Careers
A Day in the Life of a Bulk Customer Representative
Learning the Ropes
"On my first day, my training partner took me to all the stores I’d be serving, showed me what needed to be done at each stop, and how to handle any issues that may arise. The following day, a Lead Merchandiser taught me the most effective way to survey a store, how to approach a store manager, and a proper way to build the displays. That type of hands-on learning is invaluable. PBV has a specific training program for Bulk CR's that covers several aspects of the job over several weeks. My job is to order, sell, and merchandise our products in stores."
Ongoing Training
"PBV uses an online training tool called ej4 that allows me to train on several merchandising and sales courses to increase my skills, knowledge, and abilities. It's a great way to make sure you don’t fall into any bad habits and continue to serve our customers to the best of your abilities."
Keeping it Fresh
"Rotating products is so important. I can't stress that enough. You have to remember that our products have a shelf-life, so you have to bring the product from the back of the store and put that on the shelves first before you unwrap and merchandise the new deliveries. You never want outdated products on a store shelf.”
My job is field-based, so I don't report to the plant in the morning. Instead, I begin the day at my first account, which is a Large Format customer-like Food Lion and Wal-Mart.
This is a team job because I don't actually deliver the product to the account, our Bulk Drivers deliver the shipment to the store on a tractor-trailer before I arrive.
My job is to order, sell, and merchandise our products in stores…
A typical morning for me begins around 6 a.m.
Once I've arrived at my first stop, I phone my manager and then I meet with the store manager, pinpoint where the coolers and displays are in the account, and check out the condition of the shelves. I also stop by the stockroom to make sure the shipment has been delivered. Next I’ll check my plan-o-gram to see if there are any special instructions I need to be aware of. Are there any new displays that need to be built or taken down? Is there a list of products that need to be rotated in or changed out?
At that point, I wheel out any current stock from the back room and begin filling the shelves or building displays with product.
Seventy-five percent of the time I'm on my own…
On an average day, I'll probably handle three accounts - four at the most.
It takes a while to merchandise 100 cases of product. I also look for opportunities to sell in our products if there is any open space available.
My goal is to "pull" my stores twice each day. Once in the morning and once again in the afternoon, depending on the sales promotions and activity going on in my stores.
I will enter my orders for the next day into my hand-held computer. This information is downloaded to our inventory system and warehouse operations. It is important that I keep the inventory of our products at proper levels so that store receivers accept our product and so that we have enough product for our customers.
Everyone's got a job to do…
Because I'm able to spend a little more time merchandising and interacting with the managers and store employees, I feel I'm able to build up a certain level of trust with my accounts.
Most of the people I meet during the day couldn't be nicer.
Kevin, Bulk CR, Winston-Salem
