Francis Van Dommelen
International Sales Manager
Johannesburg,GP
Summary
Performance-oriented Sales Leader offering exceptional record of achievement. Tenacious manager with strategic and analytical approach to solving problems, bringing in customers and accomplishing profit targets. Talented in identifying and capitalizing on emerging market trends and revenue opportunities. Diligent in building and retaining accounts by providing support and attentive service. Expertise in marketing strategies, product promotion and merchandising to achieve market penetration. Successful record of expanding network connections through persuasive brand imaging. To seek and maintain full-time position that offers professional challenges utilizing interpersonal skills, excellent time management and problem-solving skills. Detail-oriented team player with strong organizational skills. Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
Work History
International Sales Manager
STAEDTLER
4 2016 - 8 2023
- Manage, assist, and appoint distributors and agents in Africa, Western and Central Asia and to ensure the sales budget and forecasts are exceeded and gross profits are maintained
- Adhere to the corporate identity and marketing guidelines as set out by head office
- Achieved year on year growth and maintain gross profits from 2016 to 2023
- Sales Forecasting and budgeting, Planning and recruitment, Sales training and development, International presentations and public speaking
- Increased market share through the development of innovative sales strategies tailored to specific regional markets.
- Organized successful trade show events to showcase products, generating increased brand awareness and attracting new customers from around the world.
- Set objectives and led sales team to achieve aggressive global sales goals.
- Coordinated closely with product development teams to provide feedback from clients, informing improvements in design, quality, or functionality.
- Developed relationships with clients and potential clients to improve business growth.
- Negotiated with distributors to achieve advantageous deals for company.
- Developed customized sales proposals tailored to individual client needs, demonstrating the value of products and services while addressing unique challenges faced by each customer.
- Motivated salesforce to achieve sales goals through incentives and rewards.
- Traveled from Johannesburg to Africa, Central and Western Asia to reach customers in international markets.
- Negotiated favorable contracts for both the company and clients, ensuring long-term partnerships and profitability.
- Exceeded annual sales targets consistently by proactively identifying untapped markets and pursuing new client leads.
- Built lasting relationships with industry influencers to keep abreast of emerging trends and drive positive brand positioning in target markets.
- Streamlined communication processes between internal departments, improving efficiency and reducing errors in order processing.
- Established a global network of strategic partners to support continued growth in international markets.
- Analyzed market trends and competitor activities to identify new opportunities for business expansion.
- Collaborated with marketing teams to create targeted promotional campaigns that drove significant growth in international sales.
- Implemented rigorous forecasting methods to accurately predict future sales revenue, guiding management decisions on resource allocation.
- Facilitated cross-cultural communication, leading to better understanding and cooperation between international partners and internal teams.
- Maintained a high level of industry knowledge, attending conferences and engaging in continuous professional development to stay ahead in the ever-changing global marketplace.
- Expanded international sales by cultivating strong relationships with key clients and distributors.
- Optimized pricing structures based on market research findings, leading to improved profit margins without sacrificing competitiveness or customer satisfaction.
- Communicated product quality and market comparisons by creating sales presentations.
- Resolved problems with high-profile customers to maintain relationships and increase return customer base.
- Increased profit margins by effectively controlling budget and overhead and optimizing product turns.
- Maintained financial controls, planned business operations and control expenses while identifying and pursuing opportunities to grow business operations and boost profits.
- Exceeded sales quotas and increased profitability through effective sales strategy and business planning.
- Aligned company goals with customer outcomes and increased satisfaction by automating contact management systems.
- Collaborated with upper management to implement continuous improvements and exceed team goals.
- Prepared sales presentations for clients showing success and credibility of products.
- Managed accounts to retain existing relationships and grow share of business.
- Achieved established KPI for company, regional team and individual performance through teamwork and focus on customers.
- Collaborated cross-functionally with headquarters, regional and other teams nationally to maintain consistent message and experience.
- Developed compelling presentation decks to gain approval for ideas and communicate results.
- Liaised with sales, marketing, and management teams to develop solutions and accomplish shared objectives.
- Increased sales volume and expanded product line to new retailers, warehouse clubs and natural food chains.
International Sales Manager
Cobb International
01.2013 - 03.2016
- Maximize sales and profits in all 72 countries, Visit all 72 countries on a yearly basis, Planning and implementation of budgets and goals for distributors, Quarterly sales review of budgets and turnover, Annual Price Lists
- Increased market share through the development of innovative sales strategies tailored to specific regional markets.
- Organized successful trade show events to showcase products, generating increased brand awareness and attracting new customers from around the world.
- Set objectives and led sales team to achieve aggressive global sales goals.
- Coordinated closely with product development teams to provide feedback from clients, informing improvements in design, quality, or functionality.
- Developed relationships with clients and potential clients to improve business growth.
- Developed comprehensive training programs for new hires, resulting in faster integration into the team and increased productivity.
- Managed a diverse team of sales professionals, fostering a supportive environment that encouraged high performance and accountability.
- Retained 100% of clients and brought in 15 new distributors resulting in increased revenue and improved customer satisfaction scores.
- Traveled from Johannesburg to all international markets world wide to reach customers in international markets.
- Negotiated favorable contracts for both the company and clients, ensuring long-term partnerships and profitability.
- Exceeded annual sales targets consistently by proactively identifying untapped markets and pursuing new client leads.
- Built lasting relationships with industry influencers to keep abreast of emerging trends and drive positive brand positioning in target markets.
