Demonstrators and Product Promoters

Want help with your hiring? It's easy. Enter your information below, and we'll quickly reach out to discuss your hiring needs.

Recruiter.com helps professionals in demonstrator or product promoter careers find better opportunities across all specialties and locations. Sign up in our career community today!

Also known as:
Home Demonstrator, Home Service Demonstrator, Hostess Party Sales Representative, In-Store Demonstrator

See all Marketing, Sales and Service Careers.

ABOUT DEMONSTRATOR OR PRODUCT PROMOTER CAREERS

Video transcript

When a product is sitting on the shelf, it's easy not to notice it. The job of demonstrators and product promoters is to bring the product to a shopper's attention. Demonstrators promote sales of a product to consumers. Product promoters try to induce retail stores to sell particular products and market them effectively. They work in stores, on television and sometimes door-to-door, showing potential customers why a particular item is a must-have.

This is not a job for the shy or withdrawn. It's an enterprising occupation that often comes with a commission for each sale. That adds enthusiasm to the pitch, but it helps if you believe in the product, too. Some demonstrators and product promoters are hired part-time during holiday shopping rushes, or during special promotions. So this is a job that might fit in with other activities, such as going to school, or auditioning for a job as an actor.

Certainly acting skills can be called into play. You have to appear as enthusiastic about the product you're demonstrating on the fiftieth pitch of the day as you did on the first. If you're interested in this field, you can get a referral from a working product demonstrator. Or check the yellow pages for in-store or retail promotions firms. Once hired, you'll probably be given a specific script to use by the product manager. But the charm, clarity, and credibility needed to convince the customer will be all yours.

SNAPSHOT

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

Leadership	HIGH
Critical decision making	HIGH
Level of responsibilities	LOW
Job challenge and pressure to meet deadlines	LOW
Dealing and handling conflict	LOW

Competition for this position	HIGH
Communication with others	HIGH
Work closely with team members, clients etc.	HIGH
Comfort of the work setting	HIGH
Exposure to extreme environmental conditions	LOW
Exposure to job hazards	LOW
Physical demands	LOW

Daily tasks

Work as part of a team of demonstrators to accommodate large crowds.

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.

Record and report demonstration-related information, such as the number of questions asked by the audience or the number of coupons distributed.

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.

Demonstrate or explain products, methods, or services to persuade customers to purchase products or use services.

Keep areas neat while working and return items to correct locations following demonstrations.

Provide product samples, coupons, informational brochures, or other incentives to persuade people to buy products.

Identify interested and qualified customers to provide them with additional information.

Suggest specific product purchases to meet customers' needs.

MAIN ACTIVITIES

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public	Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
Selling or Influencing Others	Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization	Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Getting Information	Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People	Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems	Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

AREAS OF 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.

Psychology	Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Clerical	Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Communications and Media	Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

TOP 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.

Service Orientation	Actively looking for ways to help people.

Reading Comprehension	Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Judgment and Decision Making	Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Coordination	Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Social Perceptiveness	Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.