Starke Ayres: Sales Representative (Commercial)
Plennegy (Pty) Ltd.
Date: 1 day ago
City: Nelspruit, Mpumalanga
Contract type: Full time

Starke Ayres is the foremost African specialist and global supplier of premium vegetable, flower and lawn seed varieties – both for commercial and home garden planting. The following position has become available for a Sales Representative, based in Nelspruit area. The purpose of this role is to maximize the returns from the sales of Starke Ayres’ approved range of products in his/her area within the framework of Company policy as determined from time to time.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Selling – 40%
- Establishes, develops and maintains business relationships with current customers and prospective customers in the assigned geographical area to generate new business for the organization’s products/services.
- Identifies priority products for his/her area, phased annually, seasonally and monthly.
- Identifies priority customers in line with the priority products in his/her area.
- Is responsible for formulating a customer Sales plan. Impliments and monitors such a strategy on a weekly and monthly basis.
- Canvasses existing and potential customers regularly in accordance with pre-determined sales routes, calling cycles and appointments.
- Inform and update existing and potential customers regularly with regard to product information, price lists, specials etc.
- Promotes priority products based on customer needs and product benefits.
- Follows up on customers without orders in order to keep abreast of product applications, technical services, market conditions, competitive activities.
- Is responsible for formulating and implement a VIP customer sales planning and strategy for each season.
- Continuously improve his/her calling cycle in order to improve efficiency and service delivery to customers in a economically viable way to the Company
- Displays a good knowledge base and understanding of products of the company as well as opposition products
- Follows up on customer sales history and success rates in order to secure repeat orders.
Customer Service – 20%
- Contacts customers regularly, pre-empting and addressing any potential problems swiftly and efficiently.
- Expedites the resolution of customer problems and complaints
- Provides necessary advice and information which will ensure that the products are utilized to their maximum potential.
- Ensures thorough preparation is done prior to customer visits which includes information pertaining to sales history and forward planning of the customer.
- General networking in the industry and region to identify potential sales opportunities and follows through to expediting.
Product Development – 30%
- Identifies product development needs in his/her sales area.
- Participates actively in the planning, conducting and evaluation of semi-commercial and / or commercial trials and demonstrations, and presentation of field days.
- Continuous reporting and feedback on status and results of trials of the above trials to RSM's, relevant PM's and customers.
- Converts successful trial results into new business opportunities and orders.
- Continuous update PM`s with our product shortcomings and phase 2 trial needs to increase market share in future, and report on this on a monthly basis.
- Distributes promotion and advertising material such as product profiles, brochures, leaflets, bulletins, posters, display boards and product samples.
- Plan and oversee the planting and evaluation of screening and phase 2 trials at strategic regions and customers (as identified in conjunction with the sales teams) and present the final results and recommendations at Range planning meetings.
- Conducts co-operative cultivar demonstrations and evaluates new potential cultivars.
- Motivate and introduce semi-commercial trials to sales teams with the necessary supporting documents and trial results
- Maintain adequate records of all screening and Phase 2 trials and submit detailed reports of trial results and observations to the participating customer and relevant sales staff.
- Ensure adequate follow-up is done with customers on trial results and make recommendations regarding optimum cultivar selections.
Administration – 10%
- Completes orders clearly and legibly, and with all details as prescribed.
- Submits orders to National Customer Service Department promptly.
- Completes the relevant seed complaint documentation accurately and promptly.
- Regularly submits weekly reports, expense claims and any other reports as may be required from time to time.
- Assists with the collection of outstanding debts.
- Updates the Customer information on Oracle for his / her area on an ongoing basis.
- Regularly updates the unit budget on Oracle in accordance with sales requirements for his / her area.
- Submits monthly forecast reports timeously
- Submits detailed and up-to-date monthly reports timeously.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Grade 12 National Senior Certificate (Essential)
- Diploma in Marketing or Agriculture (Preferential)
- Drivers License (Essential)
- Previous experience within agricultural sales of at least 2 years
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