Saturday, November 15, 2008

SALES @ FMCG ... MAN sans ego .... fun @ its best

I joined a Reputed FMCG company as a Management Trainee in June 2007 from campus........I was completely ignorant about what it takes to be a FMCG sales/ marketing guy ( other than the so called theoritical Knowledge which Mr Kotler had explained in his books)......

It all started on June 4th 2007....... The 1st Day in office....... Just like a typical Indian family who gets excited in all events like first day in office, first day in college, first kid etc ..............., My family (consisting of my mom , my sis , my bro in law and my cute little nephew ) also got up early in the morning, dressed up and set forth for the Corporate office in Gurgaon........We reached well before time at around 8 15 am...... There was a Barista in the office Building, all of us juggled in and caught up with some quick grab........ It was indeed an emotional moment.....I could see the sense of achievement in my Mom, sis & bro in law's eyes........For my mom it was the moment which she waited for 18 long years...........So in short though it was my first day in office & the real achievers were my parents......

I got into the corporate office fully dressed up in an executive attire...... expecting to see the rest of the 9 MT's ..... 3 of them were from my own college of which 1 was my room mate..... so it was obvious that the 1st day syndrome wasn't visible much........ I saw a tied laden Mr AB who came and introduced himself...... and a chill out guy with spiked hair Mr DK........ also two ladies Ms BG and MS NC..... and Mr SI with whom I was already in touch with a social networking site....... Mr HC also was present......

This was the new "damaat's " of the company........ Damat was a typical usage for MT's in the company as everyone in the company used to feel that MT's are the most privilleged Lot directly reporting into the National sales manager and MD ......

The intial 2- 3 days were basic introduction of various functions of the company and small sales stint with the sales officer in delhi ......... we were also given a welcome Kit and a schedule for our Next 9 months.......... On the 4th day after joining we were told that we will be starting our stint with our sales officer stint which will determine "whether we are fit to do sales"...... It also came with a condition under no circumstances you would be doing this stint in your Home Location....... that meant I wont be going to south........

On the 5th day 7 of us( except for me NC & SI) were given an envelope which had there air tickets....... 3 to Kolkatta, 2 to Bangalore, 2 to Mumbai..... the 3 of us were to report in Delhi as our stint was supposed to happen in North....

I reported to Delhi office on saturday with lot of hope and aspiration....... 3 of us were given a book and were asked to complete the book and only then leave the office...... and I was indeed finding it very difficult as it was pretty fat book......

Then my Boss asked me a straight question " tumhe maa behan ki gali dena atha hai".........

I was stunned and was really puzzled............

Then he broke the news........ U will be going to chandigarh......... and then after a guided sales officer stint with a senior sales officer mr RNM u will be moving on to Ludhiana which is the most troubled market in punjab with under cutting, unit running problems etc..........

Things were going above my head.... undercutting???? unit?? wat the heck??? Mr kotler hadnt mentioned this.......

AND THEN HE TOLD>>>>> maa behan ki gali tum khud seekh jaoge........ Tusi punjab ja rahe ho........

It was the strat of a new journey .... the journey which changed my life all together...

made me a egoless guy..... and started 2 find happiness in small things.........

I landed in chandigarh at night in volvo bus ... as i was entitled only 2 a sales officer incentive ... the sales officer over there had arranged a shabby hotel just above a desi daru ka tekha for my accomodation.....

there was another junior of mine who was a summer trainee in the same hotel........ that indeed was a big relief.....

Then came monday......... mr RNM came to pick me up..... i went to a distributor point.... from there to the market....... All my notion of 4 p's went for a toss..... when i realised sales means its all about selling a jar of candies to the retailer inspite of all his complaints of low margin, shortage etc....

we did around 60 outlets....... and we sold candies in around 40 outlets.....

to be frank i thought the btech and MBA's were all4 this?????? But nw I feel tat was the best learning I got till date........... much better than the gears and the 4 p's.......

It thought me about people...... rt from the pan wala's to the shrewed baniya.........

To be continued......

* The experience at the hotel.....

* Chandigarh to ludhiana

* Ludhiana story .... fracturing my leg after falling from a cycle............

* Bharat dharshan......,

* the day I cried hugging anshul....... leaving my 1st job..........

8 Comments:

Blogger Anaz said...

waiting for the Painter's story.......

1:25 PM  
Blogger Anaz said...

but you missed one thing buddy.....you been smashed at kalyan.....

1:26 PM  
Blogger Dins said...

smashing episode will come in bharath dharshan

2:09 PM  
Blogger Buls said...

You cried when you quit? Pagal hai kya? Its not worth it...

7:13 AM  
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