POSITION SUMMARY

The B2B Champion reports directly to the store manager with the primary responsibility of building, growing, and maintaining positive relationships with existing and new business customers to increase sales. They work in support of the outside sales rep and the sales manager. The person in this role is the trusted hardware consultant and advisor for local business customers to ensure they have the supplies they need to keep their business running. This person will be a brand ambassador on the retail sales floor, providing exceptional support and actively cultivating community relationships to drive new sales leads. At the store manager's discretion, this role may include responsibility for a specific department (e.g., Plumbing, Electrical, Fasteners). This is a fast-paced active environment which will require focus, flexibility, and time management skills. In addition to being the main point of contact for business customers, this person is tasked with building B2B into the culture of the store. This entails building excitement and awareness with the staff, ensuring everyone is trained and understands their role in B2B and keeping B2B top of mind day to day by sharing success stories and celebrating wins. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Create and manage the process of capturing leads inside the store and converting them to business accounts. 
• Refer leads to the sales manager or sales rep for further follow-up.
• Generate new leads and build relationships, connecting over the phone or through personal in-store visits and in-store workshops and events.
• Reach out to customers over the phone and follow up as needed.
• Research current and potential customers to understand their business and educate them on the value of working with Ace.
• Conduct sales calls over the phone with current customers, prospect with new customers and follow up on opportunities in a timely manner.
• Use monthly reports to identify and target specific customers who represent an opportunity for sales growth based on purchasing patterns and account variances.
• Maintain sales & gross margin by maintaining discounts in accordance with the store business discount policy.
• Validate inventory levels to meet expectations set with business customers.
• Manage the sourcing of products for special orders via vendors, internet research, etc.      
• Provide input to the store manager and buyers on whether a product should be added to the store inventory mix.
• Ensure orders are received, maintained in the designated area and customers are notified for pickup or delivery.
• May be assigned a department responsibility such as Plumbing, Electrical, or Fasteners at the store manager’s discretion. 
• Educate store staff and help them understand their role in B2B. Work with the store manager and the sales manager to train, motivate, and coach store staff.
• Use huddles, communication boards, and store meetings as the means to communicate the store’s performance, and educate, engage, and motivate the team.
• Provide direct support to the B2B sales manager and the B2B sales rep.
• Updates and maintains the store’s B2B online accounts through the Online B2B Management Tool. 
• Uses Salesforce to track all sales calls and leads.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES 

• High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED); or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Sales experience with retail and/or business customers, ability to establish relationships with customers and fellow associates.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills as well as being comfortable talking with existing and new customers.
• Develop and maintain client relationships and strategic partnerships.
• Strong organizational and time management skills. Must have excellent attention to detail and follow up.
• Ability to work independently and during flexible hours.
• Comfortable with computers, various applications, technology, and the internet. PC skills including knowledge of Excel, Word, PowerPoint & Outlook.
• Bilingual (Spanish) verbal and written communication skills strongly preferred. 
• Possess a valid driver license with an acceptable driving record in accordance with company’s insurance carrier’s standards.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT:

• Ability to stand for an extended period, frequently walk, reach and bend to perform job duties
• Move and handle merchandise up to 50 pounds as well rearrange fixtures throughout the store as needed

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If you are ready to join a loving and enthusiastic team that values your skills and offers great benefits like paid time off, health insurance, and employee discounts, apply now to become our B2B Champion at Ace Hardware!

Company Introduction

We are your local hardware store and we are a part of your community. Ace Hardware has over 5,000 stores around the world with the majority of those stores independently owned and operated by local entrepreneurs. These hard working men and women are part of the fabric of your community. They are small business owners who are local and loyal...just like it ought to be. While others have become large and impersonal, at Ace, we've remained small and very personal. That's why we say a visit to Ace, is like a visit to your neighbor.