What are the responsibilities and job description for the Inside Sales Specialist position at Down to Earth Distributors.com?
Description
Position Purpose
The Inside Sales Specialist provides exceptional customer service, maximizes sales through effective phone and email communication, and supports the outside sales team by accurately entering orders and managing assigned accounts. This role plays a key part in maintaining strong customer relationships and ensuring smooth sales operations within the home and garden wholesale distribution environment.
Essential Job Functions
Position Purpose
The Inside Sales Specialist provides exceptional customer service, maximizes sales through effective phone and email communication, and supports the outside sales team by accurately entering orders and managing assigned accounts. This role plays a key part in maintaining strong customer relationships and ensuring smooth sales operations within the home and garden wholesale distribution environment.
Essential Job Functions
- Team Collaboration
- Demonstrates a genuine commitment to being an engaged and supportive member of the sales team.
- Practices strong teamwork skills including collaboration, critical thinking, positive communication and a solutions-oriented mindset.
- Customer Care and Relationship Building
- Builds and maintains authentic, friendly, and professional relationships with customers, team members and internal staff.
- Provides responsive, knowledgeable customer service to all assigned accounts.
- Inside Sales and Order Management
- Receives and enters customer purchase orders into the MAS 200 Sales Entry system with accuracy and attention to detail.
- Proactively offers alternative product options when items are out of stock and seeks opportunities to increase sales.
- Develops a strong understanding of company logistics to confidently advise customers on optimal shipping methods.
- Actively pursues sales opportunities daily and maintains consistent communication with housewares and garden accounts in the assigned territory.
- Assists customers and supports other sales staff as needed.
- Trade Show and Prospect Follow-Up
- Attends trade shows on behalf of the company as required.
- Conducts timely follow-up with trade show leads and prospects requesting catalog or product information.
- Participates in regular sales meetings.
- Provides input on purchasing decisions when requested.
- Assists with proofreading and price-checking marketing materials such as catalogs, sales flyers, gardening guides and grower price lists.
- Performs additional duties as assigned to support overall company operations.
- Experience: Three plus (3 ) years wholesale sales experience or five plus (5 ) years retail sales experience preferred.
- Industry Knowledge: Organic gardening experience preferred.
- Skills: Strong relationship management, attention to detail and effective communication (verbal and written).
- Technical: Proficiency with computers, data entry and telephone communication.