Sales Forecaster jobs
Productivity of goods and the logistics of getting them from their raw materials sites to the shops, forecourts and wholesalers is all influenced by one thing: demand. There is no point producing millions of a product when there is only demand for hundreds of thousands. At the same time, though, producing hundreds of thousands when there’s a demand for millions will mean that the company is not as profitable as it could be and customers will look to your competition to fulfil their demand.
Keeping track of demand will be the task of the sales forecaster. The sales forecaster will have a series of statistics at his or her disposal on which to base the likely demand figures. At the root will be the ongoing sales charts, which will show trends over long periods of time, from which expected seasonal changes can be worked out. However there are other demand drivers at play, which must also be taken into account. If the sales and marketing team are organising a campaign, the sales forecaster will need to know – similarly if, say, a retailer is doing their own promotion on a product.
This is vital because the production, procurement and logistics teams will all need to know their expected levels of work and acquisition of raw materials. By having a more accurate picture they will be able to arrange supply, staffing, warehousing and transportation needs. Forecasters will generally work in the medium and short term timescales, the latter ideally being a fine-tuning of the former. No forecast can be 100% accurate, but by delivering workable predictions to production planners, the supply chain can be optimised.
The skills required
Expertise in forecasting and sales & marketing will generally be considered positive skills in the forecaster. Also, an understanding of demand cycles within the industry in question will definitely stand the applicant in good stead.
With large and varied amounts of data coming into play, the sales forecaster will need an aptitude in cutting through the irrelevant data and seeking out the little gems that make the predictions more precise. The communications skills cannot be underestimated, either. Data will not always be on charts and graphs; it will sometimes be verbal, in the form of information from sales teams on the ongoing campaigns or leads. Any conclusions drawn from the data will then need to be clearly communicated to planners and production managers.
Sales Forecaster Jobs in Worcester
History runs like a river through the city of Worcester, which is situated on the River Severn 23 miles (38 km) south east of Birmingham. It was a thriving town in Roman times and although it fell out of favour when the empire started to recede, its population had exploded by the middles ages, reaching around 10,000, a huge number in those days. Many of its medieval buildings survive to this day, but there would have been many more had they not been demolished in the rebuilding fervour of the 1950s and 1960s. It was also at Worcester that Oliver Cromwell’s army defeated Charles II’s, leading to England and Wales becoming a republic for a decade.
In more modern times Worcester was famous for is porcelain and glove making, both of which industries have all but disappeared now. Kays, of catalogue fame, was also founded in the city, but the company was bought out by rival Grattan’s owners. Today, the best known product from Worcester is Worcestershire sauce, a fish-based condiment made by Lee and Perrins (two chemists) in Worcester in the early 1800s.
Worcester does have a history of manufacturing, and some of this remains, but today it is a centre for retail and tourism, with many visitors flocking to the city to see its cathedral and its other medieval buildings. It is by far the largest town for 20 miles in any direction, so brings in plenty of visitors from the villages and towns in the surrounding area to do their shopping. The city lies just to the west of the M5, which links Birmingham, and the South East, and has good rail links. Worcester is therefore a good place to look for Sales Forecaster positions, and Cast UK do have such jobs available in the city and its surrounding area.
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Cast UK’s supply chain opportunities
As Cast UK only deal with logistics, procurement and supply chain, many employers come to us first to create a candidate shortlist because they know we’re tightly focused on delivering the best people to them. Please see what’s available in your region and if you’ve seen something you’re interested in, do get in touch – whether it’s today or tomorrow, we might have the best position for you.
People approach Cast UK for many reasons, whether seeking more job fulfilment or simply relocating with the family, so it’s good to know that we always have the complete range of positions available nationwide.
We are a growing force in logistics, procurement and supply chain recruitment, partly because supply chain, procurement and logistics are the only sectors we deal with. Our founder members and consultants all come from these sectors, so we know what employers and candidates are looking for in their staff and careers respectively.
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Sales Forecaster for your business or find you a job as a Sales Forecaster then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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