| 
| 
| 
| 
My Father worked for Imperial Tobacco for 25 years as a Field Sales Rep and I had gained a good knowledge of the company through listening to him. I knew that Imperial Tobacco was a caring company, it was loyal to its staff. I thought the job looked interesting, the salary was competitive and there would be opportunities to progress.
I have to be multi-skilled in my role as Field Sales Rep. I look after 230 customers across W-S-Mare and South Bristol. I try to ensure that I have an excellent distribution of our products in every call. I try to merchandise those products into the best space on the Cigarette gantry. I try to gain the maximum amount of space for our products, so they gain the most impact on the gantry. I try to ensure that our brands are competitively priced and not disadvantaged. Relationship with the trader is vitally important. Once you sell yourself to the trader it makes it relatively easy to sell our brands in - to be able to carry out my role to a high level I have had to build strong relationships with my traders. I am also responsible for keeping the trade informed with all the imminent legislation changes - of which there are many currently.
1) I enjoy the fact that no two days are the same. I can come across many different problems in one day in terms of selling, merchandising, pricing etc and I enjoy overcoming them - the job never bores me.
2) I enjoy the competition from rival Reps and the challenge of hitting targets set. When I make a call on a trader I aim to be better than my competitor in every way - I enjoy it if that is the case.
3) A lot of traders think of you as advisor and friend. It is very satisfying when your customers take your advice and it works in a positive way for them.
I think we are an extremely hard-working professional company - that is why we are successful. I believe also that Imperial Tobacco works hard to look after its staff in terms of rewards - job opportunities and also financial rewards. The Sales Force works hard and plays hard. The annual Sales Conference is proof of that. I think all of my colleagues look forward to that night after a good years work, everyone from top to bottom mixes on the night and has a good time - that sums the culture up quite well.
I would say that if you want to work for Imperial Tobacco, you must be prepared to work hard and learn quickly, but you will be joining a company that will allow you to use and develop your talents.
Information is correct at 10 March 2008.