Alliance Beverage Distributing
Wine Brand Manager
Grand Rapids, MI - Full Time
Manage a portfolio of suppliers to meet the Company sales and revenue goal. Upon approval of goals and strategies, translate them into individual supplier action plans for the company to meet or exceed the sales goals. Provide the resources and training necessary to the staff to aid in reaching both suppliers and company goals.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES:
Critical Components
- Responsible for corporate direction of brands; developing and growing brands, meeting supplier needs and set priorities; meeting and exceeding the changing needs of the customer as it relates to product opportunities within the industry.
- Acquiring new brands available within the industry to meet the changing industry environment.
- Responsible for products carried, pricing, POS, promotion of product, marketing plans, or all aspects of the supplier relationship with the company.
- Provide guidance to Purchasing Department on inventory levels and purchasing related logistics.
- Be the primary resource of knowledge for your respected brands for all of ABD personnel.
- Responsible for all SKU’s carried and the pricing/margin associated with products.
- Create Market Plans meeting company needs on a timely basis.
- Establish and monitor ABD standards for respective brands; motivate and insure teams achieve results.
- Work as needed to fill any open time slots during special events.
The following are additional responsibilities as they relate to brand management.
Supplier Contact
- Be the primary contact for assigned suppliers, with 100% accountability for company performance with their brands.
- Act in a professional manor when interacting with suppliers, support the company’s position with that supplier.
- Attend supplier meetings and training sessions sharing information gathered and learned with ABD personnel.
- Create a new product “Action Plan” for all new products and product extensions. This includes what, why, how, where and how much we are going to sell.
- Conduct performance evaluations for all “Market Plans” at 30, 60, 90, 180 day intervals to assess if it’s reaching our expectations.
- Create a second plan of attack for all products not meeting expectations of their original “Market Plan”
- Work with supplier representatives in the street to increase sales and monitor performance of their products.
- Coordinate and balance the needs and desires of our supplier partners with ABD goals and objectives.
- Actively search and solicit new brands/suppliers.
- Maintain or exceed agreed upon profit margins overall all and by supplier.
- Maintain current and accurate “supplier contracts” files for all brands.
- Working with the supplier, develop creative market plans, sales incentives and promotions to maximize sales.
- Assure that all available promotional monies are recaptured and tracked through our bill-back system.
- Provide proper pre and post planning of all supplier meetings including: sales status, inventory problems, bill-backing, recaps, communication to ABD staff.
Customer Contact – Satisfaction
- Regularly visits customers to evaluate work performance, distribution, merchandising, ascertain customer problems and detect market trend searching for sales opportunities. Insure customer satisfaction.
- In charge of all materials that will aid the customers in doing business with the company including: price lists, custom POS, image builders….
Staff Interaction and Managerial Functions
- Act as a supplier to staff, motivate and train to sell these products.
- Work with the Chain Manager, sharing ideas, concepts and plans so that they can aid in proper authorizations and pricing. Provide proper lead time.
- Work with other Managers and Team Leaders to ensure execution of programs, marketing programs, attaining ABD standards, supplier goals, new product introductions and chain promotions and authorizations
- Create product allocations, market plan objectives by team leader and properly communicate and monitor to performance.
- Work with POS Manager on ordering, stocking and creation of POS.
- Aid Sales Managers in conducting retail audits for company standards
- Spend at least 20% of time working in trade with company staff or supplier staff on a whole day basis.
Training and Development
- Provide sales training to ensure that the sales and sales support people have the skills necessary to meet the sales and marketing objectives of the respective supplier.
- Make yourself available to do team work with days with sales and team leaders on a regular schedule so as to work with every sales representative and team leader at least yearly.
Analysis and Planning
- Contribute to the overall planning process of the company.
- In conjunction with the Sales Managers, help establish and keep current “ABD standards.”
- Monitor the execution of market plans and incentive programs to ensure that programs are executed as designed.
- Work from a well thought out plan of time allocation for yourself and provide regular recaps to the Sales managers and Team Leaders.
- Identify problems and opportunities and develop a plan to overcome.
- Plan the work and work the plan.
- Report and track in weekly meetings, category profit margins, sales, expense, budgeting and quality assurance.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree from a four-year College or University; or minimum of five years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Proven track record of success in sales or marketing roles.
- Ability to define problems, collects data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
- Proficient with computers, knowledgeable with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Have a valid Michigan Driver's License.
- Ability to acquire a Michigan Liquor Control Card.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Have the ability to stand on a hard surface for up to 4 hours at a time. Bend and lift product weighing up to 165 lb. each, using both hands. Be able to see product and discern dissimilar colors, and numbers. Be able to communicate effectively and listen to instruction both face to face and over the phone.
JOB STATION:
Work is primarily performed at Alliance Beverage within an office setting, as well as customer and supplier locations.
Benefits:
- Great health benefits.
- Medical - Three low premium plans for you to choose from:
- A completely free plan for you and your entire family with a generous company HSA contribution.
- A low-cost plan with an HSA contribution.
- A low deductible plan with an FSA option.
- Low-cost Dental plan
- Low-cost Vision plan
- Medical - Three low premium plans for you to choose from:
- Other ancillary benefits.
- 401(k) plan with company match
- Company Paid Life Insurance
- Company Paid Accidental Death and Dismemberment
- Company Paid Short Term Disability
- Paid Time Off
- Paid Sick Time
- Paid Parental Leave
- Product discounts. We offer generous employee discounts on product purchases.
Please come JOIN the Alliance Beverage family!
About Alliance Beverage:
In 1963 a man named Larry Gary, originally from the west side of Chicago, decided that owning a beer distributorship in Grand Rapids Michigan would be more fun than running a bowling alley. That was the moment that the company called Kent Beverage began.
At the same time a man named Tim Sullivan, originally from the east side of Detroit, was happily running a construction business. However, when Tim noticed his friends, who owned beer distributorships, were having more fun, he had to get one of his own. And he did, when he purchased B&B Beer in the late 1970’s!
Both businesses grew and prospered. Both businesses were passed from fathers to sons and continued to succeed in their territories until one day, over a pint, these two families decided to form a joint venture whereby the two companies combined would be stronger than the sum of their parts. They called the company Alliance Beverage and it was born May 13, 2013.
From the beginning, our company has recruited the best talent available, contributing to the highest standards of performance~ because we work together with commitment, & integrity.
Today, Alliance has more than 450 team members and services over 5,000 customers across the Western half of Michigan. With three distribution facilities and six sales offices, our employees live and are active in the communities they serve.
