Description:
The Business Development Assistant is accountable for supporting all aspects of Print + Retail Solutions’ (P+RS) custom order program, including sourcing, purchasing, pricing and inventory management of customized merchandise and promotional items, with a focus on university-branded apparel and supplies. The incumbent handles customer inquiries, provides quotes and oversees order fulfilment and transaction completion. They work closely with the Assistant Manager, Business Development to build and maintain relationships with campus partners and generate new revenue streams
Responsibilities:
Custom Order Management/Direct-to-Campus Support
- Maintains a deep understanding of customer demographics and their wants and needs, in order to offer a relevant and compelling product offering, including custom merchandise, technology products and print services that position P+RS as the campus supplier of choice
- Conducts analysis of external competition in the promotional product sector in order to provide competitive pricing, appropriate product selection and excellent services
- Responsible for all aspects of the custom order program, including facilitating customer meetings, providing quotes, sourcing promotional merchandise, order fulfillment and completion of transactions
- Provides relevant and timely quoting, purchasing, invoicing and logistics services to customers, taking into consideration tight timelines, budgets and order requirements, managing up to 50 separate orders at any given time
- Coordinates the development of periodic reports for campus partners that wish to be kept apprised of progress, including in some cases scheduling and leading meetings to present results (determined in discussion with the Assistant Manager, Business Development)
- Collaborates with the Assistant Manager, Business Development and other members of the Business Development Working Group as needed, to ensure consistency and optimal customer service for customers
- Maintains a detailed database of current and completed custom orders including PO details, invoices, art files and quotations
Business Development
- Maintains existing relationships and seeks out new campus partners to expand Print + Retail Solutions’ revenue base
- Uncovers or proposes business opportunities by working closely with partners to understand their business, discovering and exploring opportunities to grow revenue
- Works with the Assistant Manager, Business Development to enhance the custom order program by developing promotional materials to elevate the reputation of P+RS on campus
- Analyzes potential business opportunities by conducting market and customer research; studying benchmarks, best practices, customer strategies and business requirements; and evaluating options and priorities and/or removing barriers
- Identifies trendsetting ideas by researching related events in the sector, publications and announcements, and by tracking individual contributors and their accomplishments
- Regularly reports on custom order growth, and provides detailed reports on campus partner purchasing behaviours and areas of opportunity
- Works with the Assistant Manager, Business Development to improve custom order processes and establish a framework for custom orders and pre-order programs through wstore.ca
- Provides support to the Manager, Business Development when required to facilitate the procurement of technology products to meet the needs of campus partners
Purchasing & Vendor Management
- Collaborates closely with campus customers and partners on product assortment to meet customer needs
- When placing orders that include university branding, monitors and enforces the appropriate use of University of Waterloo and Warriors registered trade-marks, seeking advice from the Communications Design Specialist when necessary
- Works with the Athletics department on items on which campus partners are interested in using the Warriors registered trademarks, seeks their approval and tracks orders for reporting purposes
- Researches, develops and maintains a database of vendors for product sourcing and for the development of University of Waterloo brand-specific merchandise, and ensures that all vendors comply with P+RS and University of Waterloo ethical business practices and guidelines
- Negotiates prices and purchasing terms with vendors, with the goal of maximizing benefit for both P+RS and customers
- Maintains a deep understanding of evolving vendor offerings, production timelines, turnaround times, product knowledge, quality issues, limitations and abilities
- Responsible for coordinating timely arrivals for time-sensitive orders
- Regularly monitors vendor performance, manages conflicts and disagreements, addresses concerns and makes recommendations regarding how best to manage vendors when there are ongoing issues
- Demands and maintains the highest standards of quality from vendors, proactively and reactively working with them to ensure that low-quality work that could reflect poorly on Print + Retail Solutions, the University or customers is not accepted
- Attends trade shows, conferences and vendor meetings as required