A Day in the Life of a Sales Consultant

Chronicled bit by bit...for your reading pleasure. :) Four times a year (January, March, June and September) the company Pelican Bay hires my mom (a.k.a. my boss) to fly to Dallas, Texas to represent their gourmet food line. My mom has been doing this for the past ten years and it has really become such a wonderful release for her from everyday life. Anyway, myself and her best buddy Paulette accompany her to Dallas to help with the show. Pelican Bay has what's called a "permanent showroom" (meaning that it's always set up) in the World Trade Center in Dallas. In the showroom one of every product that they sell is represented. My job is to stand in the showroom to answer questions from buyers. Buyer's come to market from all over the country to purchase items for their stores and businesses. When they want to sell our products in their specialty stores they have us fill out the order forms and answer any questions they may have. "How much does it cost wholesale?" "So what would it be retail?" "What's the shelf life?" "How many products come in the case?" "How long does it take to ship?" By the end of the week we're saying the answers in our sleep.

I've been coming to market to help my mom since I was in college. Then it was a nice additional income. Then I started to do it while I was teaching. Then it was a nice income AND welcomed interaction with adults. Today? It's just nice to have the income again. :) There is really great shopping at the DMC...all of the "up and coming" things. I usually spend a nice chunk of my hard earned moolah on the up and coming flair...not so much this year. I saved every penny that I could. :)

Now...time for a quick photo filled timeline of my life as a Sales Consultant!

Every morning a shuttle (like this one) picks us up from our hotel to take us to the Market Center. The DMC (Dallas Market Center) does a very nice job of assigning each hotel in the Market area a color to which the shuttle service provides service. This market our hotel was designated red.



On this particular morning, our shuttle was a hit by a crazed taxi driver. Gotta love Dallas traffic. Just a little paint job. Very Bengal's Tiger, don't ya think?



When we walk into the Market Center this station greets us. Fresh Starbucks coffee and Krispie Kreme's...oh my!



So I grab a donut...



and turn right to head this way. To our show room.



Where I sneak a bite or two before the action begins. Mmm...fresh KK donuts.



I work on the bottom floor of the World Trade Center here in Dallas. It has 15 floors...I used to think it was 13 until my mom ever-so-kindly corrected me. :)



It's Christmas in Jun-ly here at the market. All of the buyers are buying products for their October through January lines.





This is what our showroom looks like from the inside of The Gourmet Market.



Here are some of our beautifully packaged products. We sell all dry mixes; meaning that you have to add all of the wet ingredients: eggs, milks, etc.

Great party drinks...



Hot cocoa's and other warm drinks for winter...



Fancy cupcakes and more...



Lemonade stand kits along with chocolate and strawberry milk powders...




This tasting center is also part of our responsibility. We sampled two of our dips each day. We have to keep if stocked full of tasty treats for the buyers walking through.



This is my favorite Pelican Bay dip...Country Vegetable...



Jardine's is to my right. Salsa and chips as far as the eye can see...yum! Do any of you buy this in your local stores? Charlotte friends - Harris Teeter actually private labels this salsa as their own! Hello - gourmet salsa at the Harris Teeter price - AMAZING!



They are known for their Peach Salsa that is delicious. We love the Salsa Bobos and the Ole Chipotle...so delicous!



This showroom is directly across from us. Do you know how hard it is to work across from this all the time? And to make matters worse (or better!) Diana has truly become a family friend so she's constantly sharing things with us!



Oh the sampling that happens...



On the Friday nights during the market there is always a big theme party in The Gourmet Market. This year was "Under the Big Top" featuring martini's, cotton candy and popcorn.



Life is rough. For realz.



After the market we wait for the red shuttle outside the DMC building. Doesn't my mom look so concerned? I think she was secretly hoping that there wouldn't be any shuttle accidents in our future. That morning was enough for EVER.



We freshened up and then mom's friend came and picked us up for dinner.



This is mom's buddy Brian. He's so sweet. He and his partner live in Florida. Lucky son-of-a-guns!



Don't they look so happy to be reunited in Dallas? Actually this photo captured a very special announcement that Brian had. I wish I could tell you, because it's amazing what he's been asked to do with his business. But. My lips are sealed. Until it becomes officially official and then you better darn believe that I'll be screaming "I knew him when..." from the rooftops.



They were too busy chatting to realize I was downing rolls and cornbread like a mad woman. Oh BEP...how I love your comfort food. Makes me miss my southern roots even more...the grits, the sweet potatoes, the...grease!



Fried pickles. Sounds crazy, right? Not so, my friends, not so. A friend from Charlotte introduced mom and I to these many moons ago when she flew up during market. We haven't been able to resist them since.

sidenote: the making of fried pickles in your own home is NOT a good idea. Just wanted to let you know that. Not that mom or I have ever tried or anything.



Hello meatloaf. Hello sweet corn. Hello blackeyed peas. I miss you.



And what comfort meal is complete without a key lime pie? Heaven.



After dinner we hit up Kroger for some chips for tasting the next day. Then Brian took us home so we could pass out in bed in order to hit the ground running the next morning.

I heart market time.