What type of person thrives in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry, according to a Category Development Manager at Wonderful Company
Evan, a Category Development Manager at The Wonderful Company, highlights that success in the consumer packaged goods industry hinges on a holistic understanding of the business, not just a single specialty. The most effective individuals possess diverse experience, encompassing "store operations, merchandising, marketing, and financials," enabling them to grasp "how the whole puzzle fits together" and drive improvements in sales and cost reduction.
Communication, Problem-Solving, Teamwork, Data Analysis, Financial Acumen
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Evan Reed
Category Development Manager
The Wonderful Company
University of Arizona 2014
University of Southern California MBA 2019
Marketing
Food, Beverages & Alcohol
Communication and Marketing
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Demonstrates understanding of the whole picture, not just one specialty. Being able to see how different areas (sales, marketing, finance, store operations) connect is key.
2. Possessing general knowledge across multiple functional areas (finance, marketing, operations) and even different industries (e-commerce, entertainment) is beneficial.
3. The ability to understand how to increase sales and decrease costs to improve the overall business is crucial for success in the industry.
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in your industry?
That's a really good question. Digital packaged goods might look like just putting stuff on a shelf and not that hard. But it's really about someone who can understand the whole picture.
I'll give you an example. Some of our best salespeople are great marketers. They bring a lot of experience from elsewhere, meaning they really understand store operations, merchandising, the creative aspect of marketing, or the financials.
So, you need to learn not just one specialty, but understand how that specialty fits with everyone else and how you can work well. I bring up finance a lot because if you want to do a sale on an item, you have to understand its financials and not lose money for the company.
All this to say, the more general knowledge you get about different functional areas, different companies, and even different industries, the better. There are things in consumer packaged goods where understanding e-commerce, entertainment, technology, and other areas will really do you well. You'll be able to relate to the consumer and understand how the whole puzzle fits together to increase sales, decrease costs, and improve the business.