merchandiser

sales trainee

truck driver

sales representative

warehouse associate

GENERAL BEVERAGE SALES CO

Not many pros to working here. The building is in shambles (like you go back in time to a retro 1972, which is also probably the last time they put a coat of paint on the walls or carpet on the floor) the employee morale is in the basement.
Senior Management has NO CLUE about what it takes to retain or attract good talent. They are so reliant upon employees who have worked there 30-40 years (loyal? or they don't possess skills enough to get a job in the real world because they haven't had any real world experience). I worked for a bully who made his way by having others do his dirty work and report back what he wanted to hear. 
The good, innovative, collaborative professionals don't stick around very long.  Sr Management has "favorites" and rule with an iron fist. If they don't like you (or if you have alternative / up to date ideas), you're out. Very old school mentality. No diversity/inclusion, no continuing education. They are a dinosaur that has been around forever, but they will soon realize (if they haven't already), the talent they are turning away because of lack of pride in the building, lack of good salary and benefits and good ole boys leadership - will cost them dearly in the long run.  There are some good people there, that may even enjoy their jobs. Others are miserable and just do nothing about it. I put up with it about 18 months, then I realized it was never going to get any better so I made the choice to get a job with a company who appreciates my contribution & my authenticity.

I worked here briefly from February until the end of March, when I found a better job.
I applied for a CDL B position, but since I did not have that license they told me that I would be starting off as a Driver Helper, which was reasonable enough.
The pros: four day work week.
The cons: they will put you to work in the worst neighborhoods in Milwaukee servicing nuisance gas stations.
They will not let you conceal carry at these gas stations, even though the company trucks have been robbed of product, drivers have had guns pulled on them and one person even attempted to set a company truck on fire (thankfully it didn't work.)
Most of the people working as drivers at the job hate it and in the brief time that I worked there two employees quit because management did not feel the need to do anything about drivers getting held up.
Well, scratch that, because they were willing to pay FIVE EXTRA DOLLARS to workers servicing routes on which they might get robbed.
Yep, at GB your safety, and potentially your life, are worth FIVE EXTRA DOLLARS.
Some people say that you can't put a price on life, but GB sure managed to do it.
Management has no respect for the people who make the company money, the drivers who are the end of the supply chain, and this place is not worth it. 

I had a great experience working here.  My manager was supportive, approachable, and always encouraged professional growth.  They took the time to listen, provided helpful feedback, and created a positive work environment where you felt valued.  

The HR team was welcoming, collaborative, and enjoyable to work with. Everyone was willing to help each other, making it easy to learn and succeed.  The company promoted teamwork, respect, and open communication, which made coming to work each day enjoyable.

Overall I highly recommend this company to anyone looking for a positive workplace with strong leadership, a great team, and opportunities to grow professionally.

Worked there for a little over two years, no raises whatsoever. Management was toxic and micro-managed everything. Nothing was ever good enough and was constantly verbally berated for not meeting unrealistic expectations. You’re expected to move from account to account at a breakneck pace with no room to breathe. Lots of driving with your own vehicle, and you’re hardly reimbursed for it. No coverage for mileage and minimal coverage for gas. Work is very physically demanding and can be very exhausting at times. Was straight-up lied to during the interview about what the typical workday would be like. 
Overall not a very rewarding position. Maybe apply if you’re a masochist.

This is the best family-owned business to be a part of. It is challenging but the coworkers and management do a great job of keeping the environment upbeat and positive. If you like to work within teams but also feel the need to motivate yourself with individual goals, this is a career that has both. Management and Owners have a good balance of holding their employees accountable to achieving the sales goals but also being available and willing to help, and they invest in you. As with any sales job (wait, ANY job--period!), you will deal with crabby/snotty customers. The managers listen well and communicate ideas that will help you solve problems and succeed as a team and an individual.

A typical day as a Managers Assistant with General Beverage is to speak with fellow salesmen, and District Manager to provide information on new products to customers in a specific area.  We also assist salesmen in making sure grocery stores, liquor stores, bars, and restaurants maintain the proper inventory to serve there customers.

I learned new sales techniques from 6 different salemen, and 2 different district managers.

The hardest part of this job is to delegate the correct amount of time, between each account.

The most enjoyable part of this job is the interaction with customers and buyers of each account.

The people at GB are great, but the sales job itself can be hard.  This is definitely a job for someone who is a self starter and can track their own progress and goals.  The main downside for me was having to use my own vehicle to make sales calls.  I spent my own money on all my gas, food and wear and tear on my vehicle, and trust me, you will put a lot of miles on your car.  I left the job for another position with less salary, but I took home more money because I had fewer expenses.

This company has wonderful family owners.  The management however, especially in the New Berlin facility, needs work.  There is a huge deficit in communication. From managers to sales reps on down the line.  The frustration daily takes a toll. The hardest part of the job is the lack of communication and support from managers.  It would be nice to have more guidance and be able to give input and share ideas.  I enjoy going into my businesses and building those relationships.

Pay is decent for a sales rep however benefits are extremely lacking. 401k match is only 1.5% match and you only get to keep it if you stay for 5 years. Vacation is 2 weeks until you get to 3 years, if you quit before the year is up you have to pay them back for taking the vacation. They finally just added maternity leave which is only 4 paid weeks. The company makes others make up for each other if there is staff missing and then pockets the money since they are paying one less salary. 

Working with a large number of accounts, daily travel from account to account.  High level of organization will help you a great deal.  Must be good at building relationships, highly competitive working against other brands.  Product knowledge a must.  Willing to be available for accounts when emergency orders need to be done.  Good training, good tools for success in your job.  Company vehicle for sales and management positions

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Merchandiser 23 salaries reported	$18.28 per hour
Sales trainee 3 salaries reported	$21.50 per hour
Truck driver 11 salaries reported	$25.32 per hour
Sales representative 2 salaries reported	$55,500 per year
Warehouse associate 10 salaries reported	$22.14 per hour

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