How To Become A Group Sales Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is a group sales manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Bill Thorne

Group sales managers have a vital role to play within an organization or company to ensure that the business operates efficiently. They are responsible for marketing goods and services to a company. Group sales managers guide sales of goods and services to the company they are part of.

Group sales managers must have quality leadership qualities in order to successfully direct a community of sales staff and inspire them to market the goods they have. They need to consider revenue data for the project of potential sales and create new tactics to be used. While much of their work needs them to direct their team, they must also have outstanding customer service skills to support customers as needed. Travel is normally expected in this field since they usually need to consult with various distributors.

Candidates should possess a bachelor's degree in a related field to work as group sales managers. Most employers prefer candidates who have at least two years of experience working in a sales team and a knowledge of marketing or sales principles, strategies, and techniques. It is also important for a group sales manager to have strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.

What general advice would you give to a group sales manager?

Bill Thorne

Executive Director of the NRF Foundation and Senior Vice President of Communication and Public Affairs of NRF, National Retail Federation

Retail is the largest private-sector employer in the country, directly employing 32 million people and supporting 52 million jobs overall - roughly one-quarter of the U.S. workforce. While COVID-19 has presented new and unexpected challenges, retailers have continued to showcase the industry's resilience and adaptability time and again. The safety and security of customers and employees remains our greatest priority. It is no doubt that the professional environment has changed this year, but retail continues to offer a plethora of career opportunities for graduates and seasoned veterans alike.

ScoreGroup Sales ManagerUS Average

Salary

4.1

Avg. Salary $52,423

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.4

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.24%

Asian 4.07%

Black or African American 3.24%

Hispanic or Latino 9.82%

Unknown 4.41%

White 78.23%

Gender

female 59.85%

male 40.15%

Age - 46

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46

Stress level

6.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.4

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a group sales manager

Explore group sales manager education requirements

Most common group sales manager degrees

Bachelor's

76.3 %

Associate

11.8 %

Master's

5.9 %

Start to develop specific group sales manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Booking	9.77%
Trade Shows	8.43%
Site Inspections	8.17%
Market Trends	5.87%
Sales Presentations	4.33%

Complete relevant group sales manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New group sales managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a group sales manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real group sales manager resumes.

Research group sales manager duties and responsibilities

Leverage other sales office resources and administrative/support staff to achieve personal and team relate revenue goals.
Maximize yield management opportunities by maintaining consistent verbal and written communication with clients and consistently booking repeat business.
Secure business from telemarketing, appointments, site visits, cold calls and general inquiries via email/phone.
Conduct tastings and wine pairings, making recommendations base on client's needs, budget, etc.

Prepare your group sales manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your group sales manager resume.

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