- Established a global network of strategic partners to support continued growth in international markets.
- Implemented rigorous forecasting methods to accurately predict future sales revenue, guiding management decisions on resource allocation.
- Maintained a high level of industry knowledge, attending conferences and engaging in continuous professional development to stay ahead in the ever-changing global marketplace.
- Expanded international sales by cultivating strong relationships with key clients and distributors.
- Drove sales by developing multi-million dollar contract sales.
- Increased profit margins by effectively controlling budget and overhead and optimizing product turns.
- Maintained financial controls, planned business operations and control expenses while identifying and pursuing opportunities to grow business operations and boost profits.
- Exceeded sales quotas and increased profitability through effective sales strategy and business planning.
- Collaborated with upper management to implement continuous improvements and exceed team goals.
- Implemented systems and procedures to increase sales.
- Prepared sales presentations for clients showing success and credibility of products.
- Achieved established KPI for company, regional team and individual performance through teamwork and focus on customers.
General Manager Xbox Division
Midigital - Xbox
05.2007 - 01.2008
- Launch of Xbox into the SA market, Planning and Achieving budgets, Calling on all key accounts together with key accounts managers, Customers: Makro, Pick n Pay, Edcon, Checker, Hyperama, Hifi Corp, Incredible Connection, And all gaming outlets
- Cultivated strong relationships with clients, vendors, and partners to ensure long-term success and loyalty.
- Monitored financial performance, set budgets and controlled expenses to provide financial stability and long-term organizational growth.
Business Unit Manager
Just Fun Toys
02.1991 - 04.2007
- Daily managing and assisting of marketing, sales team, and merchandisers (10 Sales Representatives and 120 Merchandisers), Planning and implementation of budgets and goals for sales and marketing teams
- New product development, Yearly order management and range planning, Business and marketing plans presented to Mattel Head Office in United States and then to EMEA Holland.
- Implemented innovative marketing initiatives for increased brand visibility and customer engagement.
- Communicated regularly with executive leadership regarding progress updates, challenges, and achievement highlights within the unit.
- Monitored performance metrics regularly to identify areas for improvement and drive continuous progress.
- Mentored junior staff members, supporting their professional growth within the organization.
- Developed strong team dynamics through regular communication, resulting in improved performance.
- Enhanced employee skills with targeted training programs, contributing to a high-performing workforce.
- Managed complex projects from inception to completion, ensuring timely delivery within budget constraints.
- Conducted detailed market analysis for informed decision-making and strategic planning.
- Led the development of new product offerings, expanding the company''s market share and revenue streams.
- Identified growth opportunities by staying current on industry trends and competitive landscape insights.
- Negotiated contracts with vendors for cost-effective procurement of goods and services.
- Increased efficiency by implementing new business unit strategies and streamlining operations.
- Strengthened organizational culture by promoting core values throughout daily operations.
- Managed budgets and resources effectively to achieve financial goals and maximize profitability.
- Optimized supply chain processes, reducing costs while maintaining quality standards.
- Recruited, interviewed and hired employees and implemented mentoring program to promote positive feedback and engagement.
- Developed detailed plans based on broad guidance and direction.
- Cultivated positive rapport with fellow employees to boost company morale and promote employee retention.
- Maintained positive customer relations by addressing problems head-on and implementing successful corrective actions.
- Leveraged data and analytics to make informed decisions and drive business improvements.
- Defined clear targets and objectives and communicated to other team members.
- Set aggressive targets for employees to drive company success and strengthen motivation.
- Evaluated employee performance and conveyed constructive feedback to improve skills.
- Established team priorities, maintained schedules and monitored performance.
- Established performance goals for employees and provided feedback on methods for reaching those milestones.
Education
Matric Grade 12 -
Sir Pierre van Ryneveld High School
01.1982 - 04.1987
Sales Management - undefined
University of Cape Town
01.2015 -
Skills
Training and development
Sales Analysis
Sales Strategies
Competitor Analysis
Cross-cultural communication
International Travel
Performance Tracking
Business Development
Multilingual Proficiency
Market Analysis
Salesforce
Territory Management
Budget Management
Business Forecasting
Contract Negotiation
Market development
Market Penetration
Emerging markets
Country launch
European markets
Teamwork and Collaboration
Customer Service
Problem-Solving
Time Management
Business development and planning
Multitasking
Sales strategy
Self Motivation
Active Listening
Goal Setting and Achievement
Attention to Detail
Team building
Staff Training and Development
Analytical Thinking
B to B sales
Employee Retention
New Business Development
Public Speaking
Order Management
Negotiation expertise
Sales Presentations
Pricing strategy
Languages
English
Afrikaans
Dutch
German
References
Sean Bell, Managing Director, Staedtler, 083 - 692 - 7934
Training
- Effective Speaking Seminar, Anto & Gavin Lund Training, 2017
- Ready For Exports International Trade Institute Of South Africa, 2009
- Consultive Selling Certification of Achievement, 2009
Software
WORD
EXCEL
POWERPOINT
BI
SAP
Timeline
Sales Management - undefined
University of Cape Town
01.2015 -
International Sales Manager
Cobb International
01.2013 - 03.2016
General Manager Xbox Division
Midigital - Xbox
05.2007 - 01.2008
Business Unit Manager
Just Fun Toys
02.1991 - 04.2007
Matric Grade 12 -
Sir Pierre van Ryneveld High School
01.1982 - 04.1987
International Sales Manager
STAEDTLER
4 2016 - 8 2023