Inside Sales Representative

Position Summary: The Inside Sales Associate, specializing in produce sales, plays a crucial role in generating revenue and fostering customer relationships for the company. They are responsible for managing the accounts in his/her territory through diligent planning and execution of the company’s sales strategies. In addition, the position serves as the primary sales support person for the Outside Sales Representatives in the sales territory.

Goals will be met by using suggestive selling techniques to promote and sell PRODUCE to existing accounts and ensuring that the daily needs of each customer are met without interruption. They will be the key person responsible for account retention.

The position requires making a high volume of daily sales calls to sell PRODUCE, entering and managing orders accurately. They will be the primary point of contact between the company’s customers and the various departments within the company. He/she must be able to interact effectively with a variety of people in a wide range of business circumstances. Professional business skills such as planning, organization, and negotiation are required to successfully manage the territory and meet the company’s business goals. They must work effectively with internal partners, collaborating with the Outside Sales, Buying and Operations teams to ensure that daily, weekly and quarterly tasks and objectives are achieved. Best practices must be adhered to in all types of communication.

To achieve 100% account retention, they must be proactive, anticipating customer needs and quickly resolving issues as they arise to the mutual benefit of the customer and the company. An astute understanding of customer buying behavior will provide the ability to influence that behavior. Must be able to negotiate, compete and win against other distributors.

What you’lldo:

• Report to work on time with a professional attitude.
• Receive incoming calls from customers, prepare orders and expedite.
• Suggest and sell additional items over the phone.
• Inform customer of items not ordered or out of stock per regular ordering process offering subs where available.
• Review accuracy of incoming orders, collect and input orders submitted via fax, email, voicemail.
• Ensure accuracy of outgoing, entered orders.
• Work with outside sales team reporting irregularities, problems and requests for outside sales assistance. Direct phone calls to the appropriate team members.
• Builds and maintains customer relationships.
• Deal professionally on the phone and in person with customers, vendors and fellow employees. Cooperate with other members of the sales team and departments to ensure the customer receives an excellent service level.
• Assist with processing special orders and customer price lists.
• Provide backup vacation coverage for Sales Representatives and assist with workload of fellow team members when absent.
• 85% of work day is spent on telephone.
• Attend inside/outside sales meetings and take part in sales activities, as needed.
• Other projects or tasks assigned by Manager as needed.
• Document and keep record of customer complaints on Footprint and create quarterly report of same

About you:

• Minimum education: High School Diploma.
• Previous food service distribution Inside Sales/Customer Service and/or call center experience preferred.
• Previous produce sales experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of food service products, product categories and vendor community.
• Must be a team player with a positive attitude.
• Excellent verbal, telephone and written communication skills. Data entry and 10-key experience required.
• Self-motivated, professional, goal oriented and able to handle multiple tasks.
• Must have a sense of urgency and be able to work under pressure.
• Flexibility: ability to work well with all departments and levels of staff both internally & externally.
• Follow through skills a must.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) a plus.