Zekeria Saeed
Toronto,ON
Summary
With over 10 years of extensive experience spanning both retail and corporate sectors, I am a dedicated and customer-focused professional. My passion lies in delivering exceptional customer service and excelling in sales, adept at skillfully pairing clients with tailored solutions that precisely address their requirements. Striving for unparalleled customer satisfaction, I actively cultivate strong client relationships, aiming for exceptional feedback. My expertise encompasses conflict resolution, both with customers and cross-functional teams. In my prior roles as Business Owner, Partner Account Manager, Team Lead, Merchandiser, and Territory Sales Representative, I have consistently demonstrated my ability to drive results, manage teams, and orchestrate successful sales strategies.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Business Owner
Le Disti Inc
05.2020 - Current
- Designed business plan to define concepts, short-term and long-term goals, and strategies.
- Creating brand exposure and presence in online/offline market
- Operating at tight budget established great customer retention rate and customer value to brand.
- Progressing in customer service after-sell program has enabled us to grow month-over-month sellout with many accounts.
- Implementing services that include simplifying ordering process, next-day delivery, full merchandising service, and option of recycling our cardboard.
- Participated in business events, conferences, and trade shows to promote products and network with business owners and prospective clients.
- Introduced new methods, practices, and systems to reduce turnaround time.
- Demonstrated product presentations to prospective customers to showcase features, benefits, and value.
- Managed purchasing, sales, marketing, and customer account operations efficiently.
- Negotiated prices and services with customers and vendors to decrease expenses and increase profit.
- Supervised the creation of exciting merchandise displays to catch the attention of store customers.
- Reduced budgetary expenditures by effectively negotiating contracts for more advantageous terms.
- Promoted business via social media to generate leads and maximize brand identity.
- Closed 2 distribution deals with Canadian Potato Chips Manufactory and International Organic Juice brand.
Merchandising Project Team Lead
Advantage Solutions
04.2021 - 09.2021
- Maintained and delivered projects with Sobey's Supermarket
- Resets, relines, Planogram & schematic completion with all items tagged and approved by store management
- Building and maintaining relationships with SAS Retail Services Management and Store Management
- Ability to give direction to the team regarding tagging, rotating, and placing products on shelves
- This includes adjusting shelf heights and movement
- Communicate effectively with all parties: SAS Retail Services Management, Store Management (Sobey's), and customer
- Created a hands-on training program for newly hired employees to acclimate each person to company policies and procedures and individual job duties.
Retail Merchandiser
PepsiCo
07.2019 - 09.2020
- Merchandizing of our entire line-up to various retail partners
- Executing merchandising programs at the store level
- Direct communication with our retail partners (store managers/site owners)
- Train new employees on our merchandising program
- Providing exceptional customer service
- Rotating all Frito Lay products
- Maintaining planograms, pricing, and POS
- Adhere to merchandising guidelines
- Complete and participate in one on one & District meetings
- Stores worked in: Walmart, Loblaws, Metro, Shopper, food basic and many more
Customer Service
The Home Depot
02.2017 - 07.2018
- Takes customer requests including but not limited to special order, install, and website orders
- Ensure that customers receive both the products they ordered and the services they requested in a timely and accurate manner
- Demonstrate a high level of customer service orientation by acting as a liaison between customers, the Project Support Center and the departments
- Providing a safe working and shopping environment by following all safety policies & standards
- Completing specified safety training, immediately correcting hazards & unsafe conditions, or reporting conditions to the Manager On Duty (MOD)
- Analyzed customer feedback and identified areas for improvement, leading to increased customer retention.
- Delivered exceptional customer service to every customer by leveraging extensive knowledge of products and services and creating welcoming, positive experiences.
- Responded proactively and positively to rapid change.
- Resolved escalated customer service disputes and complaints, leading to increased customer satisfaction.
- Educated customers about billing, payment processing and support policies and procedures.
Merchandiser
Match Marketing Group
10.2016 - 02.2017
- Execute layout change and various merchandising tasks
- Establishes and maintains an effective relationship with store management
- Assembles/Set-up/Maintains store fixtures and displays efficiently and accurately by following Plan-O-
- Grams and Field Manager directives, including any promotional merchandise
- Maintain special orders, promotional and seasonal merchandise
- Organizes and replenishes merchandise on shelves in a timely manner
- Ensures merchandise is presentable for customers, including aisles being accessible for customers
- Eliminates out-of-stock and out-of-date products
- Partner with store leadership to install required signage and material
- Maintain a professional and productive relationship with supporting store employees
- Submit timesheets and store reports online
- Report to Field Manager & Project Manager any pertinent information for executions
- Travels to an assigned retail location(s) within a designated region
- Reset the whole bias from 8ft to 32ft for big and small stores according to the planograms and request project
- Leading team for a reset project.
