Account Manager - Midlands

This is a fantastic role for someone with knowledge of the Pet Retail sector, who is wanting to develop their account management skills in a fun, supportive environment where you can have full ownership of your designated territory and clients.

Purpose of the role:
To manage and develop trade and working accounts in your area to maximise the distribution of our client's products.

Enhance the reputation and standing of the company in your area by building strong customer relationships providing exceptional sales support, category expertise and ongoing education.
  
This is a field-based role and as such may require up to 4 nights per month away from home for customer meetings, planned product training, sales meetings and key show/events.

Environment of the role: 
The UK Pet market is full of competitors vying for shelf space, however the market is growing. Our client has the opportunity to have a standout level of professionalism within the industry by providing outstanding customer service, sales support, education, and merchandising advice in an overall support package that will ensure the success of their customers and their brand.
  
The Account Manager will be required to create strong and lasting relationships with a variety of customer types, understand needs, and find win/win situations, to ensure we are a key supplier in the minds of customers.
  
The Account Manager should be credible in all product categories and leave no stone unturned to find opportunities to increase distribution of our products.


Main duties:  
   
Sales

• Ensure the overall monthly, quarterly, and annual sales/growth plans for the area are achieved or exceeded.
• Increase the number of ‘active’ accounts in the area, with focus on both direct and end user customers equally.
• Maintain and increase distribution of product SKUs in all active accounts.
• Achieve maximum presence and positioning of our products in each outlet.
• Highlight and action potential to expand brand portfolio, with consideration to all relevant opportunities.

• Ensure regular contact with decision makers via personal visits and remote contact.
• Plan and implement an effective call cycle.
• Maintain a forward planning calendar at least two weeks in advance.

• Educate the client's customers, be they trade, wholesale or end user, through ongoing product training and open days where applicable.
• Develop and implement a program of activity to support your customers and the company brands.

• Effectively execute quarterly marketing activities, including but not limited to product promotions, added value promotion and customer incentives.
• Work to effectively promote the importance of brand merchandising and to increase the number of customers subscribing to work with any quarterly campaigns to increase product range and depth.
• To provide all related marketing materials including in-store merchandising, digital and social assets.

• Submit detailed daily call reports using the Maximizer system and weekly summaries to the National Sales Manager.
• Complete customer updates after each visit clearly identifying, qualifying, and quantifying opportunities.
• Supply detailed analysis of all sales activities.
• Provide market and competitor information from your area.

• Become proficient and comfortable with the company’s Diver Sales System
• Analyse sales figures and reports and use them to maximum effect.
• Propose remedial action when analysis indicates deviation from plan.

• Liaise with internal departments such as CS to ensure effective and efficient customer service and account management.

• To provide any support as requested by the NSM with any technical queries, product complaints, competitor comparisons, bench marking and with any product related materials.      

• Proactively identify and participate at the key local shows and events in your area to help build awareness and be available if requested, for key national shows during the year as agreed with the NSM.
• Follow up all sales leads and action all data collected for your area.
• To attend any relevant trade shows as part of the UK sales team, including PATS.

• Share creative ideas with team members and management to ensure best practice.
• Strive for continuous improvement in what we do and how we do it.

• Have proven sales skills in a customer-driven environment
• Understand concept selling and how to position Premium Brands
• Have good knowledge and understanding of horses and the Equestrian community (the portfolio of products is mainly Pet but with some Equine brands)
• Have at least two years previous sales experience in a similar role
• Have good interpersonal and communication skills
• Possess excellent time management skills
• Possess above average IT skills (especially Powerpoint and Excel)

• A quick learner
• Self-motivated
• Able to work under own initiative
• Hard working
• Enthusiastic
• A team player