Wholesale and manufacturing sales representative essential career information:
- 2012 median pay: $54,230
- 2012, number of jobs: 1,414,030
- Employment growth forecast, 2010-2020: 16 percent
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or bachelor’s degree
Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives; what they do:
Manufacturing sales representatives know their products inside and out, can answer any question thrown their way and can negotiate a price. Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives sell goods, from farming equipment to pharmaceutical goods, for wholesalers to companies, organizations and a variety of other groups.
Inside sales representatives conduct sales while working in offices; outside sales representatives make sales while traveling.
A wholesale sales rep career and a manufacturing sales rep career include finding potential customers and discussing their specific product needs, monitoring sales leads and soliciting orders.
Wholesale sales rep careers and manufacturing sales rep careers involve attending trade shows and studying all aspects of product features in order to discuss a product’s capabilities and limitations based on customers’ needs.
A wholesale sales representative career and a manufacturer sales representative career involve preparing sales contracts and processing orders, studying and learning selling techniques, initiating customer follow-up and staying current with new products and services.
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Wholesale and manufacturing sales representative job titles:
- Manufacturing Sales Rep
- Wholesale Sales Rep
- Manufacturer Sales Representative
- Account Manager
- Outside Sales
- Sales Consultant
- Account Executive
- Outside Sales Representative
Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives Education, Certification and License Requirements
Depending on the type of product sold and the industry a wholesale sales rep and a manufacturing sales rep works in, educational requirements vary greatly. For example, if the products are not technical, a high school diploma or equivalent is enough to enter the field.
Many wholesale sales reps and manufacturing sales reps take special training classes their employer offers to gain an understanding of the products, to learn the different phases of production and distribution, as well as to learn the art of the sale. However, if the product is medical or technical, such as surgical instruments a wholesale sales representative typically needs a bachelor’s degree, often in the sales area.
The Certified Professional Manufacturers’ Representative (CPMR) certification or the Certified Sales Professional (CSP) demonstrates industry credibility.
Wholesale and manufacturing sales representative programs cover subjects such as:
- Marketing
- Economics
- Distribution
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Pharmacology
- Engineering
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Career Advancement Opportunities
Wholesale sales reps and manufacturing sales reps advance in their career through gaining a larger account or territory. An excellent sales record may also allow manufacturing sales representatives to attain higher-level jobs such as vice president of sales.
Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a 16 percent employment growth for wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives from 2010 to 2020, about as fast as the average for all occupations. This increase in employment is due to the greater availability and range of products and technologies, face-to-face interaction with buyers, as well as the overall state of the economy.
The independent sales agency sector has the largest employment growth. Also, to cut costs, many businesses give their sales accounts to independent companies, which operate on a fee basis.
Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives Salary
- 2012 median annual wage: $54,230
- 2012 workers at the 75th percentile annual wage: $77,940
- 2012, workers at the 25th percentile annual wage: $37,910
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Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives Major Employers
- Merchant wholesalers, durable and nondurable goods
- Wholesale electronic markets, agents and brokers
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
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