Adios Guadalajara, Hola Corporativo

So it's been a while since my last entry.  My apologies for the long absence.  The last couple weeks in Guadalajara were pretty much the same and kind of uneventful.  We spent about 3 weeks in total with the Supervisors, shadowing them, learning their daily activities.  Typically, they spend 5 days on the market and 1 day in the office.  Currently in the autoservicio channel, we are running a promotion for cookies.  Customers buying cookies can enter for an opportunity to win a bike or a flat screen TV.  What prize they can win is determined by how many cookie pallets the store is willing to put up.  This was a big focus for the supervisors so we spent a decent amount of time trying to sell in cookie pallets.  Since my job in the US entails selling in displays, it was interesting to see this process.  Some stores are all about the promotion and will put up 4 pallets with no problems.  In other stores the sell-in was not so easy.  They face similar challenges that we face in the US when trying to sell-in a display.  Some times the manager doesn't want the display, or they don't have enough room, or they agree to a display but then change their mind .  It was good to see the successes as well as the failures.  My daily activities entail just that; some days, every store I hit will be a win, other days, not so much.  It's the nature of the business.  From what I learned (very quickly), you have to try not to get frustrated and just continue to work with the stores so you both benefit.      

Each week, the supervisors hold a meeting with their group of vendors/merchandisers to go over results and upcoming priorities.  In these meetings they play a neat "money grab" game.  They put fake money in a jar and the vendors/merchandisers that hit their sales/return goals get chances to grab money out.  The better your results were, the more chances you get to grab.  However much fake money you grab out goes into your next paycheck.  It provides a good incentive to hit your goals.  I thought it was a cool way to do so.

I really enjoyed being in Guadalajara.  It was a nice change of pace and scenery from being in Mexico City.  Let me tell you though, it is hot as hell!!  It easily reached 100 degrees everyday and when you are getting in and out of a car all day, it is not pleasant.  All the people that we met were awesome.  Very kind and fun to be around.  That is one problem with this program.  We go from place to place and meet all these great people.  We are with them everyday for a couple weeks, build relationships, and then, BOOM, off to another place.  I have exchanged information with many of the people down here and I hope to keep in touch with as many as possible.  Oh, on a side note: the women in Guadalajara are B-E-A-UTIFUL!!  I don't know, maybe it is something in the water (no joke intended).  Many of the vendors/merchandisers were women, unlike in the US where it is pretty much a man's world.  If I could only speak Spanish just a little better...... but that is neither here nor there.

Speaking of Spanish, in the last month my Spanish has improved significantly.  I had a new teacher in Guadalajara and she was awesome.  Her name is Paola, she is 26 and is a certified teacher at UNIVA (a university in Guadalajara).  In my first class we put together a list of things I wanted (and needed) to learn.  She came up with a great curriculum for me.  We covered several important subjects and she always kept class interested.  We played games to help me learn and sometimes just chatted about life.  I really enjoyed her classes.  So much so that I requested to continue classes with her via skype while I finish out my time in Mexico City.  Classes start back up tonight.  By the end of my program here I will definitely be speaking much better Spanish.  But I still have a long way to go.  I will not stop until I am completely fluent!!!  Believe that!!  JAJAJA (that's me laughing in Spanish).

Some of my peeps from Guadalajara. 


Now we are back in Mexico City for our final rotation in Corporate.   We are going to be learning about all the behind the scenes activities that allow Bimbo to operate.  There is time scheduled to learn about Trade Marketing, Key Accounts, Analysis, and pretty much everything in between.  We have a project to do as well but have no idea what it is on yet.  To complete the program, we will be presenting to upper management as well as our bosses and VPs from the states.  I have a feeling we are going to be plenty busy for the last month and a half.  I will do my best to keep you guys updated.  Until then...... Adios mis amigos!!