Starke Ayres: Sales Representative

Starke Ayres is the foremost African specialist and global supplier of premium vegetable, flower, and lawn seed varieties – both for commercial and home garden planting. The following position has become available for a Sales Representative, based in Pietermaritzburg. The purpose of this role is to maximize the returns from the sales of Starke Ayres’ approved range of products in his/her area within the framework of Company policy as determined from time to time.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develops joint-business-plans for key customers, customer sales plans for the balance of customers
• Implements and monitors such strategy on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual basis.
• Consistently achieves monthly, quarterly, and annual sales targets.
• Maximizes opportunities for closing a sale and drives market penetration, through sound commercial discussion and negotiation.
• Identifies priority products for his/her area, phased annually, seasonally, and monthly.
• Identifies priority customers in line with the priority products in his/her area.
• Canvasses existing and potential customers regularly in accordance with pre-determined sales routes, calling cycles and appointments.
• Updates existing and potential customers regularly with regards to product information, price lists, point of sales, specials etc.
• Drives priority products based on customer needs, internal strategy, and product benefits.
• Ensures that orders are executed correctly and timeously.
• Contacts customers regularly as per the call cycle, as well as pre-empting and addressing any potential problems swiftly and efficiently.
• Provides necessary advice and information which will ensure that the products are utilized to their maximum potential.
• Identifies and/or develops promotion/advertising opportunities in his/her sales area, ensuring a suitable return on investment is achieved.
• Participates actively in the planning and conducting of exhibitions, show-displays and in-store promotions, managing all expense to within the agreed budget
• Ensures shelf space and displays in outlets are of the highest standard (negotiate RSP’s, correct PI labels, maximise facings, stock rotation, expired stock removal, etc).
• Completes orders clearly and legibly, and with all details as prescribed.
• Supplies and updates stock forecasting budgets as and when required.
• Regularly submits feedback, expense claims and any other reports as may be required.
• Assists with the collection of outstanding debts

REQUIREMENTS:

Education:

• A tertiary qualification, preferably a Marketing Degree (NQF 7) (Preferential)
• Grade 12 (essential)

Experience:

• 3 years’ experience as a sales representative, preferably in the Retail industry

Knowledge:

• Advanced agricultural knowledge
• Advanced seed production knowledge
• Procurement processes knowledge
• Supply chain and logistics knowledge