Earn Money As A Part-Time In-Store Food Demonstrator

I had a friend drop by not so long ago and she asked me exactly that question. I answered, a what? She replied, a In-Store Food and/or Product Demonstrator, you know, the ladies (and you might come across the occasional man) that you see flogging their wares at you as you walk past them in the larger retail shops or in the aisle of major shopping centres. Of course, that is what I thought you meant, I replied ... No, why, should I? Well yes, considering your circumstances you would make an ideal candidate for such a job! Mmmm, I would now would I ... tell me more.

Well, she went on to say, according to an advertisement that I read recently it said that In-Store Food Demonstrators were needed to educate local customers/consumers on particular brands and products in major shopping centres.

The ad also mentioned that the In-Store Food Demonstrator is a flexible, part-time position offering approximately 8-16 hours per week and that full training would be provided to the successful applicants.

So far, so good I thought but I do not have any retail experience do I, I replied.

It is not essential that you do, she said because in order to fulfill the role of In-Store Food Demonstrator you would need to have strong communication skills (which you do), immaculate appearance (you scrub up okay when you have too), excellent Food Preparation & presentation skills (No Experience is required but you will need to do an online test - you should be capable of passing that), great organisational skills (you're Taurean, enough said), the ability to relate to the customer/consumer (you have the gift of the gab), keep a neat, tidy and clean working area (you're a 'neat freak') and have the ability to translate all of the abovementioned into a sale (surely it can't be that hard ... could it?).

So what do you think? You certainly meet the above criteria so why don't you give it a go? This surely must be about the only job suitable for you (and your aching body)!

Why not, i'd be mad if I didn't at least check it out further ... and so I did. I found the online ad, read it for myself, typed up and sent an email applying for a position close to home and waited for a response.

Food and/or Product Demonstrators can find themselves working in several capacities.

They can be hired by marketing firms to conduct demonstrations for specific clients in the food industry and are known as Food Demonstrators.

An In-Store Food Demonstrator works solely to promote products sold by that particular store or for a department within a particular store such as promoting meat for the Meat Department of a Major Retail Store.

Other demonstrators are hired by grocery stores, discount stores, drug stores/chemists,etc to demonstrate a wide variety of products and are referred to as Product Demonstrators.

Food Demonstrators may be hired as traditional employees usually on a part-time basis or they may work on a contract basis as a sub-contractor (small-business owner) and are responsible for paying their own taxes, etc.

It is not usual for a Food Demonstrator to be employed by the store where he/she will be scheduled to demonstrate the food/product in.

A In-Store Food Demonstrator/Food Demonstrator works with the public in the retail sector, encouraging customers to try out the items that they are promoting.

They may be responsible for preparing hot food, cutting or dividing it into samples and offering it to shoppers. They are required to maintain food preparation standards and safety at all times and are usually audited by the shop's safety representative from time to time.

Other food items that are already packaged in small, individual servings may be simply offered to shoppers in the packaging.

Food Demonstrators might work in a specific location of the store at a small table set up near where the product is displayed or they may walk through the store carrying a tray or basket of samples to be handed out to customers.

Food Demonstrators must be able to stand for long periods of time so wearing appropriate comfortable footwear is an absolute must. For people experiencing pain it is usually preferable to be standing rather than sitting for long periods of time as at least when you are standing you are able to stretch and move about if only on the spot and this alone helps build up muscle tone. Use it or loose it so to speak.

Demonstrators must have a pleasant demeanor and be customer oriented. They should be happy (or at least look the part) and be friendly and also be able to talk to shoppers about the benefits of the product that they are promoting/sampling to help sell the items.

Cleanliness and a neat appearance is very important. A Food Handler's Permit and/or Certificate is usually required, especially if the job will include preparing and serving food items that are not individually packaged. You may also be required to undergo a In-Store Induction before commence work as a In-Store Food Demonstrator.

The pay for a Food Demonstrator varies depending on the employer and the contract/promotion being conducted.

Food and/or Product Demonstrators who are hired by a grocery store may receive benefits and vacation time in addition to their wages. These employees can expect to receive between the minimum wage and a few dollars per hour higher because they are on casual and/or part-time pay rates.

Food and/or Product Demonstrators who work on a contract basis for a marketing company usually do not receive any extra benefits such as workers compensation, sick pay, etc but their hourly wage could be higher more often than not $2 to $5 above the standard minimum wage.

