listening to customer requirements and presenting appropriately to make a sale
maintaining and developing relationships with existing customers in person and via telephone calls and emails
cold calling to arrange meetings with potential customers to prospect for new business; responding to incoming email and phone enquiries
acting as a contact between a company and its existing and potential markets
negotiating the terms of an agreement and closing sales
gathering market and customer information
representing their company at trade exhibitions, events and demonstrations
negotiating on price, costs, delivery and specifications with buyers and managers
challenging any objections with a view to getting the customer to buy
advising on forthcoming product developments and discussing special promotions
creating detailed proposal documents, often as part of a formal bidding process which is largely dictated by the prospective customer
liaising with suppliers to check the progress of existing orders
checking the quantities of goods on display and in stock
recording sales and order information and sending copies to the sales office, or entering figures into a computer system; reviewing your own sales performance, aiming to meet or exceed targets
gaining a clear understanding of customers businesses and requirements
making accurate, rapid cost calculations and providing customers with quotations
feeding future buying trends back to employers; attending team meetings and sharing best practice with colleagues.