Area Manager

When the Hewlett-Packard Company (HP) was founded in 1939, the world was a very different place.

There were no fully electronic computers. The only printers were industrial-sized printing presses.

Palo Alto, California was composed mostly of fruit orchards. The internet was decades away from fruition.

HP’s innovations were instrumental in making home computers and printers more affordable for the average consumer,

and their success inspired a wave of electronics companies to start-up in Santa Clara County, California.

Everyone wanted to hang out in HP’s neck of the woods.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE:
As an Area Manager at HP, your primary objective is to ensure the optimal presentation and availability HP Brand Products in retail stores.

You will be responsible for maintaining store execution, display space, in-stock levels, returns, price ticketing, and point-of-sale materials. Your role encompasses both regular maintenance tasks and promotional activations, aimed at driving sales growth and enhancing brand visibility.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Portfolio Management:

- Manage the HP Products (PC’s, Print, and Accessories) within assigned retail stores.

Store Maintenance:

- Ensure the store base is well maintained in terms of execution, display space, in-stock situation, returns, price ticketing/labels, and point-of-sale materials.
- During non-promotional periods, ensure product availability, correct pricing, and adherence to planograms provided by HP.

Promotional Activations:

- During promotional periods, execute additional tasks such as POS materials in optimal positions within the store.

Reporting and Communication:

- Utilize smart devices to load photos, communicate instructions, and submit reports using the Smollan REX app.
- Provide timely updates and feedback to ensure effective communication with the management team.

Campaign Management:

- Assist in the roll-out of POS materials and recall of POS materials as required by campaigns.
- Outline store coverage for weekend in-store demo activations and audits on weekend promoters.

Ad Hoc Promotions:

- Provide assistance with general field marketing team duties as needed for ad hoc promotions.

Competitor Audits and Feedback:

- Conduct audits on competitors in the market and gather voice of consumer feedback to inform strategies and initiatives.

Relationship Building:

- Build profitable relationships with the allocated store base to enhance collaboration and drive sales.

Sell-Out Initiatives:

- Implement sell-out initiatives and below-the-line activations to drive sales growth.

Asset Management:

- Manage the planning and distribution of assets to ensure optimal impact and utilization.
- Maintain accurate records of asset/product registers to track usage and availability.

Store Placement:

- Be placed in stores according to the HP Retail Store Base and current structure, ensuring optimal coverage and representation.

Policy Adherence:

- Follow the policies and guidelines communicated by the store, maintaining compliance with regulations and standards

Weekly Meetings:

- Meet with the Area Manager once a week for reports, concerns, feedback, plans, directives, and material handover such as POSM and challenges.

Weekend Activations:

- Conduct weekend activations as mandatory activities, engaging with customers and promoting HP products.

Execution Excellence:

- Secure the #1 position in store for all executions, ensuring optimal visibility and prominence of HP products.

Price Ticket Maintenance:

- Ensure daily maintenance of correct price tickets in store, both on and off promotion, to accurately reflect pricing and promotions.

Merchandising Execution:

- Execute in-store merchandising according to HP and Retailers' directives and/or planograms, maintaining consistency and quality.

Professionalism:

- Adhere to a dress code supplied by HP, always presenting a professional and polished image.

Demonstrations and Engagement:

- Conduct demonstrations as required and aligned with key SKUs and product focus, engaging with customers to showcase product features and benefits.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:

- High school diploma or equivalent required; bachelor's degree preferred.
- Previous experience in merchandising, retail sales, or related fields preferred.
- Strong attention to detail with excellent organizational skills.
- Effective communication and interpersonal abilities.
- Ability to work independently and prioritize tasks effectively.
- Proficiency in using smart devices for reporting and communication.

ATTRIBUTES:

- Proactive and results-oriented with a focus on execution excellence.
- Adaptability and flexibility to meet changing demands in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to think critically and find solutions.
- Team player with a collaborative mindset and strong work ethic.
- Ethical conduct and professionalism aligned with HP's values and principles.