Product Specialist: Brother (Cape Town)

Job Purpose: To deliver administrative assistance to the Product Manager concerning account management, order processing, sales inquiries, training, marketing, and liaison with clients and vendors. The individual will be tasked with selling products, training and supporting the sales team and resellers with inquiries, quotations, and stock availability. The Product Specialist is expected to effectively promote products and foster enduring relationships with vendors, the internal sales team, and existing clients. Additionally, this role will support the Product Manager in the daily operations of the division, undertaking any tasks deemed appropriate for delegation.

Responsibilities:

Product Management Support

• Assist with daily sales activities and contribute to the overall profitability.
• Ensure product content is accurate and updated promptly in the system/e-commerce platform.
• Verify purchase orders against confirmations to ensure no items are overlooked.
• Manage open orders with vendors and internally.
• Due Date Management.
• Oversee and place orders for back-ordered stock and run rates for specific deals.
• Conduct monthly competitive analyses.
• Generate new product codes while maintaining a consistent coding structure.
• Aid in the compilation and distribution of price lists; update price lists and system data.
• Review price lists for errors prior to distribution.
• Comprehend costing and shipping models and terminology, as well as margin management.
• Develop a solid understanding of Forex.
• Assist with tenders and quotes, ensuring that all pricing is accurate and all information is correct.
• Provide solutions and resolve issues in a timely manner.
• Employ logical thinking in decision-making.

Customer Satisfaction

• Address customer needs and ensure satisfaction is met.
• Maintain relationships with vendors, negotiating contracts, pricing, and stock levels.
• Thorough understanding of product life cycles and roadmaps to develop competitive advantages that maximize profitability.
• Collaborate closely with key customers to craft product and sales strategies.
• Identify and address product gaps to enhance customer experience and drive growth.
• Act as a liaison between Sales and Clients by providing product and information support, prioritizing activities based on business and customer impact.
• Negotiate pricing for deals and tenders; determine product pricing by leveraging market research data, anticipating volume, and costing special and customized orders.
• Maintain and nurture client relationships.
• Optimize product marketing communications, events, and business objectives.
• Vendor reports: ensure compliance with the submission of required Vendor reports as outlined in various Vendor distribution agreements.
• Participate in Vendor symposiums to stay informed about technology.

Marketing

• Oversee demo items and demo display areas.
• Occasionally, the Product Assistant may be required to travel to branches, conferences, and symposiums.
• Brand-specific responsibilities depending on the maturity of the assistant.
• Assist with marketing flyers, events, and incentives, including managing these initiatives (implement or support marketing campaigns).
• Contribute to marketing ideas and initiatives.
• Attend product-related events to network, learn, and promote.

Stock Management

• Keep ETAs of incoming stock updated in the system by reviewing back-order reports and coordinating with vendors.
• Manage aged stock and develop strategies to facilitate movement.
• Maintain current stock levels within budgeted days.
• Update the lab on outstanding and required stock.
• Build and sustain relationships with local suppliers.

Training and Development

• Enhance and maintain MS Office Excel skills and presentation abilities.
• Read and research products, technologies, and market trends to stay updated.
• Stay informed about the latest technologies and products by attending scheduled training sessions.
• Provide introductory and ongoing training to ensure the sales team and customers are well-informed about Mustek’s product offerings.

Qualifications and Experience

• Matric
• A tertiary qualification in marketing/sales would be beneficial.
• A minimum of 3 years’ experience in a marketing and sales environment at a similar level.

Skills and Knowledge:

• Sales and marketing principles and methodologies.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Knowledge of the ICT industry.
• Specific product knowledge.
• Understanding of sales and marketing principles and procedures.
• Verbal and non-verbal persuasion techniques and effective communication.
• Clear comprehension of products, technology, lifecycle, and driving factors.
• Familiarity with import and costing methodologies.
• Basic understanding of business operations and profitability.
• Data analysis and interpretation skills.
• Exceptional presentation capabilities.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Good relationship-building abilities.
• Proficient general administrative skills.
• Effective influencing and persuasion skills.
• Skills in strategy development.
• Negotiation capabilities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Good organizational skills.
• Strong people and customer management skills.
• Superior networking abilities.
• Outstanding presentation and public speaking skills.
• Effective communication skills.
• Competent information processing skills.
• Creative skills and idea generation capabilities.