Seasonal Store Associate

Manage assigned accounts order processing, promotional participation and engagement with the brand and achieving sales goal.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES (Note: Other duties may be assigned)

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work closely with Inside Sales Lead to secure new business by actively prospecting new accounts through cold calling and networking

• Sell Vera Bradley products by responding to inbound or placing outbound customer calls, determining needs, overcoming objections, and providing solutions

• Generate additional sales revenue by cross-selling and up-selling to current customers.

• Follow up on all leads for targeted geographic area

• Provide updated marketing/sales literature to prospective accounts, keep up-to-date knowledge of Vera Bradley as well as the competitive posture of the company, and prepare activity and forecast reports as requested

• Manage selling distribution for special product category collections

• Prepare, review and summarize Specialty Retailers’ sales reports in order to recommend opportunities to increase sales within company guidelines and objectives

• Handle day to day functions of relationships with assigned Specialty Retailers

• Build and maintain relationships with assigned Specialty Retailers to introduce new releases/products and categories

• Continually learn and improve product knowledge and sales skills

• Represent company at trade shows and sales meetings

• Evaluate, summarize and communicate with leadership team  on:  successful sales activities, sales trends, special account information or issues, challenges, competitive information, opportunities, product updates, inventory and any follow-up action needed

• Prepare and present products and information in large and small group settings both internally and externally

• Work closely with other company departments to insure the orderly flow of orders and inventory

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• High school graduate. Associates or Bachelor’s degree in sales, marketing, communications, business or related field or equivalent experience preferred

• 2+ years proven sales experience, wholesale gift , retail or apparel industry preferred

• Proven ability to meet sales goals

• Account management experience preferred

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Knowledge of gift and apparel industry a plus

• Strong desire and ability to serve customers and solve problems

• Proven ability to meet deadlines, drive to goals and follow through on details

• Excellent written, and verbal communication skills with the proven ability to communicate with all levels across the organization

• Ability to build and maintain good rapport with both internal and external customers to handle situations with confidence and tact

• Strong organizational skills with demonstrated ability to prioritize workload, and concurrently manage multiple projects

• Flexible, adaptable with the demonstrated ability to work under pressure

• Resourceful with ability to make decisions and meet deadlines in a fast paced environment

• Understands key business drivers and uses this knowledge in own work

• High level of attention to detail with strong follow-through skills

• Demonstrates ability to solve a range of problems with the ability to analyze solutions

• Excellent PC skills including Word and Power Point, advanced Excel

• Strong analytical and math skills

ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those an individual must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Office environment.  Utilizing an office desk – sitting, reading, listening, or speaking with the ab