Strategic Sales Manager

Wild Marketing Group is seeking a highly driven, Strategic Sales Manager to lead and grow our retail business, with a primary focus on the Menard’s account. This individual will take a solution-selling approach, uncovering Menard’s category goals, merchandising challenges, and end-customer needs, then building and selling tailored programs that address them. They will play a critical role in winning new business, expanding existing customer partnerships, and driving strategic growth across multiple product categories, ensuring Menard’s remains a top priority in all planning, execution, and relationship management efforts.

Below covers everything you need to know about what this opportunity entails, as well as what is expected from applicants.
The ideal candidate combines strong product knowledge, retail expertise, and business acumen with an infectious personality that builds trust naturally with customers and internal teams alike. They lead with questions rather than pitches, act as a trusted advisor to buyers, and know how to turn customer insights into compelling, data-backed solutions. They bring deep familiarity with Menard’s business culture, buying processes, and expectations and are energized by the challenge of growing and protecting that relationship. They are highly motivated, resilient, detail-oriented, and thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
ResponsibilitiesDevelop and grow strategic relationships within defined major accounts and across various product categories, positioning Wild Marketing Group as a trusted solutions partnerLead a consultative, solution-selling process with Menard’s: uncover category goals, pain points, and growth opportunities, then develop tailored product and program solutions that address themMaintain a high level of responsiveness, accessibility, and partnership with customersIdentify, qualify, and close new business opportunities within existing and prospective customers, owning the full sales cycle from discovery through program launchUse sales data, product trends, and market insights to build compelling business cases and customer recommendations that clearly demonstrate value and ROICollaborate cross-functionally with product development, engineering, sourcing, creative, merchandising, supply chain, and operations teams to execute customer initiativesPresent product concepts, packaging, merchandising, displays, and complete category solutions to customers, tying each recommendation back to the customer’s specific objectivesManage business at the SKU level, understanding product performance, assortment opportunities, pricing, margins, freight, and promotional impactPartner closely with factories and sourcing teams throughout the product development and fulfillment processBuild and manage a sales pipeline and forecast, consistently meeting or exceeding revenue and margin targetsEffectively manage multiple priorities, projects, and deadlines while maintaining a high level of customer support and execution
Qualifications10+ years of sales, account management, or retail business development experience, with a proven track record of meeting or exceeding sales targetsDemonstrated xzbcwsv success using consultative or solution-selling methodologies (e.g., Solution Selling, SPIN, Challenger, or similar) with retail buyersExperience selling to large retail accounts, preferably within top 25 retailersDeep knowledge of big box retail environments; direct Menard’s account experience is strongly preferred and considered a significant differentiatorUnderstanding of product development, packaging, merchandising, and retail presentationProven ability to analyze data and translate insights into actionable business strategiesExcellent interpersonal, communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship-building skillsStrong organizational skills, attention to detail, and problem-solving abilitiesEntrepreneurial mindset with the ability to work independently and collaboratively across teamsHigh integrity, accountability, and a positive, solution-oriented attitudeAble to be in the Menards office 3-4 times per week and lives within the Eau Claire community