RISING STARS
THE ONES TO FOLLOW: PART 5 GEORGINA BENNETT
Job title: Trade sales apprentice Company: Robert Pochin
MANAGER’S VIEW
When I first met Gina, at second interview stage, it was clear she had prepared and found out about our business. Those efforts helped in the very early days after joining the company and there weren’t any major surprises or concerns. Our industry at branch level is very male orientated, though that is slowly changing. But Gina is not fazed by that. She settled into the branch and formed great relationships with colleagues and customers.
Gina learnt very quickly that the ethos behind our business is customer relations and, though her product knowledge was very limited, her character and willingness to learn were massive positives.
Gina soon picked up the computer system and this helped develop her confidence when dealing with customers on the trade counter. She is an important member of the Hinckley team. I am sure she would be the first to admit that there is still a lot to learn but Gina has all of the attributes, given time, to develop further and take on extra responsibility within the branch.
What’s your role?
My role in the branch consists mainly of being on the trade counter serving different customers or sometimes I will be office based, helping my manager with things like larger quotes.
How did you get into this industry? I was looking for an apprenticeship in something customer facing. I have always been confident dealing face to face and I thought an industry such as this would be different and challenge me by taking me out of my comfort zone.
What might a typical day for you at work be? A day at work for me is typically full of dealing with lots of customers on the counter, on the phone and also through emails. We also deal directly with suppliers, so usually we have lots of contact with them throughout the day. We do a lot of booking goods in/outward taking our time to make sure it’s being done correctly, as this is a big factor in making sure the business runs smoothly and the stock levels are right.
What were you doing at work last week? Following winning my award, I was invited to meet the owner of the company which was great. It’s lovely that Pochin follow so closely their workers’ progress. In branch, I helped my manager, Joe, with a big quote that a big contract customer of ours had sent through and I also did some smaller jobs (but still important ones), like making sure all of the orders we have waiting for customers are in full and checking when customers are going to be collecting them.
What are your big challenges in this role? When I first started one of the main challenges I faced was learning all the names of the different products and what they do. There is a great volume of products in store that we sell and although it sounds simple it took me a lot of time and patience to learn them. Another challenge was winning the customers over. At first many of them were probably a bit doubtful of me due to my age and gender but
Rising Stars is sponsored by H+H UK
H+H UK is the largest manufacturer of aircrete building products, including the market-leading range of Celcon Blocks.
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Our focus is the development of products and systems to provide high performance buildings guaranteed to last several lifetimes.
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net May 2019
with time I have become comfortable with them and they have with me. Day to day I am faced with new challenges. Recently I have been working more on quoting for customers. Every day I learn new things.
What do you love about your role? I love the relationships you build, with colleagues and customers. Every day is full of laughter.
What has been your biggest achievement so far?
My biggest achievement so far has been wining Trade Supplier Apprentice of the Year. Winning this award has been amazing. It’s a great feeling that all of my hard work has paid off and most importantly has been recognised.
What would you like to achieve next? Next I am eager to pass my apprenticeship, hopefully with a distinction.
What advice would you give someone new to this industry?
Just don’t stress! At first it may seem overwhelming with all the products and names you need to learn but it comes naturally with time and practice.
What would you say to someone who might be thinking about a career/getting a job on the merchant industry?
The merchant industry is one like no other. If you are looking for a job that’s different and will throw new challenges at you every day then this is perfect.
What are the changes you foresee the industry making in order to survive the future? This industry is very competitive; to survive in the future we must always compete for the best service and prices for our customers. And, like all other industries we must move with the times, making sure marketing strategies such as advertising is always up to date and use things like the internet and social media to keep up with the market and competitors. BMJ
BMJ talks to the Rising Stars of the
industry.Those individuals whose managers have pinpointed as regularly going above and beyond.
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