Product promoters deliver key messages about products to consumers.
Product promoters generate public interest and consumer demand for brands and products. They endorse both sophisticated and simple products, from travel and technology to televisions and tennis rackets. Promoters interact with consumers and give them information to help them choose what products to buy. They are most concerned with promoting products to create a lasting impression among consumers to improve product sales and market preference of a brand name.
Primary Responsibilites and Related Job Tasks
Promoters work in a variety of locations; generally anywhere with large crowds and potential for retail sales. They may offer samples of products in stores or generate awareness through contests or by distributing brochures in public. Promoters also give product demonstrations. By acting in a way that conveys trust and ease of product use, promoters help inspire market confidence in a product and its manufacturer. Some promotions are designed to generate immediate sales through impulse buying, such as promoters in shopping malls that offer perfume samples to women passing through a department store, while others increase the potential for future sales through brand awareness.
Training and Education
On-the-job training is the standard method of obtaining the knowledge and skills required for product promoter jobs. Formal education beyond high school is not required. Employers usually provide product-focused training, so promoters can familiarize themselves with the product and demonstrate it properly. The training provided varies depending on the complexity of the product. Some products, such as computers, may require specialized training in related areas, such as technology, to accurately and thoroughly demonstrate the product's use. Other products may require knowledge of the manufacturer's corporate vision, customer service and sales strategies.
Other Important Skills
Good product promoters possess good communication and people skills, a pleasant appearance and congenial personality. Product promoter jobs are best for individuals who are comfortable with public speaking and interacting with people of all backgrounds. Individuals with the ability to use humor and spontaneity to create immediate interest in products are well-suited for success as product promoters. Foreign language skills are also helpful, especially for promoters working in international markets.
Work Conditions and Occupational Hazards
According to occupational labor information published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than half of all product promoters are part-time employees and many positions do not continue beyond six months. Their work environment is often crowded, hectic and physically tiring. The job involves long work hours, including nights and weekends, and constant interaction with a variety of people. Promoters spend most of their work shift on their feet; some do not rest until their shift is over. Some promoters may experience mental stress if they are not able to influence enough consumers during their work shift.
Earnings Projection
Occupational employment statistics published by the U.S. Department of Labor indicate product promoters in the United States average annual wages ranging from $16,670 to $41,770, as of May 2009. The annual mean wage is $22,510 for all product promoter jobs in the United States, as of May 2009. Promoters employed by employment services companies and grocery and related product wholesalers earn the most, and average annual mean wages of $28,580 and $29,350, respectively, as of May 2009.
