Tobias Smith

Experience

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  Pike Nurseries

  May 2003 - Feb 2006

  Store Manager

  The largest independent retail garden center chain in the country with 16 locations. Over 50 years of retail nursery experience in the metro Atlanta, Georgia area taking the guesswork out of gardening. Pike Nurseries takes pride in inspiring the community to play in the dirt by offering superior knowledge, quality, and selection in a friendly, caring environment. • Opened a new store, scheduled all employees, managed complete employee lifecycle, maintained financial budgets and goals, trained new employees• Communicated weekly with multiple vendors to execute the correct product mix of hard goods and live goods in all areas of the store• Assistant Manager: Ordered product for the nursery, tracked financial statistics, made decisions when manager was not present• Co-Assistant Manager: Learned business aspects of the nursery, resolved customer questions and concerns, and trained in each department of the nursery Show less

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  Hines Horticulture

  Feb 2006 - Mar 2008

  Sales Representative

  Large-scale supplier of ornamental shrubs, color plants, and container-grown plants with over 2,000 acres of commercial nursery facilities in California and Oregon. The goal is to provide customers the broadest assortment of plant material all from one grower. Hines services multiple mass merchants including Wal-mart, Lowe’s, and Home Depot with wide selection of nursery plants.• Vendor relationship development and plant material sales with Home Depot utilizing plants grown at four nurseries in TX, OR, & CA. • Worked independently out of home traveling to customers for sales, merchandising, and education of the full plant selection offered. • Managed, hired, & trained merchandisers who displayed the plant material in stores.• Created full color catalog and custom availabilities to increase sales Show less

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  Holmberg Farms, Inc

  Mar 2008 - Oct 2012

  Sales Manager

  Since 1962, Holmberg Farms has produced quality plants to service retail nursery and landscape customers throughout the southeast. Through the years of evolution of the nursery, Holmberg has specialized in growing annuals, perennials, tropicals, roses, small trees including citrus, and hundreds of varieties of ornamentals. Large and small customers make up the sales landscape of the company including Lowe’s, Home Depot, Ace Hardware and many more.• Ornamental horticulture production development based on sales history and customer information• Instituted a website and continue to develop it as a marketing tool• Design & organize tradeshow exhibits while educating potential customers during the five shows the company participates in the Southeast each year• Assign pricing for new products and sale specials• Design full color product brochures to effectively communicate and market new and existing product• Oversee individual customer project bids developed by sales representatives• Manage 11 employees, including inside and outside sales and merchandising personnel• Communicate regularly with key accounts such as Home Depot and Lowe’s to leverage large sales and provide important customer service• Built a social media presence for the company and continue to develop it as a sales and marketing communication tool for customers and end consumers Show less

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  ForemostCo, Inc.

  Nov 2012 - Jun 2013

  National Sales Manager

  Over 25 years of providing quality young plants to the nursery industry throughout the world. ForemostCo produces cuttings, bare root, and liner material at their own farms in Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Winter Garden, FL and brokers material from vendor partners. The company emphasizes exceptional customer service through every business transaction utilizing their green industry supply chain and logistics expertise. • Manage 10 sales representatives who cover a global customer list• Responsible for sales budget preparation, maintenance and delivery• Improved sales team communication through sales team focus meetings• Travel to key accounts, tradeshows, and product trials• Increased web presence of the company through social media and search engine optimization• Create marketing strategies coordinated with sales efforts Show less

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  Westbrook Greenhouses Limited

  Jun 2013 - now

  U.S. Sales Manager

  An industry leading wholesaler of fresh floral products. Westbrook offers everything from a vast selection of potted plant varieties to countless collections of home and garden products. For over 50 years the company has serviced the floral industry in North America, providing everything a floral department needs to be successful.• Listen to customers to tailor what we offer to their individual needs• Create potted floral programs for supermarket chains• Expanding product offering to U.S. customers to include fresh cut flowers• Responsible for sales forecasting for U.S. business• Significant travel to meet with customers, exhibit at industry shows, and grow the business through participating in customer shows• Develop new Botanical dish garden and upgrade items to customize product line for customers• Build the foundation for future expansion of the U.S. business Show less