Sales Trainee

Salary Range: $50,000.00 To 55,000.00 Annually

Job Summary:

The Sales Trainee is responsible for learning all aspects of Beer/Soft Drink Division standards.   Trainees assist sales representatives and engage in a developmental process which may lead to a future role as a sales representative.  Trainees provide service to customer accounts, including merchandising duties, ensuring that all DeCrescente customers have fresh merchandise to sell. The Trainee is also responsible for developing and maintaining positive customer relationships.

• Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
• All employees are held accountable for practicing and promoting a safe and healthy work environment.

Essential Functions:

Business

• Responsible for strictly adhering to the task process and accurately completing the task form for route maintenance 
• Responsible for accurately completing all assigned administrative responsibilities 
• Perform merchandising activities as needed and maintain DDC’s standards 
• Rotates products in accordance with the Calendar Rotation Schedule to assure product freshness set forth in our Product Quality Policy 
• Uses iPad to place effective orders and additionally required information (e.g. surveys) 
• Understands objectives, volume targets, and other performance measures and executes effectively toward them
• Performs collections in adherence to the Company’s collection policy 
• With the guidance of a DM, executes all programs developed by Sales and Marketing to ensure the attainment of company goals
• Remain current with prices and deal structures and communicate retail pricing to customer satisfaction 
• Identify competitive activity in the market and communicate necessary information to their DM
• Attend weekly sales meetings and any additional required meetings as necessary 
• Ensure DeCrescente product and POS dominate all accounts and are managed in accordance with guidelines set by company standards 
• Adheres to guidelines as outlined by the State Liquor Authority (Beer Division)

People

• Responsible for promotional attendance and evaluation in their assigned markets per channel 
• Maintain account-level relationships with appropriate account personnel in your market 

Self-Organization 

• Attend the following meetings: Training Meetings, Beer/Soft Drink Sales Meetings and Supplier Meetings as scheduled 
• Arrive at the first scheduled account per management expectation per channel 
• Calls on all scheduled on and off-premise accounts on a daily basis using the 10-Step Sales Call Processes in each account 
• Adherence to designated route per day/week (calls on all scheduled customers)  

Required Skills:

• Bachelor’s Associate’s Degree in Marketing, Business Admin, or similar field plus related sales experience or;High School diploma and 1+ year(s) related sales/merchandising experience. 
• Experience catering to targeted consumers 
• Selling programs or brands in a retail environment
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Able to manage multiple priorities at the same time
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong problem-solving and promotional skills

Work Shift Requirements:

• Ability to work additional hours, as needed 
• Must speak to a supervisor to notify him/her any time prior to the beginning of the work shift when calling in sick.  Voice mail or e-mail messages are not acceptable replacements
• Use and maintenance of company-issued equipment

Environment & Physical Demands

• Work safely and follow all OSHA regulations and company safety policies and procedures
• For all on-the-job injuries or accidents, must notify Safety Officer, supervisor, and Human Resources immediately (no later than 1 hour)
• Exposure to retail account beverage coolers, basements, and backrooms
• Ability to lift up to 165 lbs. to waist height.
• Able to kneel, squat, bend, lunge, stretch, step up, and rotate body holding 10-40 lbs. of product and/or carry to a tiered shelf repeatedly
• Ability to stand and walk 6+ hours per day
• Ability to climb ladders (to hang POS, as required)