Sales Representative - Wine & Spirits

Empire Merchants North is the premier wine and spirits distributor in Upstate New York with roots going back to the end of Prohibition. With more than 600 dedicated employees and state-of-the-art facilities, Empire Merchants North has become synonymous with both service and quality and has earned the loyalty of more than 9,000 area restaurants, bars, hotels, nightclubs, and retail outlets. Empire Merchants North acts as a marketing agent for the brands that we represent and is proud to employ the most knowledgeable and well-equipped sales force in Upstate New York.

We are seeking a high energy, motivated Sales Representative
- Wine and Spirits (Moet Hennessy/Freedom Division) / Oneida, Onondaga, and Jefferson Counties

Our Sales Representatives maximize the sales of supplier brands to the trade and consumer through effective territory planning, selling, merchandising, and communication that permits achievement of company and supplier objectives.

• Plan times and activities to achieve company and supplier volume, distribution, and merchandising objectives within the assigned territory.
• Call on accounts daily, following an efficient route to ensure all assigned accounts are visited in compliance with company frequency standards.
• Keep route sheets up to date and develop positive customer relations with owners, managers, and all account employees.
• Analyze the total territory and each account to determine priority selling and merchandising opportunities.
• Prepare and present professional sales presentations tailored to current supplier programs and customer needs.
• Interact with ADS, Supplier Representatives, and Promotional Agency Representatives to achieve objectives.
• Preplans are subject to change and review by management for coaching and counseling opportunities.
• Attend mandatory training, such as company and supplier sponsored classes, wine education classes, etc.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of company and competitive brand pricing and product features.
• Follow the principles of Sales Skills and Fundamentals Training (Prepare, Present Effectively, and Activate your business).
• Present the portfolio and current programs in each account to increase sales and generate maximum revenue and case volume.
• Use monthly pitch or program book, tasting notes, sell sheets, and supplier information effectively.
• Off Premise:
• Obtain appropriate off-premise distribution of supplier brands, types, and sizes as directed by management.
• Communicate with owners, managers, clerks, stock persons, and anyone concerned with product sale.
• Conduct staff trainings, achieve supplier shelf standards, adjacencies, facings, cold box presence, etc.
• Gain feature price, promotion, and display merchandising support using sales trends and retailer inventory.
• On Premise:
• Obtain appropriate on-premise distribution of supplier brands, types, and sizes as directed by management.
• Communicate with owners, managers, beverage managers, bartenders, wait staff, key kitchen personnel, and all concerned with product sale.
• Gain wine list presence, internal servicing skills, execution of wines-by-the-glass, conduct wait‑staff trainings, gain back bar distribution, and proper back bar merchandising.
• Request permanent POS materials for accounts to ensure brand visibility and account dominance.
• Work with supplier representatives and company managers on supplier work‑withs, providing notice and following up on commitments.
• Maintain proper rotation of products in accordance with state and federal law.
• Organize and conduct in‑store consumer wine and spirit tastings on a rotating account basis.
• Use supplied materials responsibly and ensure account merchandising standards are met.
• Maintain territory and account records using electronic tools such as Diver and Liquid.
• Keep management informed daily of territory status, providing accurate recaps.
• Submit sales reports, performance goals, and other required documents to the manager.
• Collect wine lists, cocktail lists, and cordial lists as requested by management.
• Maintain adequate inventories of POS, sales tools, supplies, and merchandising materials.
• Attend and participate in sales…