Job Summary
Join our dynamic team as a Sales Representative, where you'll play a pivotal role in driving our business growth and success. The Sales Representative will work to ensure current customers have the right products and services, identify new markets and customer leads, and pitch prospective customers, while maintaining good customer relations and pursuing new sales opportunities.
Primary Responsibilities
- Understanding and knowledge of the flexible packaging industry.
- Understanding and knowledge of Interstate’s full capabilities as it relates to the industry and our competition.
- Ability to prospect for new customers beginning with phone solicitation and proceeding to in person sales call.
- Gathering and writing up information needed to quote a job and delivering finished quotes to prospect or customer by letter.
- Writing orders to include all pertinent information.
- Must be able to distinguish slight or fine differences in color, color hue, thicknesses, textures and images within words or letters in order to approve quality of product.
- Following job orders through art, plates and production scheduling.
- Communicating to prospect or customer any unusual characteristics on problems with artwork on production scheduling.
- Communicating price increases or decreases to customers.
- Servicing existing customers.
- Hosting prospects or customers on plant visits and entertaining outside of the business setting where applicable.
- Making deliveries to customers of finished product.
- Reporting information on calls and making joint calls with the sales manager.
- Filling out an expense report.
- Performing whatever service is asked by management
- Collaborate with colleagues sharing and developing best practices.
- Role requires skilled collaboration to ensure strong working relationships.
- Drive for results and continuous improvement.
- Responsible for compliance with all regulatory, facility food safety, and quality policies and procedures including product safety (GMPs) policies and procedures.
Qualifications
Qualifications
- Previous outside sales experience in the flexographic printing & packaging industry, specifically selling flexible packaging printed on film substrates and pressure-sensitive labels
- Associate's or Bachelor's Degree in Sales, Marketing, Business or other related field preferred
- High school diploma required
- Valid driver's license and ability to travel
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
- Ability to work independently, maintain focus, prioritize tasks, and consistently meet deadlines with minimal supervision.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
- Strong oral, written, and social media communication skills
- Excellent negotiation and presentation skills
- Ability to evaluate, assess, and make decisions
- Able to distinguish subtle shades of color accurately
Essential Job Functions
- Develop and maintain a strong understanding of the flexographic printing industry, with an emphasis on flexible packaging printed on film substrates and pressure-sensitive labels, including Interstate Packaging’s products, capabilities, and competitive advantages.
- Identify, prospect, and develop new business opportunities through cold calling, networking, customer referrals, and in-person sales visits to expand the company's customer base and increase revenue.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with existing customers by providing exceptional customer service, identifying customer needs, resolving concerns, and pursuing opportunities for account growth.
- Evaluate customer packaging and labeling requirements, including substrates, printing specifications, product applications, and production needs, to recommend appropriate products and solutions.
- Gather and accurately document all necessary customer specifications and job requirements to prepare and submit requests for quotations, ensuring timely and accurate communication of pricing and proposals.
- Prepare and submit complete and accurate sales orders, ensuring all required specifications, artwork details, quantities, delivery expectations, and other pertinent information are properly documented.
- Coordinate with internal departments, including Graphics & Prepress, Customer Service, Production, Scheduling, and Quality, to ensure customer orders are processed accurately and completed according to established requirements and timelines.
- Monitor customer orders throughout the artwork, plate preparation, production, and delivery processes, proactively addressing potential issues and communicating updates to customers.
- Review and evaluate printed materials, artwork, and product samples for compliance with customer specifications and established quality standards, including identifying differences in color, color hue, material thickness, texture, and printed images or text.
- Communicate pricing adjustments, production challenges, artwork concerns, scheduling changes, and other relevant information to customers in a timely and professional manner.
- Conduct regular customer visits, sales presentations, and facility tours to promote company capabilities, strengthen business relationships, and identify additional sales opportunities.
- Travel to prospective and existing customer locations, industry events, and other business-related meetings as necessary to support sales objectives and customer relationships.
- Coordinate product sample distribution and finished-product deliveries to customers when necessary to support sales activities and customer satisfaction.
- Maintain accurate and timely records of sales activities, customer interactions, prospecting efforts, account developments, and sales opportunities, and provide regular updates to sales management.
- Collaborate with the Sales Manager on account strategies, customer visits, sales objectives, and business development initiatives to achieve established performance goals.
- Prepare and submit accurate expense reports and other required sales documentation in accordance with company policies and established deadlines.
- Work independently to manage assigned accounts, prioritize daily sales activities, maintain productivity, and consistently meet established sales goals with minimal supervision.
- Collaborate effectively with colleagues and cross-functional teams to share industry knowledge, develop best practices, resolve customer concerns, and support continuous improvement initiatives.
- Identify opportunities to improve sales processes, customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, and overall business performance.
- Comply with all applicable company policies, safety regulations, facility food safety requirements, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), quality standards, and product safety procedures.
- Perform other job-related duties as assigned by management, consistent with the responsibilities and objectives of the position.