The Requirements
To be a good fit for this opportunity you will have:- A bachelor’s degree (preferred) or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 2+ years of business-to-business (B2B) outside sales experience. Quick question for you - click here
- Proven cold calling experience.
- A track record of continuous sales growth.
- A strong history of quickly gaining credibility and partnering with a variety of business leaders and decision makers.
- Experience with territory management and/or route sales.
- A proven ability to make sound decisions and recommendations.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.
- Computer proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, as well as web-based systems and tools.
- An entrepreneurial spirit, hunter mentality and hands-on work ethic.
- The ability to successfully work independently from a home office environment.
- Experience demonstrating products as part of the sales cycle will also be a plus.
- Industrial/Manufacturing/Petrochemical/Refining.
- Food Service, Prep and Processing.
- Vehicle Wash.
- State Government, Non-Profit Organizations, Municipalities, Schools/Universities.
- Federal Government.
The Role
Reporting to the Area Sales Manager, Atlanta, as Outside Sales Representative your mission in this role will be to drive revenue growth and develop accounts by selling a wide array of products with excellent brand awareness, strong brand identity, and truly superior solutions. You will be given a set of zip codes within the Atlanta area, where you will be responsible for organizing, developing and growing a new territory in this local market.Working out of your home office, you will spend the majority of your time out in the field, meeting with customers, making presentations, demonstrating our products and working towards a close. Quick question for you - click here This is not a position where contacts will be handed to you; instead, you’ll need to be tenacious, driven and comfortable knocking on doors and finding ways to get to the key decision maker. Depending on your experience, you will most likely target customers within the automotive industry first, but you will have the opportunity to pursue any type of customer within your territory. You’ll have ownership over your route and the ability to drive the direction of your sales efforts.
Because you will be calling on an assortment of different customers, one day you could be in a suit and tie making a formal presentation to a corporation, and the next you could be getting your hands dirty demonstrating a cleaning product at a garage or childcare center. It’s essential that you are comfortable working in a variety of environments that may be sullied and grimy. In fact, that’s what you are there for -- to help customers find the right high-efficacy cleaning solutions for their specific needs.
More specifically, you will:
- Aggressively drive revenue growth through superior customer service and product knowledge
- Proactively develop new customer contacts and build long-lasting business relationships
- Listen to and evaluate customer needs and recommend and develop solutions utilizing a consultative approach
?Note: this description is intended to give you a general overview of the position and is not an exhaustive listing of duties and responsibilities.
Why Zep Inc.
Autonomy and support -- you will have the freedom to organize your territory and steer the direction of your sales efforts. At the same time, you'll enjoy the support and leadership of your Area Sales Manager. He will accompany you on ride-alongs once or twice a month and coach you as you build your book of business from the ground up. You will also have access to our Customer Support and Technical team that assist our Reps with order issues, technology hiccups and more.Career training and professional development
-- we will provide you with ongoing training on salesmanship, on our product offerings, technology, and anything else you may need to be successful in this position. We believe in promoting from within whenever possible and want to help develop you to grow into other positions within the organization. Prove yourself a star, and you’ll find there are plenty of avenues for advancement, such as a leadership or business development role.
Brand recognition -- you’ll be representing a company and product line that is second to none in the specialty chemical industry. Our growing portfolio of products and services meet the individual needs of our broadening customer base, giving you an unparalleled value proposition to leverage through your sales efforts.
Stability and growth -- you will enjoy the stability and respect we’ve gained as a market leader combined with entrepreneurial energy and exciting growth strategies. We’ve experienced unprecedented growth over the past two years, and you’ll play a key role in our continued success. Our long term growth strategy continues to focus on identifying and integrating accretive acquisitions, growing organically in targeted end-markets, expanding distribution and retail channels, driving manufacturing synergies, and continuing to improve operational efficiencies through diligent supply chain management and purchasing scale.
Great environment -- we recognize that corporate culture has as much impact on a company’s performance as its business strategy. We strive to deliver more than just financial results – we want to be a highly desirable place to work for all of our associates, and to continuously contribute to the improvement of our industry and to the communities in which we operate.
Sustainability and environmental stewardship -- we are committed to creating sustainable cleaning products and solutions, not only because it makes sound business sense, but also because diligent environmental stewardship ensures a better quality of life for current and future generations. Our goal is to incorporate sustainability best practices into every facet of our business operations. We continuously develop processes, products and services that reduce waste and minimize negative environmental impact. At the same time, we are conducting research and refining innovative technologies and solutions that will positively impact the environment far into the future.
Excellent compensation -- in addition to a base salary plus incentives based on your performance, we offer a comprehensive medical, dental and life insurance benefits package that includes all you would expect and more, including a 401(k) with a company match, tuition reimbursement and short term/long term disability.
?Video: Zep Values Wheel: Great companies achieve success by consistently behaving in ways that reflect their core values, and at Zep Inc., our values demonstrate who we are.
Keys to Success
To excel in this role you will be a hunter with an aggressive, “go-getter” mentality and thick skin. It’s important to note that you will call on a variety of customers across many different industries – from the automotive and manufacturing sectors to daycare facilities. You’ll need to be a chameleon, someone who can relate to and communicate with an array of different personalities, business types and work styles.Additionally, in order to be an outstanding Outside Sales Rep, you will have the ability to bounce back from disappointment. As an experienced sales professional, you already understand that you will hear “no” a lot, and it will be your resilience and ability to keep moving forward to the next prospect that will determine your success here.
About Us
Since its beginning in Atlanta, GA in 1937, Zep Inc.’s focus has been to offer customers the most comprehensive selection of top-quality industrial cleaning products in the industry, delivered with superior customer service and unmatched technical support. The breadth of Zep’s commercial cleaning product portfolio provides customized, superior solutions to a broad customer base that includes manufacturers, food processors and preparers, restaurants, hospitals, schools, municipalities, government agencies, hotels and car washes.Zep's commercial cleaning and equipment maintenance product portfolio includes multiple brand offerings of anti-bacterial and industrial hand care products, cleaners, degreasers, deodorizers, disinfectants, floor finishes, sanitizers, and pest and weed control products, as well as other high performance, professional grade chemical products. Zep markets these products and services under well-recognized and established brand names, such as Zep®, Zep Commercial®, Zep Professional™, Enforcer®, National Chemical®, Selig™, Misty®, Next Dimension™, Petro®, i-Chem®, TimeMist®, TimeWick, MicrobeMax™, Country Vet®, Konk™, Niagara National™ and a number of private-label brands.
Zep Inc.'s brands have been in existence since 1896 and are now part of the Zep name which was founded in 1937. Zep emerged as a public company in 2007 following its spin-off from Acuity Brands. Zep posted record fiscal 2012 sales of $654 million.
Zep Inc. is an organization that is committed to diversity within its workforce and encourages all interested candidates, including women, minorities, and former military personnel, to apply. It is the policy of Zep Inc. that all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability or sexual orientation.
Pictured: With more than 300,000 customers worldwide, Zep Inc. provides a comprehensive suite of high-efficacy, brand name commercial cleaning and maintenance solutions to a variety of industries and sectors.