Business Manager / Merchandiser

A California-based produce wholesaler seeks an experienced, passionate sales representative to represent us in Charlotte, NC including the suburbs. The ideal candidate is a personable, energetic self-starter and genuinely cares about the produce industry and increasing consumption of fresh produce in the retail market.

Objectives:

• Meet and exceed pre-determined customer sales goals and objectives.
• Meet and exceed pre-determined sales objectives.
• Influence and build relationship with Corporate buyers, Merchandisers, and Produce Managers one to one.
• Program oriented selling.
• Ability to solve problems and create “Triple Win” solutions, Promoter, Team player, Communicates well in a team atmosphere.
• Ability to problem solve and adapt to market cultures.
• Takes ownership in company initiatives and sees them through to completion.
• Can creatively sell “new” products, concepts, and solutions.
• Ability to teach, coach, and serve customers and teammates.
• Assist in the execution at store level with our team. This includes resets, new store openings, daily store visits.
• Work with Merchandising staff to drive additional sales and volumes of Melissa’s items.
• Provide timely feedback when out in the field.
• Seek and understand our customers initiatives and look for additional ways for Melissa’s to align with them.

Position Responsibilities:

• Meet with corporate staff on a weekly basis to review products and programs. Provide solution-based strategies to increase sales and profitability.
• Meet with key retail locations on a daily/weekly basis. Conduct daily store visits on a pre-determined group of stores. Must have flexibility on weekly schedule including weekends.
• Build merchandising displays within and outside produce department.
• Good analytical skills, able to analyze each account by customer and category, weekly to identify additional points of entry for our product’s and categories; while enhancing overall sales and profitability.
• Analyze customer assortment, mix, ethnic diversity, and overall merchandising strategy.
• Convey written plan back to our internal business teams defining opportunities for growth.
• Effective communicator, share’s success stories and new ideas, as well as offer solutions to other team members throughout the entire organization.
• Work with in house Customer Focused teams and Corporate Business Managers, to solve problems, share new ideas, and effectively deliver increased value to the customer.
• Review account sales with sales team, weekly, by category to determine if we are on target using our executive review process and take action to keep account on target.
• Submit MMR to Marketing when sign work/POS in needed at store level.
• Team player, flexible, and willing to play different sales roles depending upon customer needs and individual strengths, including hands on demonstrations, new store sets, to writing orders with your customers.
• At all times maintains a professional image that supports our customer and company values.
• Other duties as assigned.

Essential Skills and Requirements:

• Working knowledge of computers & software as utilized in the sales environment;
• MS Outlook, MS Excel, MS Windows, Word and Produce Pro operating systems.
• Working knowledge of iPhone and iPad email systems.
• Ability to consistently meet deadlines and work under pressure;
• Excellent written and verbal communicating skills.
• Attention to detail and strong organization skills;
• Forecast customer needs;
• Work within a team environment;
• Complete tasks independently;
• Learn new skills and tasks as needed; (continuous improvement through reading, consumer engagement and team collaboration)
• Ability to compile information into finished reports;
• Produce product knowledge is a plus.

Physical Skills & Requirements:

• Majority of time spent working in a store environment often standing, merchandising displays. lifting, walking, kneeling, climbing stairs, operating computers and other physical activities related to the in-store environment for long periods of time.
• Daily driving 3 to 4 hours per day
• Ability to lift 40 pounds without undue physical exertion;

Qualifications:

• 5-7 years in produce
• 2 years business management experience
• 3 Merchandising experience
• Able to read and execute plan-o-grams
• Business-minded and goal-driven
• Creative problem solver and quick thinker
• Respectful communicator and people person
• Seeking more than just a job, but a real career
• Ability to work independently and remotely, as well as with a team

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $60,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Application Question(s):

• Are you willing to submit to a drug test?

Experience:

• Fresh Produce Merchandising: 2 years (Required)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Location:

• Charlotte, NC (Required)

Work Location: Remote

Salary : $60,000 - $65,000