RETAIL SALES REPRESENTATIVE - Minneapolis, MN

Job Details:

Job Title AutoReqId 69278BR Job Family Sales Job Category Full-Time Job Classification Entry Level Division Abbott Nutrition Products Division Shift. First Overview At Abbott, we provide the perspectives and experience necessary to translate science into real solutions for patients in over 130 markets worldwide. Today, 72,000 Abbott employees are doing work that matters. Job Description Retail Sales Representative Job Description The Retail Sales Representative is responsible for servicing and selling to retail accounts within an assigned territory with the objective to increase sales volume for the Retailer as well as Abbott Nutrition. The ideal candidate is self-motivated, ambitious, and driven to succeed. This person should also have strong communication skills with the confidence to influence key decision makers at store level. They must possess excellent organizational skills and have the ability to work independently. Strong Analytical skills are highly recommended to aid in successful development. Retail Sales Representative Job Attributes 1. One-on-one Sales Presentations skills 2. Answers objections by removing emotional concerns 3. Closes by building personal trust and loyalty 4. Provides service by empathizing with customer concerns 5. Account penetration by customer base expansion 6. Maximizes results by systematically managing an account plan Job Responsibilities . Store Call Coverage:
Ability to manage time and prioritize. Maintain consistent store visit frequency coverage. . Distribution:
Meet Retailer and Abbott Nutrition objectives by maintaining full distribution on existing SKUs. Ensure all new items are tagged and on shelf specific to authorization and timing provided by respective Key Account Manager and item code listing. . Customer Relations:
Gain working knowledge of Customer relations by working with Customers and store personnel. Must communicate effectively both internally (Retail Sales & Retail Operations) as well as externally with respective Retailers. . Sales and Merchandising:
Ensure all authorized items are represented on shelf and tagged accurately. Ensure unsaleables/out-of-code product is removed according to specified guidelines. Secure secondary placements of product(s) where possible. Ensure all Abbott Nutrition items are fully stocked, correctly signed, properly faced, and set to schematics. Using ingenuity to create themes to support holiday/special events and perform resets where applicable. . Shelf Standards and Conditions:
Meet/Exceed schematic standards by ensuring all items are in distribution and set to shelf standards. Increase promotional effectiveness through placement of appropriate point of sale material. . Territory Management:
Ability to build rapport with Retailer Store Personnel. Prepared to field questions and proactively develop plans of action in regards to resolving issues. . Retailer Audits:
Ability to prepare for and respond to audits. . Administration/Reporting:
Complete accurate and timely paperwork and reports, recaps, expense reports, etc. Check voice mail (Octel) at a minimum of twice daily. Accessible via cell phone during normal business hours. . Safety:
Ability to perform the job safely by demonstrating full awareness of his/her surroundings. Utilize proper safety techniques and equipment use when necessary. Proactive in alerting Management of any unsafe act or condition to prevent injuries. Job Requirements . Strong self-management skills . Ability to complete daily procedures and responsibilities without direct supervision . Demonstrate good judgment and show respect for others . B.A. or B.S. Preferred . Willing to Relocate Physical Demands . Frequently (Approx 33-66% of time):
Stand, Walk, Bend and/or stoop, Kneel, Push, Pull, Use Feet and/or Legs for Repetitive Motion left and right, use hands and/or Legs for Repetitive Motion; Simple Grasping, Firm Grasping (pushing pulling arm controls); Fine Manipulation, Lifting and/or Carrying Up to ten pounds (sedentary level); and up to 11-20 lbs (light level) . Occasionally (Approx 33% of time):
Sit, Crawl and/or climb, Operate Mechanical Machinery, Be Exposed to marked Changes in Temperature and Humidity, Lifting and/or Carrying up to 20-50 lbs. (medium work level) and 52-74 lbs. (heavy work) . Never:
Working on Unprotected Heights, Be Exposed to harmful Fumes and/or Other Pollutants, Lifting and/or Carrying up to 75 - 100 lbs. (heavy work) . Environmental Considerations:
Ability to travel. Ability to travel from store to store. This is a list of the major responsibilities, duties, and physical demands required of this position and may not be all-inclusive. Skills/Experience Requirements Knowledge of applicable regulatory standards and requirements for infant formula and nutritionals. Must rate high in these key dimensions:
1. Professionalism 2. Work Standards 3. Oral Communication 4. Job Motivation 5. Judgment 6. Initiative 7. Customer Focus This position requires a thorough knowledge of the food class of trade as to their methods of doing business and making decisions. The Retail Sales Representative needs a high level of creative skills in order to present Abbott Nutrition products and programs that will achieve agreed upon merchandising/distribution/sales objectives. The Retail Sales Representative must also be able to interpret marketing and sales data and use the data effectively to achieve merchandising/distribution/sales goals. Strong analytical skills are important for this position. Examples of problem solving are:
1. Developing effective sales techniques that will increase retail inventories and off-shelf displays. 2. Using display/promotional money and premiums within Abbott Nutrition policy and guidelines to effectively build customer business. 3. Understanding Category Management processes and principles and using these in defining merchandising opportunities and developing programs that exploit these opportunities and increase sales volume. 4. Developing and implementing nutritional product plan-o-grams at assigned accounts to reflect the current merchandising objectives of the Marketing Department. 5. Selling target accounts displays/trial sizes and special packs of nutritional products. 6. Maintaining retail price objectives at accounts while adhering to all current legislation regarding supplier/customer pricing obligations and responsibilities. 7. Being aware of the unique characteristics of each account and defining objectives that will maximize distribution within each account. 8. Recognizing problem areas regarding specific goal achievements and developing strategies to compensate for all problem areas with the final result being that the account achieves all its major goals. 9. Using the marketing data available to develop retail presentations tailored to an account's method of doing business. The presentations must generate agreed upon marketing/distribution/sales objectives. 10. Following up on non-direct orders to ensure compliance with distribution objectives without adversely affecting customer relationships. 11. Building business with food wholesaler sales people by developing programs designed to motivate and accomplish agreed upon sales/merchandising objectives of the Consumer Product Sales Department. Accountability / Scope/Budget:
The Retail Sales Representative has total responsibility for the merchandising of nutritional, products. Education Requirements B.S. or B.A Preferred Percentage of Travel 25% Country USA State/Province/Region Minnesota Site Location Field Sales Employer of Choice Through numerous local, national and international accolades, Abbott is regarded as an employer of choice for our commitment to workplace excellence. Our employees are given the tools to succeed, lead and grow, with challenging opportunities and work that makes a difference. Through our diverse healthcare businesses, we connect people and potential in ways that no other company can. Discover a world of opportunities at Abbott. EEO Statement:
At Abbott, we believe that diversity drives innovation. Innovative thinkers who are passionate about the work they do, Abbott employees are representative of the diversity of the patients we strive to serve every single day across the globe.