Drinks Field Sales is, in my opinion, one of the best jobs in the world. Honestly!
You could be selling dog food or toilet roll – but you are selling drinks brands that (if you do a good job!) you can take your pals, partner or family to a bar near you. Here, you all get to enjoy that delicious liquid in a perfectly served glass and be super proud whilst that lovely GM & bar staff tell your pal/ partner / fam what a great rep you are 
There’s no better feeling than watching your loved ones enjoying their drinks & the experience your brand has created, alongside your customers, happy and thinking “I instigated this”.
That’s the fab side! There are other challenging sides that some people won’t reveal – but we do because Honesty is one of our JME values and – we want you to help you deal with the challenging days.
• Getting your sh*t together, organising yourself and your diary, and getting yourself out in the morning to your “excitingly autonomous” new job can be hard.
If you’ve worked in a team environment in hospitality, your hours will have been set, your daily task list very clear, and you didn’t have to travel to new areas every day.
In your new world, preparation is key. Utilise all the available support via your business’ CRM & journey planning tools. Lean into the processes, they are there to support you, take the time to learn to use them effectively.
• It can be lonely out there!
Especially if you have been used to a hospitality environment with team members and your line manager only a few feet away from you, it can get lonely out there!
Don’t forget you DO have team mates, they might not be in your city but they are doing the same role & facing the same challenges as you. Stay connected, have regular check ins with the rest of your team and your line manager. Be honest about the opportunities and the challenges.
• Create a professional network in your new world. Drinks Field Sales is such a friendly business. Make sure to reach out to and connect with your rep ‘brothers & sisters’ especially if they have non competing brands as you might be able to work together at some point. (E.g. Spirit brand always needs a mixer brand at events!) Also find the local bar that is ‘rep central’ (trust me there will be one!) This venue holds a link to making friends and long lasting connections with your peers – I can’t stress enough how important this is for long term success.
• Sometimes you do get lots of ‘no’s’ so finding a way to deal with and manage rejection is absolutely key in a Drinks Field Sales role. We like to say it’s not a ‘no’ it’s just ‘not yet’, but that doesn’t tend to help when you know you did your absolute best and it’s the third ‘no’ today.
There is a lot to learn in this role about planning, presenting, re-strategising your approach and many other things which could turn that No into a Yes, but right now I just want to focus on how you FEEL. I recommend reviewing your process & presentation – you may find something to review and then a way to re-attack the situation. If you can’t – you can of course ask a colleague or your line manager to support on a review & recommendation.
But ultimately, my best advice for turning your frown upside down is to make sure you know who you can call or visit (in that moment) to pick up your spirits, to cheer you up and to encourage you to get back out there and smash down some more doors.
Having someone who will answer your calls, understand your challenges and help you move forward (immediately) is an absolute gift to have.
We are passionate about supporting our team here at JME. We believe a confident team with lots of tools in their belt is a team that performs. Curious to see what our Field Sales Team could achieve for you brand?
Email Jenny@JMEdrinksconsultancy.co.uk to see how we could help your brand thrive!
