placed candidate receives a bespoke coaching and strategy session before they start.
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT TO THE REST
Executive search built
for the luxury world.
Most recruitment firms find candidates. We find the right candidates - and then we make sure they're ready to perform from the moment they arrive.
LUXURY SPECIALISTS
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We work exclusively with luxury and high-value product businesses. We understand the culture, the clients, and the specific qualities that make a senior hire succeed in your world - not just on paper.
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RETAINED - NOT CONTINGENT
We work on a retained basis only. That means we're fully committed to your search from day one - not racing to place whoever is available fastest. Retained search produces better candidates, faster shortlists, and longer-lasting hires.
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THE PRE START COACHING AND STRATEGY SESSION
Every candidate we place receives a private coaching and commercial strategy session with Tom Luke before their start date - aligned to your business, your sales approach, and the specific challenges of the role. They arrive ready. Not just available.
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Unique to Closers Ace.
TOP LEVEL ONLY
We focus exclusively on senior manager, director and C-suite placements. The commercial stakes are higher, the search is more complex, and the impact of getting it right - or wrong - is significant. This level deserves specialist attention.
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OUR FEE
Transparent fees.
Retained search.
We charge 20% of the placed candidate's base salary only, structured across three payments that align with the natural stages of the search process. This ensures our incentives are fully aligned with yours - we succeed when, collaboratively, we make the right hire.
The retained model means you get our full attention and commitment from the first brief. No hedging, no racing to fill a role with whoever is available. A thorough, dedicated search that finds the right person - not just an available one.
FEE STRUCTURE - 20% OF BASE SALARY ONLY
STAGE ONE - ON BRIEF ACCEPTANCE
Paid when we agree the search brief and formally begin the process. Confirms mutual commitment and activates the search.
STAGE TWO - ON SHORTLIST
Paid when we present your shortlist of qualified candidates. Typically three to five candidates, all briefed and prepared.
STAGE THREE - START DATE
Final payment on the candidate's confirmed start date - including their pre-start coaching session with Tom Luke.
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE- DIRECTOR LEVEL HIRE
EXAMPLE BASE SALARY OF £120,000
TOTAL FEE: £24,000
STAGE ONE: £8,000 ON BRIEF
STAGE TWO: £8,000 ON SHORTLIST
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STAGE THREE: £8,00 ON START DATE
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Includes pre-start coaching & strategy session
THE PRE START COACHING AND STRATEGY SESSION
Your new hire.
Already performing before day one.
Every candidate placed through Closers Ace receives a private 90-minute coaching and commercial strategy session with Tom Luke before their start date.
This is included in every placement - at no additional cost.It's not onboarding. It's not generic career advice. It's a focused session built entirely around your business, your sales environment, and the specific role they're stepping into - so they arrive with context, confidence and a clear commercial plan from the moment they start.
BUSINESS, CULTURE
AND ROLE BRIEFING
Deep dive into your business, your clients, your sales culture and the specific expectations of the role - so nothing is a surprise on day one.
COMMERCIAL STRATEGY SESSION
Working through the commercial priorities for their first 90 days - what to focus on, how to approach key clients, and how to make an immediate impact.
MINDSET AND STANDARDS AND GOALS
Aligning their approach to the expectations of your business - your standards, your clients, and your culture before they step through the door.
WHY WE DO THIS
A hire who hits the ground running.
Upgrade to the 3-day programme within 3 months and your 1-day investment is fully credited.
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A clear 90-day commercial plan agreed before they start.
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Confidence that your investment is protected from the outset.
VI
Included in every placement at no additional cost.
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Shorter time-to-performance - no slow start, no settling-in period.
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A hire aligned to your commercial culture before day one.
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Reduced early attrition - preparation creates commitment.
THE PROCESS
From brief to placed.
How it works.
DISCOVERY CALL AND BRIEF FORMATION
01
A detailed briefing conversation - understanding the role, the team, the business culture, the commercial expectations, and what the right candidate actually looks like beyond their CV. This brief becomes the foundation of everything.
RETAINED AGREEMENT AND SEARCH BEGINS
02
On receipt of the first third of the fee, we formally launch the search. This activates our network, our direct approach strategy, and our candidate research - focused entirely on your brief.
