Pond and Aquarium foods and treatments / medications for freshwater and saltwater aquariums plus ponds (koi and goldfish)

* Sales agent for various principals in the UK, The Netherlands, Spain and France in the pet, aquatics and reptile sectors.* Selling B2B, primarily to garden and aquatic centres, pet shops, vet clinics, country stores and wholesalers.

Overall responsibilities;*maintaining existing direct account customers*finding and approaching garden and aquatic centres and other similar outlets*identifying a suitable range of products that complement and enhance their existing product range*building up a strong working relationship with the buyer / manager and their sales team, through product knowledge and sales training, etc.*responding to and rectifying any product or invoice problems or queries that occurred, to the benefit of the customer and the company.

Overall responsibilities;*day-to-day running of the aquatic centre ensuring high standards of housekeeping, health & safety and security*financial management, invoice processing, monthly management accounts and paying suppliers, etc*to achieve sales and profit targets through development of a strong centre team*staffing, recruitment, training and development*stock ordering and merchandising, customer sales and handling*one of two System Administrators for group's EPOS system*completed Advanced EDI Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Management 2011 to further improve my personal professional development

Joined Beacon Garden Centres (taken over by Country Gardens in March 1988) as Plant Supervisor, then Assistant Manager at Handcross, Sussex. Became Manager at Hastings in October 1983, then progressed to Chichester and Worthing stores.Made redundant in June 1992.

Served a three-year apprenticeship at Romsey GC, later owned by Hilliers, during which time I also attended Hampshire College of Agriculture for a two-phase block-release course.