Recruitment specialist Lynda Ward says established companies within the pet trade are gearing up their sales forces due to increasing numbers of new brands entering the market.

Lynda, whose Pet Trade Solutions business has recruited top people for top jobs since year 2000 following 18 years in the pet industry, says: “Well-known brand owners are increasingly waking up to the fact that they need to continually make their presence felt by customers with regular face-to-face contact in order to stave off competition from newcomers. 

"Relationships are king in this industry and brand loyalty and personal loyalty go hand in hand as is illustrated by salespeople in effect taking customers with them if they move to another company.

"Emerging brand owners are well aware of this and are putting salespeople on the road as soon as they possibly can. 

"Their wish-list when recruiting being:

• Experience
• Contacts
• Good reputation

"As a trade with an appetite for fresh and innovative products we welcome new offerings and when these are introduced by a trusted representative they are unlikely to be rejected by buyers...but retail outlets are not elastic and shelf-space is precious so usually ‘one in’ means ‘one out’. 

"With more and more products (pet foods in particular) entering the market and snapping at the heels of those better known it’s a particularly interesting time and one when excellent sales people are definitely at a premium.”

Lynda is always happy to personally advise on any aspects of recruitment and marketing strategy and can be contacted on 07946 743784 or at lyndaward@pettradesolutions.com