INTRODUCTIONS, REVIEW AND LONG LIST
03
Active headhunting, network referrals and direct outreach to identify the strongest candidates in the market - including those not actively looking. Every candidate is assessed against your brief before being considered for shortlist.
SHORTLIST PRESENTATION
04
We present 3–5 fully briefed, qualified candidates - with detailed profiles, our assessment notes, and a recommendation. Second third of the fee is due at this stage.
INTERVIEWS AND OFFER MANAGEMENT
05
We support the interview process, provide feedback to both sides, and manage the offer stage - ensuring the process moves smoothly and no candidate is lost to a slow or poorly handled offer.
PLACEMENT AND PRE START SESSION
06
On confirmation of start date, the final third of the fee is due. The placed candidate receives their private pre-start coaching and commercial strategy session with Tom Luke - and arrives on day one ready to perform.
WHO WE WORK WITH
The businesses that need the right person,
not just an available one.
We work exclusively with luxury and high-value product businesses - where the quality of a senior hire has a direct and significant commercial impact.
LUXURY PRODUCT BUSINESSES
Stone, bespoke furniture, architectural hardware, premium interiors - businesses where the right sales director or commercial leader transforms what's possible
NEW MARKET ENTRY
International luxury businesses entering the UK market who need a senior commercial hire that understands both the brand and the local landscape.​
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REPLACING UNDERPERFORMANCE
Businesses who've made a bad hire and need to do it properly this time - with the right brief, the right search, and the right preparation for whoever comes in.
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PRE INVESTMENT GROWTH
Businesses preparing for a funding round or acquisition who need to build out the commercial team with the right senior talent before they scale.
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GROWING LUXURY SME'S
Businesses scaling their commercial function and making their first or second senior sales hire - where getting it right first time matters enormously.
SUCCESSION PLANNING
Founders and owners planning to step back from sales - needing a replacement who can maintain relationships, protect margin, and lead the commercial function independently.
ROLES WE PLACE
Senior, director and
C-suite level only.
We focus exclusively on senior commercial roles in luxury and high-value product businesses - where the search demands specialist knowledge, not generalist recruitment.
DIRECTOR LEVEL
Sales Director
£70,000 - £120,000
C-SUITE
Chief Commercial Officer
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£100,000 - £180,000
DIRECTOR LEVEL
Commercial Director
£80,000 - £140,000​
SENIOR MANAGER
Head of Sales
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£55,000 - £85,000
DIRECTOR LEVEL
Sales and Marketing Director
£75,000 - £130,000
SENIOR MANAGER
National Sales Manager
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£55,000 - £90,000
COMMON QUESTIONS
Everything you need to know.
WHY RETAINED OVER CONTINGENCY?
Contingency recruiters are incentivised to place quickly - not carefully. Retained search means we're fully committed to your brief from day one, with no pressure to rush. The result is a better calibre of candidate and a longer-lasting hire.
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IS THERE A REBATE IF THE HIRER DOESN'T WORK OUT?
Yes - we offer a rebate period on all placements. If the placed candidate leaves or is released within the rebate window, we will re-run the search at a significantly reduced fee. Full terms discussed at briefing stage.
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WHAT DOES THE PRE COACHING SESSION INVOLVE?
A private 2-3 hour session between Tom Luke and your placed candidate - covering your business context, their 90-day commercial plan, your sales culture and standards, and any specific challenges of the role.
Delivered before their start date.
DO YOU WORK WITH BUSINESSES OUTSIDE OF LONDON?
Yes - we work with luxury product businesses across the UK and internationally. The search process is largely remote, with in-person briefing meetings available for UK-based clients on request.
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HOW LONG DOES A SEARCH TYPICALLY TAKE?
Most searches reach shortlist within 4-6 weeks and placement within 8-12 weeks of the brief. Senior searches occasionally take longer depending on the talent pool and notice periods - we'll give you a realistic timeline upfront.
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CAN YOU HANDLE CONFIDENTIAL SEARCHES?
Yes - where a search needs to be handled discreetly (replacing an existing hire, for example), we are experienced in running confidential processes with full discretion from brief to placement.
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