Ian Thomson
Sales Manager in Premier Housewares
Job Experience
Sales Manager
Premier Housewares
June 2014 to December 2014
Responsibilities
Managing the sales of non-food household products (brush ware, scourers, steel wool, textiles etc)
? Achieving the above monthly budget.
? Compiling and implementation of quarterly regional plan, based on corporate objectives.
? Managing the key accounts to ensure trade customer?s strategy is aligned to Premier housewares strategy.
? Managing 5 sales agents in the KZN, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Namibia regions:
o Ensure that information regarding company objectives is co
National Sales Manager
Premier Housewares
June 2014 to December 2014
Responsibilities Managing the sales of non-food household products (brush ware, scourers, steel wool, textiles etc) ? Achieving the monthly budget of R2M. ? Compiling and implementation of quarterly regional plan, based on corporate objectives. ? Managing the key accounts to ensure trade customer?s strategy is aligned to Premier housewares strategy. ? Managing 5 sales agents in the KZN, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Namibia regions: o Ensure that information regarding company objectives is communicated. o Ensure new product information and promotional activity is communicated. o Ensure pricing communication ? company and competitor information communicated. o Ensure updated sales figures are communicated to agents, so variances in actual vs budget can be rectified. o Ensure agents provide feedback on in-store scenarios by means of sales results and in-store display photographs. o Travel at least every 6 weeks with agents, to obtain primary information in the trade. o Monthly evaluation of performance ? coaching and recommendations to improve if applicable. ? Volume and value growth analysis based on: o New product listings. o New customers acquired o Pricing and price increases o Promotional discounts in price and free stock vs volume and value attained
Sales Manager
Gottlieb Foods
September 2013 to December 2013
Similar to Montic Dairy Responsibilities ? Achieving the above monthly budget. ? Managing a sales force of 3 reps and 30 merchandisers.: o Weekly meetings ? travelling weekly with individual sales personnel. o HR evaluation- qualitative and quantitative performance, disciplinary action etc. o Motivating and training sales force - developing weaknesses, exploiting strengths. o Pricing survey and forward share survey. Competitor activity/general activity report. o Daily call cycles are adhered to. Daily calls completed. o Obtaining new business. ? Compiling and implementation of quarterly regional plan, based on corporate objectives. ? Liaising with key accounts manager to ensure good implementation of each customer?s strategy. ? Sales forecast and budget, by SKU and by customer channel. ? Manage sales expense / promotional budget R 96 000.00 per annum. ? Analysis and feedback of competitor activity: o Pricing. o New product listings, competitor in store stock holding. o Promotional activity ? POS, display location, extra facings, cross merchandising and wet demos?, in store pamphlet and media communication. o Regional channels ? competitor relationships, in store competitor support. ? New product listings at store level. ? In-store displays and promotions: o Ensuring optimal stock levels and forward share in accordance with rate of sales. o Good shelf displays and bold pricing and off shelf displays. ? Implementation of planograms ? ensure Vega canned pilchard and sardine brands are merchandised next to brand leader. ? Presenting monthly, quarterly and annual sales reviews to regional managers, including o Volume and value growth. o Vega growth relative to the channel growth. o Vega growth relative to overall canned fish category growth. o Evaluating success of regional promotions with regional managers. ? Monthly sales presentation to directors on value and volume category growth. ? Regular trade visits to obtain primary information.
Sales Manager
Gottlieb Foods
August 2013 to December 2013
? Achieving the above monthly budget.
? Managing a sales force of 3 reps and 30 merchandisers.:
Sales Manager
Montic Dairy
February 2012 to June 2013
? Managing a sales force of 8 reps and a merchandising supervisor o Weekly meetings ? travelling weekly with individual sales personnel. o HR evaluation- qualitative and quantitative performance, disciplinary action etc. o Motivating and training sales force - developing weaknesses, exploiting strengths. o Achieve budgets,setting daily objectives o Daily call cycles are adhered to. Daily calls completed o Obtaining new business. ? Analyses of fuel expenses vs. sales. ? Managing sales and merchandising agents to : o Ensure that information regarding company objectives is communicated. o Ensure new product information and promotional activity is communicated. o Ensure pricing communication ? company and competitor information communicated. o Ensure cold chain management, and stock rotation. o Ensure agents provide feedback on in-store scenarios by means of sales results and in-store display photographs. o Ensure weekly meeting attendance. o Monthly evaluation of performance ? coaching and recommendations to improve if applicable. ? Liaising with key accounts manager to ensure good implementation of each customer?s strategy. ? Sales forecast and budget, by SKU and by customer channel. ? Liaise with customers / customer clusters at store level to ensure category management principles are being adhered to : o Reviewing products and product categories o Ensuring correct range for store demographic profile o Ensure in store promotions and planogram layouts are implemented. o Evaluating results. ? Ensure customer objectives are in line with Montic objectives. ? Presenting monthly, sales reviews to regional managers, including o Volume and value growth. o Montic?s growth relative to the channel growth. o Montic?s growth relative to overall milk category growth. o Evaluating success of regional promotions with regional managers. ? Monthly sales presentation to directors on value and volume category growth. ? Regular trade visits to obtain primary information.
