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Darin Croegaert
Vice President of Sales Operations & Strategy at Wilton Brands
Professional Background
Darin Croegaert is a highly regarded professional in the realm of sales operations and strategy, known for his adept leadership and support in national sales efforts across highly competitive retail markets. With an extensive career spanning multiple roles and organizations, Darin has consistently demonstrated his ability to analyze market trends and develop integrated sales strategies that not only enhance team performance but also drive significant revenue gains and improve profit contributions.
From his early days as a Sales Developer and Area Sales Manager at Snap-on Tools to his current position as the Vice President of Sales Operations and Strategy at Wilton Brands, Darin's career trajectory is marked by progressive responsibilities and influential roles. His experience encompasses a variety of sectors within the sales industry, including food products, consumer goods, and retail, showcasing his versatility and adaptability in an ever-changing market landscape. His passion for helping businesses thrive is evident through his impactful work and strategic approaches tailored to meet the specific needs of each organization he has been part of.
Darin’s ability to work effectively with senior leadership and communicate at the C-suite level is a significant asset. He is skilled in negotiation and high-impact sales presentations, allowing him to effectively convey complex ideas and strategies to both internal stakeholders and clients. Throughout his career, he has cultivated strong relationships that have facilitated collaboration and driven successful outcomes in various sales initiatives.
Education and Achievements
Darin Croegaert holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Finance from Bradley University, where he achieved a commendable GPA of 3.27. His educational background provides him with a solid foundation in financial principles, further enhancing his capability to manage P&L control and budgeting effectively in his professional roles.
His work experience is a testament to his dedication to excellence, having held a multitude of key positions leading sales operations, strategic planning, and sales development. At Wilton Brands, where he currently serves as Vice President, Darin plays a crucial role in shaping the sales strategy and operational effectiveness of the company, driving innovative solutions that respond to marketplace demands. Previously, he has held notable positions such as Director of Sales Operations at the same company and Sales Strategy and Planning Manager for brands under Tyson Foods, contributing to successful product launches and market penetration strategies.
Darin's commitment to continuous improvement is reflected in his diverse skill set and competencies, which include strategic and tactical planning, field sales collaboration, trade marketing, and extensive knowledge in CRM systems such as Salesforce.com and CIM. His expertise in performance analysis, market research, and consumer insights allows him to generate actionable insights that inform sales strategies and enhance overall performance.
Notable Achievements
Darin's career is characterized by significant achievements that underline his expertise in sales operations and strategy. His work at Wilton Brands and Tyson Foods involved calibrating sales strategies that resulted in substantial revenue increases and market share gains. As part of his role, he has been instrumental in implementing forecasting methods that leverage data analytics to predict sales trends accurately. This foresight has enabled his teams to align their efforts with market opportunities, ensuring optimal resource allocation and maximizing sales potential.
His previous roles, including Senior Sales Planning Manager at The Legacy Companies and Sales Planning Manager at Outerwall – Redbox & SAMPLEit, demonstrate a consistent pattern of driving performance improvements through strategic sales planning and collaboration with field teams. Darin's hands-on experience as an Inside Sales Manager at Snap-on Tools enriched his understanding of customer care and internal operations, further enhancing his abilities in business and sales operations.
As a Cognos SME, Darin's proficiency in business analytics tools allows him to dissect complex data sets and present findings that support informed decision-making. His insights have led to improvements in sales performance metrics and customer engagement strategies, ultimately contributing to the long-term success of the organizations he has been associated with. Additionally, his background in inventory management and logistics solidifies his understanding of the intricacies involved in supply chain operations, further enhancing his capability to drive strategic initiatives that lead to enhanced operational efficiency.
Darin Croegaert’s career reflects a profound commitment to excellence in sales operations, strategy, and management. His leadership qualities, combined with a robust analytical skill set, position him as a vital asset in any organization aiming to thrive in the competitive retail landscape. As he continues to foster growth within his teams and organizations, Darin remains dedicated to leveraging his experience to advocate for innovative sales strategies and impactful solutions.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
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Clay offers tiered pricing options to suit different needs. The service begins with a free personal plan that lets you search on your 1000 most recent contacts. Clay offers a Pro Plan ($10 when billed annually) with unlimited contacts. Clay for Teams starts at $49/month/seat. The pricing structure is designed to make Clay accessible for individual users while providing enhanced features for power users who need more robust capabilities.
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
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Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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