NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND LANDSCAPE ACCOUNTS MANAGER

Essential Responsibilities:

New Business Development:

Garden Centers

• Identify and pursue new independent garden centers within the region to expand the customer base.
• Establish initial contact through outreach and in-person meetings, presenting Millcreek Gardens’ product lines with professionalism and integrity.
• Close new business and serve as the primary contact for new accounts during the first 12 months.
• Re-engage inactive accounts (three or more years without activity) to rebuild relationships and generate renewed sales.

Landscape Accounts & Commercial Markets

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all current and future Landscape Account customers, managing communications, relationships, and account growth.
• Identify, target, and engage prosperous and growing landscape companies, municipalities, high-end resorts, golf courses, country clubs, and other business-to-business buyers to expand sales volume and capture new opportunities.
• Establish Millcreek Gardens as a preferred supplier for high-end residential, commercial, and large-scale landscape projects.
• Provide tailored project solutions, advising on plant selection, availability, and seasonal considerations, and coordinating with internal teams to ensure accurate and timely fulfillment.
• Actively pursue job-specific and contract-growing opportunities while identifying ways to expand sales within existing landscape accounts.
• Build and maintain long-term customer trust by aligning customer expectations, resolving issues, and supporting successful project outcomes.

Contract & Job-Specific Sales

• Identify opportunities for job-specific and contract-growing programs.
• Engage customers early in planning cycles to secure advance commitments.
• Coordinate internally to ensure feasibility and alignment with production schedules.
• Manage contract growing inquiries by coordinating quotes with Growing Operations and Office staff and serving as the primary point of communication from quote through order completion.

Relationship Development and Customer Service

• Maintain high standards of customer service, reflecting integrity, professionalism, and plant quality in every interaction.
• Conduct face-to-face, phone, and email interactions at customer sites and Millcreek Gardens.
• Conduct scheduled and unscheduled customer visits to strengthen relationships and identify new sales opportunities.

Market Feedback & Product Development

• Provide input on new products, varieties, pricing, and promotional programs.
• Gather and analyze customer, competitor, and market intelligence to identify opportunities and improve product quality and availability.
• Share market insights with Growing staff to align production with customer demand.
• Recommend new plant varieties and product offerings based on customer feedback, site visits, trade shows, and market research to support sales growth.

Future Growth & Business Opportunities

• Identify and propose creative business development opportunities beyond current product offerings.
• Suggest and explore digital marketing strategies to reach new wholesale customers and expand market visibility.

Internal Collaboration

• Partner with the Sales Office Supervisor to align sales messaging and execute initiatives.
• Collaborate on marketing campaigns and customer engagement strategies, coordinating execution with the Customer Service Specialist.
• Coordinate with Growing and Office teams to ensure accurate marketing of live inventory.
• Facilitate clear communication between customers and Millcreek staff regarding plant quality, availability, logistics, and expectations.

Sales Goals & Reporting

• Establish and track sales goals aligned with company revenue expectations.
• Provide biweekly sales reports to the Sales Office Supervisor.
• Participate in monthly, in-person meetings with Leadership to discuss progress toward objectives, hot leads, and growth opportunities.
• Maintain a follow-up system to ensure new leads and opportunities are actively pursued.

Industry Events & Brand Representation

• Act as a brand ambassador at trade shows and customer visits, presenting a positive public image and promoting Millcreek’s quality products and service to existing and prospective customers.
• Attend up to six trade shows or industry events annually.
• Network with customers to ensure long-term relationship building.
• Participate in Millcreek Gardens-hosted events such as tours, open houses, and educational seminars to promote brand awareness and sales.

Decision-Making & Authority

• Make timely decisions within assigned accounts to drive customer satisfaction and sales results.
• Anticipate issues and propose solutions; escalate when appropriate.

Professional Expectations

• Allocate time effectively, prioritize responsibilities, and consistently deliver thorough, dependable work.
• Maintain professionalism in all customer and employee interactions.
• Participate in weekend work and extended hours during the busy Spring season as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal and written/verbal communication skills with the ability to close sales
• Proven ability to build and maintain long-term customer relationships
• Demonstrated success in sales growth and account management
• Customer-focused mindset with strong relationship-building skills
• Ability to quickly learn inventory and sales software systems
• Analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

Key Attributes

• Self-motivated and capable of working independently.
• Highly driven with an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Trustworthy and committed to ethical decision-making.
• Highly accessible and responsive to customers.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum of 5 years sales experience
• Prior horticulture or related industry preferred
• Valid driver’s license