Lindström Group is a global Finnish company with over 5,000 employees worldwide, providing modern textile rental solutions for industrial and food sector clients. Their sustainable “done-for-you” model allows businesses to outsource all aspects of workwear management, from delivery to cleaning to replacement, saving time and reducing environmental impact.
With ambitious growth plans in the DACH region, Lindström aimed to expand its sales force in Southern Germany to reach new customers and strengthen its market presence.
The Challenge
The mission was clear: find a Field Sales Representative (Südbayern) who could successfully grow Lindström’s footprint in a key region. But several factors made this search uniquely challenging:
- Bilingual requirement: The role is part of an international sales team, requiring strong English skills for global collaboration and training sessions.
- Talent scarcity: Few local candidates combine strong B2B sales experience with English fluency and the mindset needed to thrive in an international environment.
- Industry approach: Instead of targeting people from the textile industry, Lindström intentionally looked for motivated cross-industry professionals, people with the right drive and value alignment, especially around sustainability and customer partnership.
Despite the company’s strong brand and modern offering, inbound applications were limited, the right candidate would need to be found proactively.
Our Approach
We launched a targeted active sourcing campaign, identifying and approaching candidates through LinkedIn and our internal network who fit both the professional and cultural profile.
Our search focused on professionals who:
- Have proven B2B sales experience, ideally with industrial clients.
- Are comfortable working independently in a field-based role.
- Are fluent in English and open to an international corporate culture.
- Believe in sustainability-driven business and long-term customer relationships.
By combining this focused outreach with thorough pre-qualification not only on skills, but also on motivation and cultural fit, we built a shortlist of highly relevant candidates within a short timeframe.
The client’s efficient feedback and structured interview process helped keep momentum high. As a result, we were able to complete the entire process, from first contact to signed contract in just 5 weeks.
The Result
The new hire strengthens Lindström’s sales coverage in Southern Germany, supporting their goal of driving sustainable growth in the DACH market.
The feedback from the Sales Director was clear:
“Great fit!” – Bastian Ziegler, Sales Director Germany
Conclusion: How we hired the right sales manager
Hiring for international roles in niche markets requires a balance of precision and perspective, identifying people who not only sell but also believe in the mission behind the product.
For Lindström, that meant finding someone with the right mindset for sustainability, service, and growth, and doing so fast.
This project shows that even in competitive markets, strategic active sourcing and close client collaboration make quick, high-quality placements possible.
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