Sales Field Representative
Rogers Communications
01.2015 - 10.2015
- Help to develop and execute a territory plan to increase penetration, market share (households), and revenue
- Acting as an ambassador of Rogers to our customers and providing them with a superior world-class customer experience
- Opportunity to build and maintain positive relationships with MDU property management and leasing staff to ensure Rogers remains the preferred brand presented to prospective tenants
- Organize marketing events and selling programs through face-to-face or virtual interactions at MDU lobbies, customer premises, community spaces, and virtual platforms
- Evaluate customer needs through a consultative approach to offer Rogers solutions to satisfy all household communication needs
- Build customer loyalty by delivering best in class customer service and effectively escalating customer issues
- Proposing solutions and approaches to support our customers
- Perform end to end order entry through multiple sales and service order entry tools
- Update and report on all sales activities in assigned territories, or geographical areas
- Participate in activities that drive collaboration with cross-functional teams and partners for continuous improvement
- Attend product training, team meetings, and planning sessions as required or when called for
- Conduct all business as per Rogers Business Code of Conduct
- Share market intelligence with their managers and the marketing teams
- Win back former customers from competitive
- Traveled throughout assigned territory to leverage leads and visit existing customers.
- Up sale current customers with a better option of services
- Demonstrates product and shows how a customer can maximize product benefits
- Resolve issues raised by the customer and involve the direct manager for customer comfort
- Promotions suggestion on a weekly round table meeting with management
Partner Account Manager
Microsoft Arabia
10.2012 - 05.2014
- Managing two distribution company for Microsoft Xbox & PC Hardware in Retail
- Daily visit to the market and work with Distribution team on sales target
- Managing and developing retail business & bringing a solution to achieve targets on each account
- Developed campaigns, led design and tracked results.
- Working on weekly base to update pipeline with the distributor sales team and with Partner
- Plan on the sale of each month and work with partner on the suggested promotions
- Training the sales team on the new products
- Upheld client satisfaction by designing accurate and detailed timelines for services and alerting clients of changes.
- Built and deployed strategic approaches in marketing and branding to enhance product sales.
- Attended customer meetings, trade shows and conferences as company representative.
- Work closely with management on the update of sales
- Worked closely with clients to design effective promotions to meet customer needs and exceed sales goals.
Sales Executive
Timna Electronics & Telecommunication, Plantronics
01.2010 - 08.2012
- Managing B2B & B2C sales
- Developed a new region include 3 major cities
- Developing Sales of Unified Communication Products with Strategic partners
- Presentation to C-Level executives
- Worked in closing Government tenders
- Achieved sales goals and service targets by cultivating and securing new customer relationships.
- Negotiated and closed profitable sales contracts with new and existing customers to increase loyalty and retention.
- Developed and presented valuable sales presentations to potential customers to highlight features and benefits of products.
- Researched sales opportunities and possible leads to exceed sales goals and increase profits.
- Increased revenue by implementing effective sales strategies in sales cycle process from prospecting leads through close.
- Developed sales strategy based on research of consumer buying trends and market conditions.
- Answered customer questions about products and services, helped locate merchandise, and promoted key items.
- Opened, shelved and merchandised new products in visually appealing and organized displays for optimal sales promotions.
Education
Post-Graduate - International Business Management
Durham College of Business
Oshawa, ON2022
College Diploma - Business Management
Mohawk College
Hamilton, ON2019
GED -
George Brown College
Toronto, ON2016
Course - Marketing Management - Sales Skills
Ambassador Institution
Jeddah, SA2012
Skills
- Business Management and Development
- Sales Planning & Development
- Key Account Management
- People and Culture
- New Business Development
- Strategic Planning
- Business Development and Planning
- Merchandizing Planning
- Market Entry Strategies
- Market Research & Visibility
- Negotiation and Persuasion
- Promotions and Marketing Strategies
Affiliations
Associate Member of CIM| Charted Managers Canada
FIIT Diploma By Forum of International Trade Training
Certification
- FITT Certified Diploma in International Trade, By Forum For International Trade Training - May, 2022
Timeline
Merchandising Project Team Lead
Advantage Solutions
04.2021 - 09.2021
Business Owner
Le Disti Inc
05.2020 - Current
Retail Merchandiser
PepsiCo
07.2019 - 09.2020
Customer Service
The Home Depot
02.2017 - 07.2018
Merchandiser
Match Marketing Group
10.2016 - 02.2017
Sales Field Representative
Rogers Communications
01.2015 - 10.2015
Partner Account Manager
Microsoft Arabia
10.2012 - 05.2014
Sales Executive
Timna Electronics & Telecommunication, Plantronics
01.2010 - 08.2012
Post-Graduate - International Business Management
Durham College of Business
College Diploma - Business Management
Mohawk College
GED -
George Brown College
Course - Marketing Management - Sales Skills
Ambassador Institution
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