Food and/or Product Demonstrators may be asked to wear black pants and a white shirt or a shirt with the company or store logo on it. It is common that most companies will provide their In-Store Food Demonstrators with an apron.

Hair should be pulled back from the face and tied up with a hair net covering the head as in accordance with local and state regulations regarding food handlers.

Plastic gloves are required when handing food and these need to be changed regularly depending on what it is you are doing.

The educational requirements for Food Demonstrators are minimal. Previous customer service experience may be helpful, but the job does not require extensive skills.

Weekend shifts are typical for a Food Demonstrator because more and more customers are shopping on weekends than during the week but this will depend on individual regions/areas and the campaign that you are being employed to do.

Food Demonstrators may also work during week days, both during daytime hours and in the evenings. This is therefore a perfect part-time income earner for mothers of school aged children who are wanting to return to the workforce.

The first requirement of a In-Store Food Demonstrator is to report to your assigned store at the appropriate date and time and begin work.

You must check in with the store management when you start your shift and where required have a staff member sign you in. You will have little supervision, so make sure that you understand what your duties are before you commence working.

If it is possible set up a demonstration display table near to the product items that you are demonstrating.

If this is not possible you will have to set up where you are told to and make do making sure that you have an electrical outlet nearby if you have to cook your food.

Prepare the product. If you are demonstrating foods you have to cook, set up the necessary appliance (e.g., electric fry pan, crockpot) and cook the product. Other foods may only require opening bags or boxes and placing samples on a plate to offer customers.

Interact with customers as they walk by and ask them if they would like to try a sample.

Take down your worktable and leave your area clean.

Count how many samples you have given out at the end of your shift.

Fill out any paperwork and have the manager of another staff member sign your time card or watch you sign in the sign in/out book.

At home you will be required to further clean any soiled cookware, dishes and utensils in readiness for the next shift.

You may also be required to complete written reports about the days progress and these are usually done online.

My email was read and replied to and of I went to my interview to be a In-Store Food Demonstrator.

I was accepted as the Part-Time In-Store Food Demonstrator for my local supermarket working a total of 4 hours/day for 3 days/week which equaled 12 hours/week - this was just perfect as I was a little worried about how I was going to be able to manage taking on extra duties in my new-found role as a In-Store Food Demonstrator whilst coping with being in pain.

All that was required of me was to advise my new employer of my health status (for my own peace of mind) and give it a go.

I see this job as a stepping stone to bigger and better things such as being out in public being social instead of being stuck at home wishing my life (and my pain) away.

I am certainly never going to get to 'millionaire status' doing such a job but I am pleased to be able to contribute to the family's budget if only in a small way.

I would be lying if I said that it is an easy job, well maybe for a 'person in good health' it is, but for me, lets just say that I am managing to fulfill the job's requirements but I really do need at least a day's break in between assignments to rest/recover and because it is only part-time I am still able to carry on with my online pursuits such as writing hub articles.

So all in all, I am a little over a month into my new life as a part-time In-Store Food Demonstrator and I am coping and managing my pain as well as can be expected ... I wear wrist support braces when I have to (although these are usually covered over by the gloves) and I have my GMC Joint and Muscle Care drink to sip on throughout my shift to prevent muscle cramps and spasms (Repairware GMC - It has Glucosamine, MSM, Chondrotin, Malic Acid and Magnesium in a powdered form that I mix with water).

I maybe doing it just a tad tougher than most other In-Store Food Demonstrators but I am so darn proud of myself for trying something new, a job that thankfully is relatively flexible enough that I can adapt to accommodate my 'special needs'.

Some food for thought for you reading this (thanks for making it this far) ... the next time that you are in a shopping centre or in a retail store and a stranger asks you if you would like to try whatever it is that they are promoting rather than say nothing at all and/or walk on by at least just smile back because it just may as well be someone like me who is doing it tough enough already and by doing so you will really make his/her day. :-)

Addendum added 07/07/11 -

It was good whilst it lasted but unfortunately for me one of my regular full-on pain flare-up's raised its ugly head and try as I might I was struggling to perform the required duties (even the obligatory smile proved difficult to muster) so I had to relinquish my role as a In-Store Food Demonstrator (at least for the time being).

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UrsulaRose

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