Find a Job As a Liquor Distributor
Liquor distributors purchase products from the spirit manufacturers, and then resell them to retail stores, restaurants and other outlets. They may sell one particular type of liquor, or everything from lite beer to whiskey. Working as a liquor distributor requires managerial skills and a knowledge of the liquor market in your sales region. A discriminating taste in wine and fine liquor wouldn't hurt, either, as it will help you to better understand your customers.
Instructions
1. Learn all you can about the liquor distribution cycle. A distributor receives beer, wine, whiskey or other spirits from the manufacturer and stores them in the company warehouse. Then a salesperson, representing the distributor, contacts a local retailer or online outlet and cements a sale. An office clerk arranges deliveries on the distributor's computerized system. Warehouse workers load the trucks with cases of liquor, and truck drivers then deliverer them to customers. Accounts receivable bills the customers, and processes the payments.
2. Polish your sales technique. Reps and managers for liquor distributors need to deal with customers on a daily basis, so people skills and good follow through (getting to appointments on time, checking that orders have been received properly) will put you on the fast track to the position. Prior employment in the liquor, beverage, retail or restaurant industry adds credibility to your resume, and a bachelors degree in sales/marketing can be a plus. Liquor distributors focus mainly on sales ability and an applicant's knowledge of spirits when making hiring decisions; a college degree isn't a necessity.
3. Learn all you can about the habits of retailers and customers in your chosen area. Find out what types of liquors sell the most, and compare your intended prices with others on the market. Learn about the clients who will buy your products--whether they will be restaurants, retail liquor stores, or nightclubs. Match the right liquors with the right quantities and prices, to the best client.
4. Check industry publications and other resources. Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) lists job openings, and the latest news and trends in liquor distribution. Join the WSWA to get inside tips on liquor industry jobs, and up-to-the-minute information on the the hottest selling liquor, plus retailing and wholesale news.
5. Look to the popular employment sources, such as your local newspaper, online career sites, word of mouth and phone calls to the local distributors. For example, search the Yellow Pages under liquor or beverage distributors in your city or region, and then contact the hiring managers about available openings.
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