RISING STARS JACK ROWLEY
Job title: Internal Sales / Apprentice Company: Emerys Timber and Builders Merchants
What’s your role?
I am currently working in Internal Sales where I serve customers on the counter and answer the phone to help deal with any queries or orders. I also have my own customer ledger with which I am responsible for making sure that those customers are receiving the best service possible.
How did you get into this industry? My director asked me to work a few Saturdays at Emerys as before that I was doing a different apprenticeship which I wasn’t enjoying. I really enjoyed working at a merchant, so I changed career into this industry, I have never looked back since.
What might a typical day for you at work be? A typical day for me will be at my desk or on the counter in the office. At the counter I would be serving customers that have come in off the yard with their materials and helping advise them with anything they may need in the shop. At my desk I will be tending to my emails from customers with either orders or enquiries and at the same time tending to incoming phone calls.
What were you doing at work last week? Last week was slightly different for me as I went to the BMF members day conference on Wednesday and Thursday which was an amazing opportunity to be involved in. On the Monday and Tuesday, I was working in the office as usual helping customers.
What are your big challenges in this role? My biggest challenge in this role is having the product knowledge to be able to help customers with any of their product issues, this is hard for me because we stock so many products!
What do you love about your role? I get the opportunity to learn so much about the massive construction industry that will help me in the future; I also get to meet so many different people from all walks of life over the trade counter. This is great for me as it has made me more mature and well rounded as a person, skills like these I will be able to take into the future with me.
What do you think has been your biggest achievement so far in your role?
My biggest achievement so far was very recently, it
was doing a talk at the BMF Annual Members Day Conference last week in front of 250 industry leaders about apprenticeships and what I do. This, for me, was a massive task as I’ve never been very confident with public speaking but I understood the personal benefits from it and the benefits of helping influence high ranking members of the industry into taking on more young people.
What would you like to achieve next? To go up through the ranks at Emerys into the role of Sales Rep, this is added responsibility for me being in charge of getting new business, I can imagine this role will also present new challenges to me which I am looking forward to overcoming.
What advice would you give someone new to this industry?
I would tell them to make sure they take in as much information and knowledge from the older generations in the industry, as they are extremely insightful and know the ins and outs of the job, I personally have a few mentors in my role who I use for advice.
What would you say to someone who might be thinking about a career/getting a job on the merchant industry?
I would say take the jump and try it, don’t wait for someone to bring you in. I would suggest working a few Saturdays or over a summer whilst off school/ college and see how you enjoy it. Quite a few of the people who work for Emerys now started just doing Saturdays, such as myself. They will almost definitely get immersed in this industry and realise the benefits and opportunities that are involved with a role in it.
What are the changes you foresee the industry making in order to survive the future? I honestly don’t believe the industry needs to make a massive amount of change to survive, we just need to make sure we stick to the traditional values and service that a merchant has always provided to its customers. The thing with this industry and the products is that they are heavy and bulky, there isn’t a way to autonomise what we do the way that Amazon has with everything, the industry needs merchants to be able to deliver things with our HIABs. Another thing with us is that a lot of the products we sell are area specific so being able to source products for each area on such a scale would be an issue for anyone.
MANAGER’S VIEW
Jack is fully committed to whichever role he has worked in throughout the business. He has a positive and bright demeanour which has been welcomed by all member of staff in different departments. Long-serving, experienced members of staff have welcomed his willingness to listen and learn. He has worked in each department during his training and is known regularly to go that extra mile, even go and drop off deliveries so that customers have that essential something they forgot for the next day. He has made rapid progression through each department and is now making a valuable contribution to the figures in the sales office, with an incentivised sales budget which he regularly exceeds, being instrumental in helping us achieve record sales months this year. Jack has also
identified new product opportunities, such as Moonstone decorative aggregates, not available in the local area. He researched the quarries and haulage, bringing it in bulk, arranging to bag and stock it, even finding a major customer.
Our vision is to be recognised as a market leader and our customers’ preferred ‘Partner in Wall Building’, supplying innovative, sustainable and cost-effective
aircrete building solutions.
Our mission to supply value added aircrete solutions for any wall.
October 2019
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net 21
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