Category Strategist

About This Role

This role involves building lasting customer relationships and driving sales by managing a pipeline of opportunities, informing customers about product portfolios, and coordinating internal resources to ensure customer satisfaction. The Category Strategist will collaborate with customers and Account Owners to define growth strategies and promote marketing solutions.

Responsibilities

• Build lasting customer relationships by initiating outbound calls, using Teams or video if needed
• Plan and organize calls and activities daily to maximize sales and meet key metrics
• Manage an ongoing trackable pipeline of opportunities
• Inform customers on Essendant’s product categories portfolio, marketing tools, and services to assist in growing the business
• Coordinate the involvement of internal resources, including support, service, management, transportation, and pricing, to meet account performance objectives and customers’ expectations
• Ensure complete customer satisfaction by working with Customer Service, Merchandising, Product Management, Inventory, and Transportation Facilities when necessary
• Negotiate pricing and/or bid support to acquire new business, secure deals, or regain lost business
• Collaborate, coordinate, and strategize with customers and Account Owner counterparts to define detailed growth strategies
• Travel as needed with justified ROI and if opportunities dictate
• Work with Merchandising to select customers for test pilots for new vendors/product set-ups, and provide weekly reporting and follow-up
• Promote marketing, e-commerce, customer enablement, and cross-category solutions designed to assist customer with growth and market penetration
• Participate in Business Review Calls with Account Owner

Requirements

• Negotiation skills with the ability to close sales
• Demonstrated ability to assess customer needs, probe for objections, and look for creative solutions to sell products and/or services
• Ability to communicate with customers at all levels of management
• Understanding of competition within a sales environment
• Working knowledge of all customers within scope of responsibility
• Strong understanding of e-business and e-marketing
• Clear understanding of pricing strategies
• Knowledge of distribution, customer service, and procurement/expediting processes
• Expert follow-up skills to ensure timely resolution in meeting customer needs
• Excellent time management skills, including ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks
• Results oriented
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work cross-functionally within the organization
• Strong knowledge of company applications and systems

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business/Marketing or equivalent experience
• Minimum seven (7) years related Sales experience

Skills

* Required skills

Benefits