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.