Ladieswear Sales Account Manager and Merchandiser

Purpose:

• Responsible for managing and growing key customer accounts while driving sales performance, customer satisfaction and profitability.
• Responsible for understanding and managing the requirements of assigned clients, developing strong customer relationships, coordinating orders and product requirements, supporting sales targets, and ensuring that client expectations relating to service, quality and delivery are consistently met.
• Providing leadership and direction to Field Agents and Administrators, while working closely with internal departments to ensure that customer requirements are delivered accurately and within agreed timeframes.

Duties will include but are not limited to:

• Develop and maintain long-term relationships with new and existing customers.
• Maintain a detailed understanding of the requirements of all assigned clients.
• Provide customers with appropriate product recommendations based on their requirements.
• Explain product features, benefits and key product components to customers.
• Maintain regular communication with clients regarding orders, product requirements, pricing, delivery and service.
• Obtain a clear understanding of customer requirements during the briefing process.
• Translate customer requirements into clear instructions for the Technical Design and Inventory teams. Ensure products meet the agreed customer requirements.
• Coordinate the checking and approval of samples, pricing and CADs before submission to customers.
• Discuss fitting and roll-out requirements and arrangements with customers.
• Ensure client information on the company online system is accurate and complete, including employee categories, roles, garments, branches, SKUs, allocations and replenishments.
• Ensure all new products have a detailed briefing document on file.
• Ensure samples are properly signed out, returned and handed to the Technical Department for storage.
• Ensure roll-out plans contain clear steps, responsibilities and due dates.
• Request appropriate fitting ranges and obtain relevant CAD’s and product information from the Technical Design Department.
• Schedule and conduct training for Field Agents relating to client requirements, the company online system and fitting ranges.
• Coordinate fitting dates with clients and Field Agents.
• Ensure Field Agents understand the relevant products and client requirements.
• Monitor Field Agent performance and take appropriate corrective action where required.
• Gather information regarding customer stock and order requirements.
• Communicate projected buy-plan requirements to the Inventory team to support production planning.
• Ensure final approval of buy plans is obtained from the Inventory team.
• Ensure client budgets and policies are considered when planning stock requirements. Monitor stock levels and minimise overstock resulting from poor planning or communication.
• Attend to client store openings and daily orders within agreed timeframes.
• Ensure employee orders are accurately captured on the system and successfully submitted to SAP for processing.
• Communicate effectively with the Warehouse and Logistics teams to ensure agreed delivery dates are achieved.
• Ensure store openings are properly fitted and required garments are delivered before opening. Minimise customer complaints relating to shortages or incorrectly managed orders.
• Provide clients with regular weekly reports.
• Work closely with Technical regarding pricing, gross profit margins and technical matters.
• Obtain client approval for price changes and ensure approved changes are updated on SAP. Manage client expectations relating to delivery, service, quality and costing.
• Monitor and manage client budgets.
• Target Achievement is a critical performance area and requires the Key Account Manager to manage and achieve the budget within the assigned client base.
• Agree annual invoicing targets per client with the Managing Director.
• Monitor Field Agent schedules, call cycles, planners and client interactions.
• Monitor sales performance and order processing to ensure monthly targets are achieved.
• Take timely corrective action where sales performance is below target.
• Provide direction, focus and delegation to subordinates.
• Manage and monitor employee KPI’s.
• Provide employees with opportunities to discuss ideas and challenges.
• Manage and coordinate leave for Field Agents, Consultants and Administrators.
• Reporting and Administration - responsible for ensuring that accurate and timely information is provided to relevant internal stakeholders.

Essential Requirements:

• 3 to 4 years experience as a Key Account Manager and Merchandiser WITHIN the Clothing/Fashion Supply and Manufacture industry.
• 5 to 6 years' experience managing a sales team (i.e. sales reps/field agents, administrators, etc.).
• Fashion related Degree or Diploma.

• Understaing of Garment Production Processes.

• Valid driver's license
• Own reliable transport
• Willingness to travel where and when required
• Proven track record of meeting and exceeding sales targets
• Experience in developing and executing sales strategies
• Strong negotiation and sales skills
• Advanced Microsoft Office (including Excel)
• SAP experience will be an advantage

Salary: For salary details please email Donna at Sign in to view email

(please note that salary will depend on candidates current job level, years of relevant product and industry experience, tertiary education, etc.)

Please send your CV to Sign in to view email

Special Note: Due to the high volume of applications, we are not able to provide individual feedback to candidates, if you do not hear back from us within 14 days, please take it that in this instance your application was not successful.

Thank you.

Kourie Recruitment