We are looking for the ideal team player to join our company as an Account Specialist—an important role that needs excellent communication, organizational skills, and a problem-solving mindset. As someone who interacts with clients, you'll handle details carefully, showing strong verbal and written communication skills. This role gives you a special chance to mix organizational know-how, solving technical issues, and building relationships for great results.
The Account Specialist is vital for our operations, ensuring the sustained growth and success of both Creeden and our valued clients. It's a mid-level position, perfect for those with titles like Sales/Marketing Assistant or Coordinator, offering a chance to boost your career. Join us to contribute to our overall success with your skills and dedication to doing great work.
Account Specialist (Sales & Marketing)
For over 40 years, Creeden has been one of the leading sales & marketing firms in the Home Improvement Industry proudly representing some of the most powerful brands with the world’s largest retail, industrial and e-commerce customers. Creeden provides exceptional value in all sales & marketing activities to grow our manufacturer & retail partner’s business through field sales, trade show support, headquarter programs and relationship management.
Location: Bensenville, IL (Chicago area)
Job Title: Account Specialist
Overview:
- Sales Support – The primary duty of this role is to support & enable our headquarter sales team in executing core business functions and key initiatives throughout the year.
- Client Centric – Our core focus is always our clients; this requires a commitment to our clients’ needs and the ability to multitask and pivot quickly to incoming demands as they arise.
- Travel & Field Support – In this role, there is some travel in order to support the team’s needs. Examples of this are attending trade shows, traveling to customer corporate office to assist in corporate initiatives or assist in field program resets (~up to 10-15%).
Responsibilities:
Building and Nurturing Client Relationships:
- Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with client accounts.
- Serve as the primary or secondary point of contact between the company and its clients.
- Provide vital back-end administrative support for client accounts to ensure seamless operations and timely responses to team requests.
- Collaborate closely with the Account Team to comprehend client needs and preferences, assisting in the execution of tailored solutions and promotions.
- Participate in client meetings and assist the Account Team in presenting information and addressing client inquiries.
Creating Marketing Material:
- Develop and produce impactful marketing materials, including Sell Sheets, Sales Training Material, and Show Books.
- Oversee the administration of marketing materials on customer and client portals.
Trade Show Support:
- Manage the submission of necessary paperwork and forms for trade shows.
- Coordinate the ordering of samples, tracking their arrival, and ensuring all are properly accounted for.
- Facilitate travel logistics, track documents, and manage badge ordering and registration.
- Assist with the setup and teardown of booths.
- Create comprehensive booth binders.
- Represent account teams at trade shows when necessary.
Client Database & System Management:
- Oversee the addition of new items/products and stocked SKUs.
- Manage price changes and the discontinuation of old products.
- Ensure timely updates of images and content.
- Coordinate changes in shelf packs.
Order Processing:
- Process and manage warehouse orders, ensuring accuracy and timely delivery.
- Collaborate with relevant departments or clients to coordinate order fulfillment and resolve any issues that may arise.
- Serve as the front-line communicator for specialized customer quotes.
Communication & Collaboration:
- Act as a liaison between the account team and other departments, fostering effective communication.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams such as outside sales and customer service to ensure a coordinated approach to account management.
Sales & Administrative Support:
- Assist in the onboarding of new clients.
- Create planograms using JDA software.
- Track sales and generate data reports using Excel, analyzing key performance indicators.
Required Competencies
- Customer Focused – Our number one goal is to serve our customers. Providing outstanding service to internal and external customers is a daily process and goal.
- Work Ethic & Integrity – We represent a culture of hard work and ethical business principles. We look for individuals with a high level of personal integrity.
- Conscientious – Critical to the role is the desire to do ones work to completion and in a thorough manner with the desire to exceed the expectations of the customer.
- Problem Solving - Excellent problem-solving skills and resourceful thinking is a must when serving our customers. We want engaged, thoughtful and conscientious employees with the ability to make decisions to solve the customers’ needs.
- Continuous Improvement – Core to our business belief is the understanding that things can always be improved. Openness to changing oneself and personal improvement is expected.
- Product Knowledge - Develops and maintains vast knowledge of the products and services being offered.
- Communication – Strong written and verbal communication.
- Teamwork – Collaborative team-player with exhibited ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team. It is critical for this role that members work together to achieve goals as a team, encourage teamwork and have good conflict resolution skills.
- Professionalism We expect our associates to project a high level of professionalism and business etiquette including a professional appearance and communication style.
- MS Office – Must be proficient in MS Office applications including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Education/Experience
A bachelor’s degree is preferred; however, we will consider candidates with 2-4 years of equivalent work experience in an office, customer facing or retail environment.
Benefits
Creeden offers a competitive compensation and benefits package including:
- Paid Time Off
- Paid & Floating Holidays
- Sick/Volunteer/Bereavement/Jury Duty Time
- Parental Leave
- Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance (HSA & FSA Options)
- Life & Disability Insurance
- 401k Plan with 4% Company Match
- Flexible Work Hours & Remote Work Options
- Cell Phone Stipend
- Employee Referral Bonus
- Employee Assistance Program