Senior Sales Assoc(K.A.M)
Rich Products Corporation
June 2002 to January 2012
Monitoring and controlling overall sales performance of the Inland Spar Division to achieve budgeted sales, by : ? Negotiating trading terms. ? Developing a regional plan by integrating customer objectives with company objectives. ? Listing of new products in DCs and ensuring that listed products are carried at store level ? Constant evaluation of product range: o Ensuring that the range carried aligns with the store?s LSM profile o Discontinuing slow selling lines wherever appropriate ? Providing guidance to stores with regard to best baking procedures and appropriate times of the day / week for optimum sales of each product type ? Assisting stores with product displays, ensuring that forward share of Rich?s products aligns with share of sales ? Managing promotions at store level: o Ensuring sufficient stock, good displays, bold pricing and a good standard of promoters ? Providing feedback to management, from Spar stores, regarding product quality and service levels ? Organising the Rich?s stand at the Spar annual trade show o Product range and display, stock for sampling and manning of the stand ? Doing presentations to groups of Spar retailers (cell groups), to show case Rich?s range and explain the method of operation ? Presenting quarterly and annual sales reviews to regional buyers, including o Volume and value growth. o Rich?s growth relative to the Spar channel growth. o Rich?s growth relative to overall bakery category growth. o Evaluating success of regional promotions. ? Volume and value growth analysis based on: o Pricing. o Promotional activity ? bunting, display location, extra facings, cross merchandising and wet demos? o New product listings. ? Managing a sales force of 6 reps. ? Analyse petrol expenses vs. sales turnover ? Liaising with sales agents who assist in selling to outlying areas. ? Reconcile customer claims to deal sheet ? period and pricing. Reducing of claims.
Regional Sales Supervisor
Premier Foods
December 2000 to May 2002
Achieving sales budget for 2 brands of rice ( Lite & Rite, Quick & Easy) in the Gauteng region in the following channels: Pick n Pay / Hypers Shoprite Checkers Metro Cash and Carry Spar Several independent wholesalers and retailers ? Listing of products with regional buyers ? Maintaining constant stock pressure at depots and store level ? Motivating and educating depot sales reps o to sell rice brands in conjunction with maize meal brands o to feedback competitor activity in the trade regarding new products, promotions & pricing o to ensure sufficient stock for promotions ? Overseeing in-store merchandising of products and gondola end / blitz displays, with correct and prominent display of pricing ? Coordinating in-store wet demos ? Distribution and installation of POS material to build in-store displays ? Liaising with sales agents who assisted with selling to outlying areas
Sales Representative
Tiger Brands
October 1997 to October 2000
? Sales of Tastic Rice to a range of retailers and wholesalers in a region of Gauteng ? Maintaining in-store merchandising, ensuring o optimum shelf space and gondola end displays wherever possible. o forward share in line with share of sales. o maximum utilization of POS material. o correct pricing. ? Liaison with merchandisers, educating on merchandising principles ? Supervision and monitoring of sales promotional activities, e.g. wet demos ? Monitoring and feedback of competitor activity on new products, pricing and promotions ? Reporting general trade activity to management
Sales Representative
Alpine Importers
September 1996 to September 1997
? Sale of exotic imported foods to the retail and wholesale trade ? Ensure correct lines for LSM profile outlet. ? Maintaining in-store merchandising, ensuring o optimum shelf space and gondola end displays wherever possible o forward share in line with share of sales o maximum utilization of POS material ? Supervision and monitoring of sales promotional activities, e.g. wet demos ? Monitoring and feedback of competitor activity on new products, pricing and promotions ? Reporting general trade activity to management Similar responsibilities as Tiger Brands
Assistant Store Manager
Browns Cash and Carry
April 1994 to August 1996
? Manage sales / turnover ? Management of staff ? H.R. ? Buying ? Control expenses
Foreign Exchange Consultant
Nedbank
February 1985 to March 1990
? Issue of travelers cheques ? Buy and sell foreign currency for : o Clients travelling abroad and returning. o Import and export of goods and services. ? Adhering to exchange control policies.
Education
IMM 3yr Diploma
RRC (Sudáfrica)February 1991 to June 1994
Institute of Marketing Management Diploma
Rapid Results College1991 to 1994
Matric
Kloof High School1980 to 1984
Kloof High School 1084Currently studying
Languages
English
Advanced
IT skills
Ian
Advanced
Other Skills
More Ian
Career Goals
To grow into a Trade Marketing position
Industries of interest
Food and Beverage
Areas of interest
Marketing and Advertising
Availability to travel and work outside the city
Yes
Interests and hobbies
Swimming
Polo
Rugby
Chess
Current Affairs
Ex - Round Tabler