Demonstrators and Product Promoters - 41-9011.00

Demonstrate merchandise and answer questions for the purpose of creating public interest in buying the product. May sell demonstrated merchandise.

Sample of reported job titles: Brand Ambassador, Demo Specialist, Demonstrator, Event Specialist, Field Merchandiser, Food Demonstrator, In Store Demonstrator, Merchandiser, Product Ambassador, Product Demonstrator

Tasks

• Provide product samples, coupons, informational brochures, or other incentives to persuade people to buy products.
• Sell products being promoted and keep records of sales.
• Keep areas neat while working and return items to correct locations following demonstrations.
• Demonstrate or explain products, methods, or services to persuade customers to purchase products or use services.
• Record and report demonstration-related information, such as the number of questions asked by the audience or the number of coupons distributed.
• Suggest specific product purchases to meet customers' needs.
• Research or investigate products to be presented to prepare for demonstrations.
• Set up and arrange displays or demonstration areas to attract the attention of prospective customers.
• Identify interested and qualified customers to provide them with additional information.
• Visit trade shows, stores, community organizations, or other venues to demonstrate products or services or to answer questions from potential customers.
• Transport, assemble, and disassemble materials used in presentations.
• Practice demonstrations to ensure that they will run smoothly.
• Learn about competitors' products or consumers' interests or concerns to answer questions or provide more complete information.
• Instruct customers in alteration of products.
• Work as part of a team of demonstrators to accommodate large crowds.
• Prepare or alter presentation contents to target specific audiences.
• Stock shelves with products.
• Provide product information, using lectures, films, charts, or slide shows.
• Train demonstrators to present a company's products or services.
• Recommend product or service improvements to employers.
• Contact businesses or civic establishments to arrange to exhibit and sell merchandise.
• Write articles or pamphlets about products.
• Wear costumes or sign boards and walk in public to promote merchandise, services, or events.

Technology Skills

• Electronic mail software - Email software; Microsoft Outlook
• Internet browser software - Web browser software
• Office suite software - Microsoft Office
• Operating system software - Microsoft Windows
• Presentation software - Microsoft PowerPoint
• Spreadsheet software - Microsoft Excel
• Web platform development software - Hypertext markup language HTML
• Word processing software - Microsoft Word

Tools Used

• Bar code reader equipment - Barcode scanners
• Cappuccino or espresso machines - Espresso makers
• Desktop computers
• Digital cameras
• Domestic coffee makers
• Domestic electric skillets
• Domestic toaster ovens
• Personal computers
• Pocket calculator - Handheld calculators

Knowledge

• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
• Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
• Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Skills

• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Abilities

• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
• Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Interests

• Interest code: ECR
  • Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
  • Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
  • Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Work Context

• Contact With Others - 89% responded “Constant contact with others.”
• Spend Time Standing - 82% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
• Deal With External Customers - 67% responded “Extremely important.”
• Face-to-Face Discussions - 70% responded “Every day.”
• Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - 66% responded “Every day.”
• Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - 68% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
• Freedom to Make Decisions - 50% responded “A lot of freedom.”
• Time Pressure - 40% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
• Work With Work Group or Team - 59% responded “Extremely important.”
• Frequency of Decision Making - 19% responded “Never.”
• Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - 16% responded “Moderate results.”
• Physical Proximity - 65% responded “Moderately close (at arm's length).”
• Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - 40% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
• Electronic Mail - 18% responded “Never.”
• Structured versus Unstructured Work - 23% responded “Very little freedom.”
• Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People - 22% responded “Once a year or more but not every month.”
• Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - 26% responded “Extremely important.”
• Telephone - 28% responded “Once a month or more but not every week.”
• Coordinate or Lead Others - 30% responded “Extremely important.”
• Letters and Memos - 41% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
• Level of Competition - 35% responded “Highly competitive.”
• Public Speaking - 36% responded “Never.”

Education

Percentage of Respondents	Education Level Required
64%	High school diploma or equivalent
35%	Less than high school diploma
1%	Master's degree

Work Styles

• Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
• Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
• Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
• Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
• Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
• Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
• Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
• Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
• Self Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
• Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
• Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
• Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
• Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
• Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
• Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

Work Values

• Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
• Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
• Recognition - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Wages & Trends

• Median wages (2017)
  • $13.01 hourly, $27,060 annual
• Employment (2016)
  • 95,000 employees
• Projected growth (2016-2026)
  • Average (5% to 9%)
• Projected job openings (2016-2026)
  • 17,100