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

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