Business Development Intern

Hanes Industries, Inc., a division of Leggett & Platt (NYSE: LEG), is seeking a Business Development Intern to join our team for Summer 2025 in the Conover, NC. As the leading distributor of industrial fabrics in the United States, our products are integral to a variety of sectors, including industrial packaging, building products, automotive, filtration, furniture, and mattress manufacturing.

Responsibilities:

As the Business Development Intern, you will have the opportunity to learn about multiple aspects of our business while developing and fine-tuning valuable skills that will benefit you in your career:

• Prequalify New Markets: You will learn how to conduct market research and perform high quality business screens for new markets over the phone.
• Develop Relationships with Internal and External Stakeholders: Relationships are critical in everything we do. Throughout the summer, you will have multiple opportunities to learn and build relationships with leaders in various departments of our business. With each phone call and interaction with our customer base, you will learn the necessary interpersonal skills to quickly build rapport with clients and find out the information needed.
• Capture Key Data Points for Analysis: As a key member of the sales team for the summer, your work will be vital in ensuring our company is focused on the best growth areas for our business. During the summer, you will use Microsoft Dynamics to capture and track information gathered throughout the summer.
• Present Market Findings to Senior Management: At the end of the summer, you will have the opportunity to conduct a market analysis for the area you focused on, presenting key learnings to senior management.

Ideal Candidate:

We are looking for a self-motivated and results-driven individual with a drive to compete, learn, and build relationships. Key attributes of our ideal candidate include:

• Persuasive Communications Skills: Excellent communication skills are essential for this role, enabling you to effectively convey the value and benefits of our products to potential customers across various industries.
• Currently Enrolled in a BS/BA degree: The ideal candidate will majoring in business or communications and will preferably have previous sales experience.

Customer-Centric Approach: Understanding the importance of customer satisfaction and consistently delivering exceptional service is a fundamental aspect of this role. Your ability to listen to customers’ needs, ask relevant questions, and communicate with internal stakeholders will set you apart.