Account Manager
position description
The Blue Buffalo Company, “Love Them Like Family, Feed Them Like Family”, is looking for an Account Manager to support our national customers in the San Antonio and Austin, TX areas.
SUMMARY:
The Account Manager for Blue Buffalo is responsible for supporting our national customers through associate education, relationship building events and contacts, store inventory management/correction and executing display support for BLUE pet products. The Account Manager is responsible for a defined territory that will consist of approximately 75 national chain retail stores. A successful Account Manager will be the primary contact with Store and District Managers advancing the support for BLUE and gaining FIRST CHOICE for recommendations and developing partnerships to gain favorable treatment for BLUE’s brands.
The position is responsible for improving store execution and being a key contact that is closest to the customer and consumer. He/She is also able to influence the store operators to insure BLUE’s product superiority to our competition is communicated using a TOTAL STORE APPROACH.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:
Build Relationships:
- Conduct business reviews with store managers to review sales results and opportunities.
- Development and execution of weekend in store events at key stores.
- Execute monthly one on one meetings with PetSmart and Petco District Managers to review current business and collaborate on future opportunities as well as underperforming stores.
- As needed meetings with PetSmart and Petco Regional Vice Presidents and PetSmart Regional Inventory Managers.
- Develop reputation as industry leader in-store account management by establishing premeire strategic partnerships.
Educate and Train:
- Influence decision makers and appropriate account contacts to implement company initiatives
- Secure first line recommendations of Blue and Spa Select brands through effective sales and educational penetration of Store Associates, Management, Trainers, Groomers, AdoptionCenters and BanfieldHospitals.
- Understand and execute category leadership concepts including but not limited to: assortment reviews, pricing analysis, seasonal reviews and programs, new item introductions, promotional planning and evaluation, consumer usage analysis.
- Execution of large format and full store seminars/lunch and learns to secure recommendations.
- Lead the development of training programs which meet needs specified for account associates in any of the areas of nutrition and merchandising.
- Performance evaluation input and the assisting with training/development of any product specialists
Inventory:
· Present category leadership initiatives and impact on account at various meetings
· Management of store inventory to eliminate out of stocks and generate additional product for off shelf displays.
· Monitor and communicate consumer offtake progress and opportunities
Feature and Display:
· Secure major off shelf displays such as drive aisle pallets, end caps, power wings, side stacks etc
· Tie in product displays with services and front register endcaps.
Sell Regional/District Programs:
- Sponsorship and participation in Market/District meetings involving all the store managers from a specific market area.
- Build and present information to customer regarding business building initiatives
- Identify and prioritize activities that drive profitable growth
- Develop the success measures for all initiatives for the account
- Develop strategic solutions to achieve identified objectives by utilizing tools and processes such as item optimization, customized marketing, shelf space optimization/utilization, in-store merchandising, pricing, and promotion planning.
- Conduct any necessary meetings to communicate category leadership initiatives, provide training, and the creation of action plans to accomplish account objectives
Qualifications:
The following are the key skills and experience level desired for the position:
- Minimum of 2 years sales experience selling and servicing large chain retail establishments
- Experience selling in programs and managing business at the district level
- Solid computer skills including a working knowledge of excel, power point, word, etc.
- Strong public speaking skills and experience with presentations.
- Ability to positively influence people at multiple levels of an organization.
- Pet Food Industry experience is strongly preferred, specifically experience with PetSmart and Petco.
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent of directly related work experience.
- We offer competitive salary, bonus and health benefits.
- To be considered, you must forward your resume along with a cover letter and salary history and reference AM-SAN ANTONIO in the subject/objective line to jobs@gplonline.com .
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