Account Manager
Richmond, Virginia, Us
Beginning in 2014, Free Run WIne Merchants, a wine and beer importer and distributor based out of Richmond VA, sought to expand their distribution and looked towards Hampton Roads as the next market to enter. I signed on to serve in the role as Account Manager / Sales Representative to break into this previously unsourced market. In my time with Free Run I worked to build the On Premise & Off Premise active account territory by working with the accounts to manage and develop sales strategies, promote and market new products, conduct staff trainings and provide wine education through tasting events. I hosted visiting winemakers from around the world, attended wine education seminars, participated in blind tasting events, and organized industry/trade portfolio shows.I served as a consultant for the establishment of Tinto: Everyday Wine & Cheese - an off-premise account and as an advisor for the primary investor and operator of a wine special events concept.I was fully involved with the management of my territory from sales to logistics. This included tracking inventory, projecting accounts supply demands, working with suppliers to construct sales strategies for the expanded distribution, and of course; sampling and spreading the joy that is the world of wine.I was introduced to wine experts, producers, sommeliers, vineyard managers, winemakers who shaped and deepened my knowledge of wine and its culture. I witnessed tremendous growth in Free Run Wine Merchants product offerings, from a Pacific Northwest boutique distributor to full internationally recognized distributor. The expansion of Free Run's product offerings mirrors its own growth with the expansion of its main office and warehouse and number of importing partner with whom they conduct business with.