Description
Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals. Work requires substantial knowledge of items sold.
- • Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, product uses, and credit terms.
- • Recommend products to customers, based on customers' needs and interests.
- • Contact regular and prospective customers to demonstrate products, explain product features, and solicit orders.
- • Estimate or quote prices, credit or contract terms, warranties, and delivery dates.
- • Consult with clients after sales or contract signings to resolve problems and to provide ongoing support.
- • Prepare drawings, estimates, and bids that meet specific customer needs.
- • Provide customers with product samples and catalogs.
- • Identify prospective customers by using business directories, following leads from existing clients, participating in organizations and clubs, and attending trade shows and conferences.
- • Arrange and direct delivery and installation of products and equipment.
- • Monitor market conditions, product innovations, and competitors' products, prices, and sales.
- • Perform administrative duties, such as preparing sales budgets and reports, keeping sales records, and filing expense account reports.
- • Prepare sales contracts and order forms.
- • Negotiate details of contracts and payments.
- • Obtain credit information about prospective customers.
- • Forward orders to manufacturers.
- • Check stock levels and reorder merchandise as necessary.
- • Plan, assemble, and stock product displays in retail stores, or make recommendations to retailers regarding product displays, promotional programs, and advertising.
- • Negotiate with retail merchants to improve product exposure, such as shelf positioning and advertising.
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Related Pathways
Marketing & Sales
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
