Outside Sales Representative

Position Summary

Outside Sales Representatives are responsible for finding new sales and business development opportunities by selling Cotton’s Ace Hardware’s full range of building material products and services to contractors, developers, management companies, realtors, and homeowners in an assigned territory. This is accomplished by identifying target customers, making calls, visiting job sites and assisting customers in a timely and efficient manner with their projects and related product knowledge pertaining to lumber and building material supplies. Sales techniques, developing customers, and following through with commitments and heavy communication are all components of this position.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Compiles lists prospective customers for use as sales leads, based on information from personal referrals, newspapers, business directories, industry ads, trade shows, Internet Web sites, or other sources.
• Travels throughout assigned area to call on regular and prospective customers to solicit orders or communicate with customers via phone or other electronic media (email, text, etc.).
• Ensures quality customer service through personal interaction with contractors and retail customers. Personally handles customer and contractor accounts as required and assigned.
• Uses in-depth knowledge of product applications to assist customers in selecting products for their business and/or construction projects. Develops understanding of customer’s needs and matches those needs with company products and services. Presents to customers information on various products and services offered by Cotton’s Ace Hardware.
• Establishes, reviews, and reports market activity, market penetration, pricing, margins, selling approaches and itineraries to Senior Management.
• Quotes prices, solicits credit application(s), and prepares sales contracts for delivery schedules for orders of lumber and building material supplies obtained from prospective customers.
• Prepares reports on business transactions and keeps expense accounts.
• Works closely with the Store Manager, Lumberyard Manager and Inside Sales Representatives to keep account activities and literature up to date.
• Works closely with IT Department to enter, update and delete pricing/cost information (quotes) as needed for accurate pricing and dating with respect to a customer’s account.
• Monitors and tracks product levels of inventory of products in the store to ensure customers’ needs are met. Notifies Lumberyard Manager when new orders are needed.
• Works with and through Senior Management, District Manager, as well as Store management and employees to facilitate efficient delivery of product and service to commercial customers.
• Investigates and resolves customer problems with deliveries, product quality, or service.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with customers and contractors
• Reads and interprets blueprints for residential and multi-family building projects. Estimates product quantities for prospective jobs and develops competitive pricing bids to solicit sales.
• Performs other assigned duties as directed by General Manager, including assisting with inside counter sales when present in store / showroom.
• Maintain awareness of all promotions and advertisements so you can tell customers about special sales.
• Assist customers with large or heavy items as needed.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• One to two years outside sales experience or related experience and/or training, with knowledge of building materials, applications, related equipment, and/or construction industry is desired.
• An acceptable driving record, valid state issued driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• Ability to read blueprints, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures and government regulations.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percentage and to draw and interpret graphs and charts. Must be able to perform and comprehend basic business and financial calculations.
• Ability to utilize company point-of-sale system (Epicor), Microsoft Office programs (Word & Excel), and other 3rd party software applications at an intermediate level.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication and presentation skills with a passion for sales.
• Attention to detail
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and protect sensitive information, including Cotton’s Ace Hardware information and customer-specific information.
• A continuous pattern of regular and prompt attendance is required.
• Availability must be flexible, including evenings, weekends and holidays.

Physical Requirements

The minimum physical requirements for this position include:

• Ability to stand for an extended period of time, walk, reach, and bend to perform job duties

• Move and handle merchandise up to 80 pounds, and fixtures throughout the store, which entails lifting and performing all functions as set forth

Job responsibilities may change based on the needs of the business.

This position is currently accepting applications.

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