Nicholas Forte
Summary
Results-driven Sales and Marketing Professional with over 10 years of experience in developing and executing strategic marketing plans to drive growth and increase brand visibility in the market. Skilled in building strong relationships with key stakeholders and implementing promotional activities to enhance product sales. Proficient in market research, analysis, and competitor monitoring to identify opportunities for expansion. A collaborative team player with excellent communication and sales management skills. Looking to leverage years expertise to drive business success in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Area Sales Manager
National Flour Mills
09.2024 - Current
- Established strong relationships with clients, inclusive of both Key Accounts and Down Trade resulting in increased customer retention and satisfaction.
- Enhanced team performance by providing ongoing coaching, training, and mentoring to sales representatives.
- Reported sales activity, generated sales quotations, and proposals and maintained customer contact database to achieve sales objectives and quota.
- Managed a successful sales team of three, with objective to achieve monthly sales targets.
- Managed a tactical merchandising team of eight, ensuring excellence in execution of all in store activities.
- Fostered a positive work environment within the sales team by encouraging open communication, teamwork, and mutual support among team members.
Trade Marketing Officer
ANSA Coatings Ltd
12.2021 - 07.2024
- Developed and executed trade marketing strategies to drive product visibility and sales in retail channels
- Analyzed market trends and competitor activities to identify opportunities for growth and optimization of trade marketing efforts
- Collaborated with sales teams to create promotional campaigns and incentives for key accounts
- Managed trade marketing budget to ensure ROI and profitability of marketing initiatives
- Monitored and reported on the performance of trade marketing activities, providing insights for continuous improvement and optimization of strategies
- Developed and implemented Sales Call training for Sales and Merchandising team in line with best practices of sales and merchandising principles
- Creation and deployment of POP material to support new product endeavours, leading to a 40% increase in Numeric Distribution
Trade Marketing Officer
West Indian Tobacco
07.2019 - 11.2021
- Managed merchandising team to ensure that installation of company assets was timely and strategic
- Improved install lead time from 6 weeks to 3 weeks maximum
- Develop and execute Strategies to boost brand development and sales through the analysis of sales data as well as POP success rate
- Coordinate infrastructure, signage, and market communication for the trade
- Manage merchandising and warehousing budget of more than one million dollars, ensuring optimum coverage for all trade materials
- Ensure optimal stock levels through management of warehouse assets, creation of minimum thresholds to accurately schedule reorders
- Implemented a real time inventory system which reduced discrepancies by 15%
- Ensure that all executions are within the standard of the Tobacco Control Act
- Monthly reports highlighting the impact of coverage of jobs executed
- Develop distribution and new product strategy for new product launches
- Quarterly Assessments of the Merchandising team, with 100% achievements of targets for the duration of the role
- Event Management; sponsorship and planning with promoters on event executions, inclusive of design and creation of zones, placement of assets as well uniforms and scripts for promoters
- Coaching and Mentoring of Trade Reps and Sales Teams, through rides alongs, to foster continuous development and trade acumen
Trade Marketing Officer
West Indian Tobacco
07.2015 - 07.2019
- Develop and implement a territory trade marketing plan which meets the objectives of the national trade marketing plan in the areas of brand, volume, merchandising and distribution
- Ensure that the territory distribution objectives of company brands are achieved in all outlets, including those which are not visited, by trade channel and outlet type in order that availability is maximised in line with brand strategies and the needs of the market
- Manage the implementation of account plans for merchandising and trade activities in the outlets of account chains to achieve account brand, volume and share objectives
- Train and motivate the Distributors' sales teams in order that trade marketing representation in outlets is superior to the competition in respect of both core and added value services
- Implement national presence in marketing and trade distribution programmes with optimum use of resources and materials to achieve the highest in-store visibility and sales performance for the key strategic brands throughout the territory by gaining the active support of the trade
- Establish close working relationships with the trade to gain elevated levels of trade support and loyalty whilst enhancing understanding of the trading environment
- Provide trade marketing information and reports (daily weekly) related to performance and accounts to ensure that the Area Manager and TM&D Manager are fully informed
- Keeps informed of all activities within the Cycle Planning process and follows and implements all decisions taken within given territory
- Coordinate and manage logistics, stock, promotional items, promotional staff and the opening and closing of company's marketing and sales booths at events with over 100k attendees
Sales Representative
ILLUMINAT (Trinidad and Tobago) Limited
07.2013 - 07.2015
- Provided technical expertise and product knowledge to customers to effectively communicate how our solutions meet their needs
- Successfully managed and grew a portfolio of accounts by building strong relationships and understanding customer pain points
- Collaborated with engineering and product development teams to provide feedback from customers and contribute to product improvements
- Exceeded sales targets by identifying opportunities for upselling and cross- selling additional products and services
Sales Associate
Unicomer (Trinidad) Limited
06.2012 - 06.2013
- Educated customers on the benefits of credit options (IFinance & Ready Finance) to drive sales and increase customer loyalty
- Collaborated with sales team to implement effective strategies for promoting credit options (Ready Finance) and closing sales
- Liaised with marketing to assist with Road Shows for the promotion of Ready Finance and other tangible and intangible services
- Appeared on television/radio as a means of communicating current promotional campaigns
- Built relationships with various community groups to partner with them for the promotion of the Ready Finance product
- Provided feedback to branch management on customer needs/preferences
Customer Service Representative
Body Glow Sports, and Nutrition
06.2011 - 05.2012
- Acted as point of contact for customers, handling inquiries, resolving issues, and ensuring customer satisfaction
- Constant review of new and existing products to provide customers with precise feedback
- Monitored sales while liaising with suppliers to ensure optimum stock levels
- Interacted with customers, while advising them which products would best suit their individual needs
Education
Project Management - for Business Professionals
School of Business and Computer Science
03.2012
BSC - Economics
University of the West Indies
05.2011
CXC Cape A’ Levels - 4 Subjects
College of the Immaculate Conception (CIC)
06.2007
CXC CSEC Certificate - 8 Subjects
College of the Immaculate Conception (CIC)
06.2005
Skills
- Category Management
- Customer Service
- Merchandising
- Warehouse Management
- Sales Reporting
- Relationship Management
- Strategic Marketing
- Promotional Engagement
- Brand Building
- Sales Team Management
References
- Sanjay Ramdass, Trade Marketing Manager, Ansa Coatings, 310-1065
- Nicholas Ling, Activation Manager, West Indian Tobacco Co. Ltd, 620-5562
- Blaire Superville, Area Manager, West Indian Tobacco Co., 742-4967
- Jeanine Richardson, Technical Sales Manager, Illuminat TT, 331-2304
- Kavita Chadee, Credit Sales Coordinator, Unicomer Trinidad Limited, 476-8404
Timeline
Area Sales Manager
National Flour Mills
09.2024 - Current
Trade Marketing Officer
ANSA Coatings Ltd
12.2021 - 07.2024
Trade Marketing Officer
West Indian Tobacco
07.2019 - 11.2021
Trade Marketing Officer
West Indian Tobacco
07.2015 - 07.2019
Sales Representative
ILLUMINAT (Trinidad and Tobago) Limited
07.2013 - 07.2015
Sales Associate
Unicomer (Trinidad) Limited
06.2012 - 06.2013
Customer Service Representative
Body Glow Sports, and Nutrition
06.2011 - 05.2012
BSC - Economics
University of the West Indies
CXC Cape A’ Levels - 4 Subjects
College of the Immaculate Conception (CIC)
CXC CSEC Certificate - 8 Subjects
College of the Immaculate Conception (CIC)
Project Management - for Business Professionals
School of Business and Computer Science
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