Wine & Champagne Account Manager (Wine Jobs: Sales & Marketing)

  Vintage Fine Wine Distributors

  Perth, Western Australia

Company

Vintage Fine Wine Distributors (VFWD) is a privately-owned wholesale wine and spirit importation and distribution business established in 2016, primarily to service the independent retail trade, and on-premise establishments in Western Australia.

The range of wines and spirits selected are of the highest quality and offer terrific value.  In keeping with the bespoke business model, the service offered to customers is provided by a small team of well educated, experienced and loyal professionals who are empowered to deliver very personalised and informed assistance, compatible with customer requirements.  You will have the freedom to be yourself and make relationships with clients in ways that are natural to you, i.e., no scripted sales pitches or pressure to sell in ways that are not suited to you. 

VFWD products currently have a major presence in many well-known independent retail liquor stores throughout WA, as well as award winning hospitality venues in Perth, the Southwest and the Kimberley.

Role

VFWD has a part time incentivized position now available, covering the Fremantle and CBD areas of Perth. We also have flexibility to the area you would cover should you have existing relationships in other territories. The profit share fee structure also encompasses bonuses and a small monthly allowance. VFWD represent a unique and exciting range of premium fine wines from Italy, France, South Africa and Australian producers, that focus on wines of provenance and regionality. Also in our portfolio are a range of premium gins including UK and, arguably the world’s best gin, in Procera, produced in Africa.

Reporting to the Director, and Business Development and Key Account Manager, your responsibilities will be to manage and administer sales, encourage growth and help boost our premium image. You will be responsible for developing long-term relationships with potential new customers in the South Metropolitan and CBD region, as well as maintaining existing relationships with current customers in these regions.

Typical role tasks include:

• Developing new business within Fremantle, and CBD.
• Manage and develop relations with existing customers in your territory.
• Plan and prioritise your sales activities and customer/prospect contact towards achieving agreed business aims, including costs and sales - especially managing personal time and productivity.
• Plan and manage your business portfolio/territory/business according to an agreed market development strategy.
• Maintain and develop existing and new customers through appropriate propositions, sales methods, and relevant internal liaison, to optimise quality of service, business growth, and customer satisfaction.
• Plan/carry out/support local marketing activities to agreed budgets and timescales, and integrate personal sales efforts with other organised marketing activities, e.g., product launches, promotions, wine dinners/events, advertising and exhibitions.
• Communicate, liaise, and negotiate internally and externally using appropriate methods to facilitate the development of profitable business and sustainable relationships.
• Attend training to develop relevant knowledge, techniques and skills.
• Provide monthly sales/activity reports.
• Conduct wine tastings with potential and current customers using sample stock.
• Receive wine sales from customers and on-forward for ordering within order timeframe parameters.
• Conduct in store wine tastings with retail customers on request.
• Be available to accompany visiting winemakers and/or sales and marketing managers that visit during the year to your customer base.

About You

• We are looking for someone who is able to build new relationships with a genuine passion and love for wine. 
• Ideally you would have completed a minimal level of wine education. Candidates with WSET Qualifications will be viewed favourably.
• Wine Account Management, Retail or Sommelier experience desired, as is hospitality experience though not essential.
• This position is ideally suited to someone who already has another form of part time or casual employment, is studying part-time and or/has an existing income stream. 
• Ideally residing in south or central suburbs, as territory portfolio includes regular travel to Fremantle, and CBD.
• Contacts in the southern suburbs and CBD hospitality sectors: retail, restaurants, bars and clubs are highly desired.
• It is essential that you are numbers driven, ambitious, and strategic in your approach to selling.
• Excellent communication, well organised, possess time management skills, computer literate, presentable, sound negotiation skills and record keeping skills are required.
• Highly developed customer service is essential.
• The position demands someone who is self-motivated and willing to build up a strong foundation of key clients in their prescribed territory.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects at a time while paying strict attention to detail and time management.

Tenure/duration of contract

This is a contract position. The role has the flexibility for you to design it to fit your situation and the hours are up to you. It could be 2 (or more) full days of work, or a few half-days throughout the week. Engagement of services will initially be for a period of three months, with the possibility of extension. As an independent contractor to VFWD, the work location, vehicle and hours that are worked are at the discretion of the incumbent.

Applicants who require a full-time salaried position are not suited to this role and will not be short listed for interview. 

Special Requirements

Applicants must have a valid driver’s licence and own or have access to a car. RSA certification is essential. A copy of your driver’s licence will be requested at interview. Incumbent must also have a valid Australian Business Number. Applicant must have own or access to PC/laptop as email ID will be provided to incumbent. 

Fee, Benefits & Support

Please note this is a commission-based/profit share role with a monthly allowance. Sales fees earned will be based on a profit share arrangement for each product sold. Expected earnings and further information will be provided at interview.

Initial in-house tastings and tasting advice, including accompaniment to a day of prospective customer visits will be provided by the Director, Business Development and Key Account Manager.

Prospective customer lists will be provided for designated territories.

After initial three-month period, attendance at a suitable wine education course may be made available as required.

How To Apply

Please apply with your updated resume.

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