Sales Manager

BRUCE A. VIX

**** ******** ***** ** ** • Rochester, MN 55906 • 507-***-****

bvix2000@*****.***********@*****.*** • www.linkedin.com/in/****************@*****.*** •

SUMMARY

Accomplished Sales and Marketing professional with extensive success in building new accounts and

markets as well as increasing revenue within existing accounts. Achieved high margin sales by applying

excellent listening and problem solving skills to assess and exceed customers’ expectations. Skilled at

planning and executing unique promotional events. Quickly establishes rapport and credibility to become a

trusted resource for customers.

Business Development Account Management

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Cross Channel Marketing Consultative Sales

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Dealer Support/Relations Training Development & Delivery

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Merchandising Presentations & Demonstrations

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EXPERIENCE

Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor MI 1994 – 2008

An $18.9 billion global leader in home appliance sales with 60,000 employees offering brands such as

Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Amana, and Jenn Air.

Premium Brands Manager 2008

Jenn Air Account Manager 2006 – 2008

Successfully managed sales and marketing of Jenn Air brand to strategic accounts in a five state territory

producing $10 million in revenue. As premium brand manager, assumed additional responsibility for

KitchenAid accounts, bringing total premium account value to $11.5 million.

Increased the number of Jenn Air Kitchens featured in Minneapolis Luxury Home Tour by 50%,

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representing 37% of all homes on the Tour, by proactively developing relationships with suppliers,

builders, and Tour management.

Saved 15% in customer training costs by identifying the need, collaborating with regional marketing

manager, and selling management on establishing a regional training center in Minneapolis to better serve

the north central sales region.

Redesigned the training center and agenda to successfully educate 160 sales professionals via intensive

three day training sessions.

Far exceeded the other 24 Jenn Air account managers in educating the highest number of strategic sales

associates within a 16 month period by offering intensive training sessions.

Exceeded all other Jenn Air account managers in achieving the goal of educating 50% of strategic trade

customers’ sales associates through three day immersion training.

Increased floor display an average of 10% for targeted accounts by utilizing creative vignette displays to

introduce new products.

• Achieved 25% increase in attendance by planning and executing a product introduction event for

200 kitchen designers, architects, and premium builders that offered a unique experience held in the

newly reconstructed historic Guthrie Theater.

• Enhanced awareness of lifestyle selling among dealers while improving brand visibility among

target consumers by holding training events in a high end specialty grocery store.

• Ensured minimal disruption of business and increased customer satisfaction by assuming a

leadership role in the integration of company cultures during the acquisition of Maytag.

BRUCE A. VIX PAGE 2

Retail Account Manager 1994 – 2006

Managed sales and marketing for Whirlpool and KitchenAid brands in a focused regional territory worth

$21.5M in business.

Increased annual revenue from $650,000 to $1M by winning a larger slice of a key customer’s

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business through the use of stretch goals for volume increases rather than price concessions.

Significantly reduced costs while increasing revenue 10% by collaborating with corporate leadership to

restructure the $36M Minnesota market to function effectively after the loss of one of three account

managers.

Sold corporate management on a pilot of an internal customer support system that provided superior

customer service despite the loss in staff.

Significant additional sales and marketing experience as a District Manager for the FC Hayer Company of

Minneapolis, one of the top five exclusive independent Whirlpool distributors.

EDUCATION

BSBA, Marketing, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA, Grand Forks, ND

COMPUTER SKILLS

Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP

Habitat for Humanity, Loveland, CO

NewDay Covenant Church, Rochester, MN

New Church Building Development Team.

People of Hope Church, Rochester, MN

Former Chair of Communications Team for Capital Campaign and Vice Chair Church Council; Worship

Leader; BeFriender Lay Minister; musician.

Rochester Optimist Club, Rochester, MN

Former President, Vice President, Secretary Treasurer; Co Chair of the Rochester PTSA City Wide

Spelling Bee for 25 consecutive years.

YMCA Camp Olson, Longville, MN

Former Board Member, Marketing Committee Chair, and Capital Campaign Business Chair.

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