PEOPLE Brief encounter Paul Bolton, Director of Sales at Helen of Troy EMEA
What is your current role and how long have you been doing it? I’m currently the Sales Director for EMEA at a leading global business Helen of Troy, responsible for the Housewares Channel with our OXO and Hydro Flask brands. I’ve been in this role for nearly three years, overseeing regional sales strategy and execution across both retail and e-commerce channels.
What does your role entail? I’m responsible for driving revenue growth, building strategic partnerships with key retailers, and aligning our go-to-market strategy across diverse markets in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. With the support of a high-performing team we work closely with product, marketing, and supply chain to ensure alignment and delivery.
How did you get started in the industry? I started in the housewares industry almost 6 years ago as the UK Sales Manager for OXO. I was drawn to the tangible nature of the products— we all use them daily—and I saw a real opportunity to explode the brand within the region.
What roles were you doing before and how did they prepare you for this one? Before this role, I held a series of progressively senior positions—from Retail management, National Account Manager to Sales Director all adaptability and resilience. I’ve got a real passion for all things retail and the value of building retail partnerships.
What would you like to achieve in this role? My key goals are to expand our footprint in underpenetrated markets, build a more agile sales team and drive double-digit growth through innovation and strategic retail partnerships. Longer term, I want to mentor the next generation of commercial leaders in our space.
What has been the highlight of your career so far? from and where we are today.
What do you see as the main issues for retailers and the industry at the moment? consumer habits, and the challenge of balancing physical and digital retail. For our industry, quality, sustainability and product differentiation are top of mind—its great that in my business we are innovating in ways needs to be easy to shop, inviting and inspiring to capture the impulse purchase.
What one piece of advice would you give yourself at the start of your career? Your network and your reputation will ultimately shape your trajectory, adopt a mentor at every stage of your career.
April/May 2025
housewareslive.net
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What keeps you busy at the weekends? I’m heavily involved in a junior football club as a Coach and Chairman therefore weekends are generally spent outdoors on a football pitch or walking and gardening. I also enjoy cooking and experimenting with new kitchen tools—part of the perks of working in housewares!
h t k b t th k d ?
If you’re at the bar, what are you drinking? A nice wine, red or white depending on my mood!
My bookcase is based around sport – Legacy by James Kerr is fantastic, a book based on leadership and sustained success. TV is very selective at the moment, but Slow Horses has been the last series that gripped my wife and I!
and why?
It would be Sir David Attenborough. His leadership, patience and what he has not done and why.
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