Pre-Seller / Merchandiser

Job Overview

The Pre-Seller role focuses on increasing sales volume within a designated group of customers and territory while fulfilling objectives related to product distribution, availability, merchandising, and collections. This position requires fostering strong customer relationships, accurately processing orders, maintaining optimal stock levels to avoid shortages or product expiry, and consistently adhering to quality merchandising and service standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Promote and sell the entire range of the company's Food & Beverage offerings to assigned clients aiming to meet established sales, distribution, and volume goals.
• Adhere strictly to the predetermined daily routing and customer visit schedules to ensure comprehensive market coverage and excellent client service.
• Accurately create and manage customer orders, ensuring timely processing to align with delivery deadlines.
• Expand sales within existing accounts by identifying opportunities to introduce more products and increase sales and market reach.
• Identify prospective outlets within the territory to broaden the customer base and enhance market coverage.
• Oversee inventory levels at client locations to recommend suitable order quantities, minimizing stockouts and product waste.
• Meet agreed targets for product presence including SKU variety, numeric distribution, and sales volume goals.
• Enforce company merchandising standards, encompassing product placement, shelf stocking, displays, pricing, and use of promotional material.
• Collaborate with merchandisers to guarantee correct execution of in-store promotions and displays where relevant.
• Ensure stock freshness by managing product rotation and preventing expired or stale items at customer outlets.
• Maintain strong professional rapport with customers, swiftly resolving typical service-related issues.
• Manage accounts receivable and collection activities in line with company credit policies and procedures.
• Perform accurate reconciliation of payments including cheques, cash, and credit sales, submitting all required documentation punctually.
• Monitor competitor activity such as pricing strategies, promotions, new product introductions, and distribution efforts, reporting any significant insights to the Sales Supervisor.
• Regularly provide feedback on customer needs, market trends, and business growth opportunities.
• Participate actively in daily meetings with the Sales Supervisor to evaluate sales achievements, review customer visits, orders, collections, and market dynamics.
• Attend company-led training and development sessions to enhance product knowledge, selling techniques, professionalism, and customer service skills.
• Comply fully with all company sales guidelines, operational procedures, safety policies, and standards.

Qualifications and Experience

• Diploma, Bachelor's degree, or an equivalent credential.
• At least 3 years of sales experience, ideally within Food & Beverage, FMCG, food distribution, or beverage sectors.
• Experience in roles such as Pre-Sales, Merchandiser, Van Sales, Route Sales, or in General/Traditional Trade is preferred.
• Background in managing retail outlets including groceries, supermarkets, and convenience stores is advantageous.
• Familiarity with sales targets, distribution strategies, merchandising, inventory rotation, and account management.
• Knowledge of the KSA Food & Beverage and FMCG markets will be considered a plus.
• Basic financial literacy relating to accounting and cash/credit reconciliations.

Skills and Competencies

• Proven sales and negotiation capabilities.
• Strong customer relationship and account management skills.
• Effective communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Expertise in sales planning and route optimization.
• Focused on achieving targets and results.
• Awareness and understanding of merchandising principles.
• Basic numerical and accounting proficiency.
• Problem-solving and conflict resolution aptitude.
• Insightful about market trends and competitor activities.
• Ability to work autonomously within a field-sales environment.
• Capacity to work effectively under pressure to reach monthly objectives.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.