A distribution sales manager is tasked to find whole and retail sellers to distribute goods and services. Alongside distribution, the manager's tasks include monitoring all sales, orders, product performance, and retailer feedback to further improve the product. The distribution manager must also have skills in email marketing, B2B correspondence, engage with potential clients and customers, and ensuring all orders are fulfilled on time and without delays.
On This Page Responsibilities Skills And Traits Comparisions Types of Distribution Sales Manager
As a distribution sales manager, one's responsibilities are pivotal to the overall success of the role. They involve defining distribution and direct sales business models, as well as generating leads and supporting sales through distribution channels. They maintain accurate inventory, coordinate with major retailers, and resolve customer complaints. Furthermore, they plan and execute strategies to expand market penetration and develop business intelligence on competitors, customers, and market trends. Ken Corbit Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in Marketing at Texas Christian University, emphasizes the importance of strategic company selection, tech proficiency, hands-on experience, and strong research skills for a distribution sales manager. He advises, "Focus on joining companies with robust sales training programs. Familiarize yourself with cutting-edge sales technologies. Actively engage in live calling. Develop strong research skills to evaluate companies based on fit, growth opportunities, compensation structures, and overall potential."
Here are examples of responsibilities from real distribution sales manager resumes:
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Download Chrome ExtensionWe calculated that 21 % of Distribution Sales Managers are proficient in Customer Service , Customer Complaints , and Sales People . They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills , Communication skills , and Customer-service skills .
We break down the percentage of Distribution Sales Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
Common skills that a distribution sales manager uses to do their job include "customer service," "customer complaints," and "sales people." You can find details on the most important distribution sales manager responsibilities below.
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a distribution sales manager to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "sales managers must collect and interpret complex data to target the most promising geographic areas and demographic groups, and determine the most effective sales strategies." Distribution sales managers often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "analyzed and evaluated the effectiveness of distributor sales reps through the use of scorecards. "
Communication skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling distribution sales manager duties is communication skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "sales managers need to work with colleagues and customers, so they must be able to communicate clearly." According to a distribution sales manager resume, here's how distribution sales managers can utilize communication skills in their job responsibilities: "assisted customers with orders * sold electronic devices * customer support/telecommunication"
Customer-service skills. This is an important skill for distribution sales managers to perform their duties. For an example of how distribution sales manager responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "when helping to make a sale, sales managers must listen and respond to the customer’s needs." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a distribution sales manager: "carried out direct sales weekly to existing customers while building relationships by securing new customers. ".
Leadership skills. For certain distribution sales manager responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "leadership skills." The day-to-day duties of a distribution sales manager rely on this skill, as "sales managers must be able to evaluate how their sales staff performs and must develop strategies for meeting sales goals." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what distribution sales managers do: "attended sales training camp and brought best practices leadership back to the company. "
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Check your career mapA sales product manager is responsible for monitoring the sales performance of a specific product and ensuring that the marketing strategies adhere to market standards and client requirements. Sales product managers work closely with the marketing and public relations team to enhance the product's brand image on various market platforms to reach the target audience. They also conduct data and statistical analysis to identify business opportunities that would generate more revenue resources and increase the company's profitability.
The annual salary of product managers/sales is $43,671 higher than the average salary of distribution sales managers.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both distribution sales manager and product manager/sales positions are skilled in customer service, customer complaints, and sales people.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a distribution sales manager are more likely to require skills like "retail store," "route sales," "erp," and "sales territory." On the other hand, a job as a product manager/sales requires skills like "product management," "cycle management," "product development," and "project management." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Product managers/sales earn the highest salaries when working in the education industry, with an average yearly salary of $108,541. On the other hand, distribution sales managers are paid more in the technology industry with an average salary of $88,153.The education levels that product managers/sales earn slightly differ from distribution sales managers. In particular, product managers/sales are 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a distribution sales manager. Additionally, they're 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.
A regional sales and marketing manager's role is to oversee a company's marketing operations, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities include performing research and analysis to identify new business opportunities, gathering and analyzing data to determine the strengths and weaknesses of current programs and procedures, setting goals and budgets, assessing the performance of the workforce, and monitoring the progress of the different company branches within the region. Furthermore, as a regional sales and marketing manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the employees to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
A career as a regional sales and marketing manager brings a higher average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a distribution sales manager. In fact, regional sales and marketing managers salary is $17,438 higher than the salary of distribution sales managers per year.A few skills overlap for distribution sales managers and regional sales and marketing managers. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "sales people," "product line," and "business development. "
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that distribution sales manager responsibilities requires skills like "customer service," "customer complaints," "retail store," and "route sales." But a regional sales and marketing manager might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "digital marketing," "customer satisfaction," "sales process," and "regional sales."
Regional sales and marketing managers earn a higher average salary than distribution sales managers. But regional sales and marketing managers earn the highest pay in the automotive industry, with an average salary of $100,223. Additionally, distribution sales managers earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $88,153 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Regional sales and marketing managers tend to reach similar levels of education than distribution sales managers. In fact, they're 1.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.
The account sales manager is in charge of the retention of their customer relationship. They have to supervise the portfolio of existing clients, develop new business with them, and seek new sales opportunities. Account sales managers act as liaisons between the company and customer as well as build strong, long-lasting relationships by providing an improved customer experience. It is their responsibility to negotiate contracts and close deals to maximize sales profits. Also, they forecast track sales results and prepare reports on account status.
On average scale, sales account managers bring in lower salaries than distribution sales managers. In fact, they earn a $6,191 lower salary per year.Using the responsibilities included on distribution sales managers and sales account managers resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "customer service," "customer complaints," and "product line.rdquo;
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from distribution sales manager resumes include skills like "sales people," "retail store," "route sales," and "market trends," whereas a sales account manager is more likely to list skills in "crm," "customer satisfaction," "account management," and "powerpoint. "
Sales account managers earn the best pay in the technology industry, where they command an average salary of $68,777. Distribution sales managers earn the highest pay from the technology industry, with an average salary of $88,153.When it comes to education, sales account managers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to distribution sales managers. In fact, they're 2.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.
Sales or Field Sales Managers oversee the group in charge of conducting sales activities outside of the office or company branches. They manage field sales employees by hiring and training them. They also set goals on a weekly or monthly basis. They provide strategic direction to ensure that these goals are met. They monitor the performance of the team and identify areas for improvement. They would then create programs to address these challenges. Field Sales Managers should be familiar with the company's target market. They should also be familiar with the scope of area operations. This would help them create strategies in the context of their target market. Field sales managers should have a strong sales background and a determined attitude.
Sales/field sales managers tend to earn a higher pay than distribution sales managers by an average of $15,436 per year.While their salaries may vary, distribution sales managers and sales/field sales managers both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "customer service," "product line," and "business development. "
Even though a few skill sets overlap between distribution sales managers and sales/field sales managers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a distribution sales manager might have more use for skills like "customer complaints," "sales people," "retail store," and "customer relations." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of sales/field sales managers require skills like "lead generation," "account management," "training sessions," and "powerpoint. "
In general, sales/field sales managers earn the most working in the professional industry, with an average salary of $80,605. The highest-paying industry for a distribution sales manager is the technology industry.sales/field sales managers reach similar levels of education compared to distribution sales managers, in general. The difference is that they're 4.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.
