The Sales Manager is at the center of the company's commercial policy. He works with customers, with the main objective of increasing the company's sales.
Given the importance of his work within the company, the commercial manager collaborates closely, both withsales team That with the management of the company. If you want to start this business, you will find everything you need to know below.
Sales manager: the definition
The commercial manager takes care of the commercial activity of a company as a whole and sets up strategies that allow improving sales performance. His work involves good management of sales prices, stocks, customer relationships, and the promotion of the company's products or services.
What is the role of a sales manager?
The role of the sales manager is multiple and varied. It starts with the customer relationship. In fact, the commercial manager makes it possible to make sales with potential customers, to follow up and retain former customers. His job with the client is to present the company's services and products to him, to put him in confidence and to provide him with all the information he needs.
It is also up to him to set up an effective sales system through the design of quotes and customer invoices, the monitoring of deliveries and the management of payments.
Internally, the sales manager takes care of inventory control in real time. He negotiates prices with suppliers, ensures replenishment and sets the prices of products in stock.
What is the salary for a sales manager?
The salary of a sales manager varies according to various factors.
How much does a sales manager earn?
In France, a sales manager receives a median gross salary of €27.5 million per year, or €2,292 per months. This salary varies according to the level of experience, degrees, performances and especially the company where the sales manager works.
Junior Sales Manager Salary
The average gross salary in France for a junior sales manager or beginner, is estimated to €24K per year (2000 euros monthly). This salary will increase with the various bonuses received.
Senior sales manager salary
For the more experienced sales manager, the average gross annual salary is €35,269. A good salary increase can be expected over the years.
Main missions of the sales manager
To achieve its ultimate goal, which is tooptimize the commercial performance of your company, the sales manager is called upon to perform a certain number of missions. This consists of:
- Insure prospecting new customers;
- Recontact and Solicit former customers ;
- Keep a record of all the company's customers;
- Establishing quotes, delivery notes and customer and supplier invoices;
- Set up a follow-up of deliveries and a quality after-sales service;
- Carry out a complete follow-up of sales statistics and a estimating future sales;
- Set sales prices and ensure stock management and restocking;
- Take care of relationships with suppliers;
- Supervise and collaborate with commercial agents in the field.
The purpose of the commercial manager's role is to provide management with the indicators necessary to guide the future. commercial policy of the company.
Qualities to have for this position
The job of commercial manager requires a certain number of skills and competencies. Indeed, being called upon to work with many collaborators, the sales manager must demonstrate leadership and know how to work in a team. He must also be able to manage voltages And the conflicts within his team. In order to cope with the numerous missions that are his, he must demonstrate rigor and a great sense of organization.
A good business manager is one who knows how to analyze situations and make decisions; he knows how to adapt. It is capable of providing good results even under stress or under pressure. Finally, to qualify for this profession, it is essential to be a good communicator and to know how to listen in order to be able manage customers and suppliers.
How do I become a sales manager?
To become a sales manager and excel in this job, it is good to have certain knowledge. In addition to the essential training, sales managers must have certain skills if they want to be able to meet the requirements of the current market.
Skills needed to become a sales manager
Commercial management requires a good level of marketing. The sales manager must have a good command of sales techniques and procedures but also all the legislation relating to sales. He must be able to analyze the company's figures and therefore have a financial background. This job also requires a good knowledge of management techniques.
To attract new customers, the sales manager must master the prospecting methods as well as the services and products offered by his company. Being a good commercial negotiator is an essential skill in this profession.
Moreover, with the emergence of sales management tools such as CRM (Customer Relationship Management), a good command of the IT tool is no longer an option. Finally, in order not to be limited in his exchanges with his customers and suppliers who may come from everywhere, the sales manager must have a certain level of English.
What training courses to become a sales manager?
To qualify for this profession you must have at least one Bac+2 diploma in the commercial or marketing sector. So here are some diplomas that can allow you to become a sales manager in France: a BTS in business, a Bachelor of Commerce, a Bachelor in economics and management, a Pro Commerce license, a master on sale, in trade, or in Management. You can also choose a course in business or engineering school.
What career developments are there for this position?
After a career in the profession, a sales manager will be able to apply for more important positions. Indeed, based on his experience, he will be able to perform functions such as sales manager, managing director of a regional agency or director of a subsidiary in a bigger company. He will also be able to embark on a career of independent sales consultant.
It is important to note that it will always be easier for the former sales manager to adapt to a company that operates in the same field as his previous company.
FAQ: Becoming a Sales Manager
What baccalaureate to be a commercial manager?
To get to the position of sales manager, some will choose to go through a Bac general. Others will opt for a Specialized baccalaureate like:
- one Professional bachelor's degree in commercial management ;
- one Professional diploma in consultancy-sales technician ;
- one Professional bachelor's degree in business ;
- one Professional high school diploma (sales option).
The student can then continue with higher studies in marketing or business.
What are the appropriate retraining profiles?
Because of their extensive knowledge in the fields of commerce, marketing, management or sales in general, many job profiles can be retrained as sales managers. Their experience will be of great help. Thus, the retraining profiles adapted to the job of sales manager are among others: technical sales engineer, strategy consultant, real estate agent, sales agent, key account manager, retail coordinator.
In short, the position of commercial manager is essential in the functioning of businesses. It is a profession that offers a reasonable salary and numerous prospects for development. If you want to become a sales manager, follow specialized training and learn the basics of the sales profession with the unique sales training that guarantees a permanent contract. The Akimbo Bootcamp is an intensive two-month sales course created by our sales experts with over 15 years of experience.