Location: Los Angeles, CA Posted Date: Oct 1, 2024
Summary
At La Colombe we believe that being a good coffee partner means more than just offering a great cup of coffee. The Wholesale Team supports the city’s most dedicated chefs, restaurateurs, cafes, offices and hotels to ensure they complete consistent, high quality coffee programs. The Sales Representative plays a crucial role in this mission. This role will be responsible for customer experience, assisting clients to craft and implement a coffee program that meets La Colombe’s standard of excellence. We will lead a portfolio of legacy clients, allocating company resources appropriately to fulfill the clients’ needs. Source, convert, and onboard new clients to meet business targets. Develop ownership of relationships with key hospitality professionals. Assist account management team with day-to-day needs pertaining to the book of business. Work directly with the regional sales manager to target and win grand accounts
The Sales Representative will display patience under pressure, eagerness to undertake difficult tasks, and a sense of urgency when needed. At La Colombe, no task is too small, and the Sales Representative should embody this in all client interactions.
Responsibilities
CUSTOMER SERVICE:
Deliver the highest degree of customer service at every stage in the customer experience with detailed, reliable, and timely responses Communicate expertly with client stakeholders at manager, executive, and ownership levels
Anticipate and proactively take charge of difficult situations finding solutions for clients in line with La Colombe’s resources
INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE:
Stay current on new restaurant and hotel openings both locally and nationally
Participate in coffee related events including trade shows, throw-downs, seminars, and other after-hours events
Seek out new coffee products, equipment, and industry trends
Establish relationships with chefs, managers, and hospitality staff to improve your network
SALES:
Respond to incoming leads, with a 2-hour turnaround during business hours
Work with Regional Sales Manager to target Grand accounts
Apply CRM tools to supervise leads through the sales process and use La Colombe methodology to qualify leads
Negotiate and implement contracts in line with the equipment lending model
Build customized proposals to convert qualified leads into new clients and win business
Maintain CRM to communicate, track, and onboard new deals
PROJECT MANAGEMENT:
Provide consultation on all aspects of the coffee business, coffee equipment, product choice, layout design, and general business insights
Communicate and interact effectively with internal departments including client services, technical services, production, marketing, and retail
Work with the Food Service and National Accounts teams to execute complex deals
Maintain a flexible schedule allowing for, when needed, periodic travel, weekends, and after-hours work
LEADERSHIP:
Set a positive example for the AM team: assist in their day-to-day activities, providing mentorship, insight, and assistance with client requests
Be timely and prepared for meetings both internally and externally
Contribute to discussions, bringing a thoughtful point of view
Take ownership of a business volume
COMMUNICATION:
Develops productive working relationships with members of other departments including technical services, client services, marketing, ops team, and retail team
Identify key collaborators to move deals and projects forward, while considering their time and resources
Encouraged to update manager on deals, leads, and health of activity regularly
Requirements
Passionate about coffee
3 - 5 years' experience in the hospitality, sales, or coffee industry
Consistent track record of accomplishment in your professional career
Positive and professional interpersonal skills, both verbal and written
Strong listening skills; ability to interact with all levels of internal and external contacts
Must be a self-starter, a quick learner, and able to take constructive feedback
The ability to efficiently lead various high-priority responsibilities while keeping management informed
Flexibility to work occasional nights, weekends
Ability to travel locally (30 miles) and regionally (100+ miles), (80%, 20%, respectively)
Willingness to travel for 3 consecutive nights once or twice per month
Valid driver's license and vehicle
Ability to work 4-5 days in the market, visiting existing and potential new customers in person
Willingness to follow Covid19 guidelines and interact in-person
Preferred qualifications include:
1 - 3 years account management experience
Fine dining, specialty coffee, or 4-star hotel experience
Experience using sales tools (salesforce, HubSpot, etc.)
Experience with Microsoft/google suite (excel, word, PowerPoint or equivalents)
Coffee Certifications (Q-Grader, AST, etc.)
Detailed understanding of coffee’s journey from seed to cup, brewing techniques, extraction theory, and proficiency in coffee equipment
Compensation Range: $70,000.00 - $80,000.00, plus bonus.