Day in the Life of a Vice President Retail Partnerships at Blendjet
Erin's day-to-day responsibilities as VP of Retail Partnerships at Blendjet involve frequent outreach to retail buyers, maintaining strong relationships to secure opportunities and navigate supply chain challenges ("the last few years have been difficult with supply chain issues"). Close collaboration with operations and leadership ensures alignment on new product launches and addresses complexities arising from expanding beyond direct-to-consumer sales.
Retail Partnerships, Supply Chain Management, Communication & Collaboration, Problem-Solving, Executive Leadership
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Erin Kristovich
VP Retail Partnerships
Blendjet
Washington University in St. Louis
NYU Stern Business School
Spanish & Other Languages, English
Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)
Sales and Client Management
Video Highlights
1. Building and maintaining relationships with retail buyers is crucial for securing opportunities and shelf space.
2. Supply chain management and troubleshooting are significant aspects of the role, requiring close collaboration with operations teams.
3. Close communication and alignment with leadership (CEO, co-founder) are essential for navigating new product launches and ensuring business goals are met across different sales channels.
Transcript
A typical day, I tend to do outreach to our retail partners.
I work closely with the buyer who purchases small electronics within each retailer. They are the ones who decide what you see in the small electronics aisle at Target, Walmart, or similar stores.
I speak to them frequently because a stronger relationship leads to better outcomes. When they know me and our brand well, they are more likely to offer us opportunities for their sections.
I also engage in active outreach to these retailers and troubleshoot any issues that arise. Since we sell consumer goods, a tangible product made in China, the past few years have been challenging due to supply chain disruptions.
I collaborate closely with our operations team to track our containers from their origin in China to their arrival in the Bay Area. Occasionally, they get stuck at ports for various reasons.
I am always in close contact with our Ops VP and Ops director. Additionally, I speak with our CEO and co-founder daily to ensure we are aligned on new product launches.
We discuss what I'm hearing from retailers and their pain points. We also confirm that we are working together to ensure our different business lines do not conflict, especially now that we operate in so many locations.
The business is much more complex than when we were solely direct-to-consumer via our website. Close communication is essential to ensure everything is moving toward the same objective.