merchandiser

warehouse associate

delivery driver

truck driver

account manager

Iowa Beverage Systems

I've been with Iowa Beverage Systems on and off for a long time. I've only been a merchandiser, never really thought about asking for a promotion, but here are my thoughts.

I believe strongly that upper management are NOT connected with the regulars (merchandisers, account managers, managers, etc). I've talked to plenty of account managers, and they are expected to make a certain amount of sales. That means a bunch of products we merchandisers have to put away, and more products not bought, then eventually traded out. 

Not to mention all the extra stuff we have to utilize to work. First, an app that tracks our location, which is weird that my location is tracked. Next soon is an app that tracks location for mileage, because excel spreadsheets are so hard to fill out apparently. What is with all these apps? I just want to work, what if I get rid of my smartphone? 

We used to only do alcohol, but now it's Non-alcoholic stuff as well, which I think it ridiculous. It adds more time to sort through our inventory.

I think this company used to be great. Great people, awesome pay (at the time), and simple objectives. Now, it's just numbers. All the great account managers left because of changes to the company, a lot of the merchandisers I got to know left because of said changes. 

If upper management are seeing this, do this: Stop with the location tracking apps, give the employees some slack on their work, and stop demanding higher numbers every year. The products will sell regardless, so there is no need to keep asking for more sales. I don't need my location tracked at every moment. Stop with acquiring so many brands as well. It's too much. If you implement these new apps for clocking in and mileage because of distrust, then inform us that you don't trust your workers.

Typical day: there are a few routes you need to start at a specific time, but most routes you can start whenever you want before 6am, most drivers start from 3:30-5am,  (you get used to it) …it’s a 4 day work week and you go to the same places every week (different town each day) everyday you get in the truck and drive to where you’re delivering that day, you’ll likely have 10-20 stops per day and deliver to bars, gas stations, etc. when delivering you have to dolly all the beer inside and put it away on the shelves where it goes, this is what makes it a physically demanding job… but also a pretty easy job mentally once you get used to it! You don’t clock out until you’re done with your route, you’ll work between 40-50 hours per week depending on the difficulty of the route YOU choose, we’re paid hourly so that is a plus for when you do have a hard day… The work flies by which is great, so 12 hour days don’t even feel long, the managers are great and try to make your life easier rather than harder which is the best trait in a manager, the pay is better than most competitors in the industry, 6 holidays off per year, decent 401k benefits once you’re fully vested after 4 years… your in America so unfortunately healthcare is healthcare (it’s blue cross)… biggest cons have to be the physical labor part of the job, you don’t have to be big and young to do the job, we have drivers of all ages and sizes, it’s all about work ethic, overall it’s a good union job but there’s definitely better jobs, but if you have a CDL and want to be home every night with 3 day weekends and don’t mind physical work, it’s a good job to try (oh and you can’t take home beer surprisingly)

What is the best part of working at the company?
The coworkers are the best part, and that's it. It seems like you will have an awful experience as a merchandiser UNLESS you plan to be a truck driver or move up to sales, so if you plan to move up in the company, that is where you have more likelihood of not hating your life choices. Merchandisers get the short end of the stick. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Dealing with the higher ups not communicating with stores or the ones they need to before bringing something to the merchandisers attention, also the feeling of being completely worthless is a running theme at this job. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The coworkers are the only thing good about the job, the rest is many of the worst things at any job. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
On truck delivery days once the order is dropped on a pallet you then merchandise the store running what is in back stock for products first and then grabbing the new products from the order and putting them up on the shelves where they're supposed to go. On merchandise day is all the same like a truck day it's just not new items you're just pulling from what's in back stock.

I have been apart of IBEV for almost four years and 2 years under fleck sales before IBEV bought us. Over all the job of merchandiser is really simple, show up and don’t be afraid of hard work. I’ve worked my way up through merchandising and finally feel we have a manager that is focused on the needs of the merchandisers. I will say that if you are looking for easy lazy job this isn’t it. The work is demanding physically but it’s really simple and to the point. Now it’s not all perfect there are some negatives. Communication between sales and merch term is nonexistent or just doesn’t communicate well. You are tracked on a mileage app but it’s simple once you figure it out. The hours aren’t bad, if you like waking up in the morning and getting off early in the afternoon this job is for you. Plus if you volunteer at special events you get to see some concerts or even football games. You also work in teams on most loads so you aren’t ever by yourself for big loads. Also most routes have back to back days offs.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The pats was decent, and the job is very fast pace days felt short.


What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The job is always understaffed, and most account managers don't assist with running product.  Not their fault, because they are busy as well.   Long hours, lots of work, and in general you will work even if no one else is.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The culture is that they have none.  They feel like they are not sure who they are.   The weather policy of never canceling to due to inclement weather means that the job is more important than your life.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
5-6 am go to first store, then run product, face product, rotate, rotate, rotate.  You will visit 4-5 stores and trucks are typically 3 to 7 pallets.  The store in general favor the competition and your back stock reflects that.  You will do all the above in 4-5 stores a day.

Was told by an employee ‘it’s every man for themselves’. Structure allowed for people to not do their job, forcing other employees to stay late to complete the workload of the shift. Employees allowed to call in and not get in trouble. Employees allowed to get away with more than an average job, yet still had a job. Consistently there 9-12 hours Monday through Friday without volunteering. Consistently had to ask to be trained on certain stuff with more hesitation. Not a good environment for learning. Not a stable environment, management only cared about money and not about the workload for certain shifts yet other shifts were allowed to consistently leave early. However, the pay was okay, and the bonuses (if you hit them) weren’t terrible. Consistently hearing management say ‘we can’t fire until we have enough employees’,yet good employees continuously leave from the stress, drama and hours. 

I worked only part-time, so I mostly handled the weekend shifts. The job was easy going at first when I started in the summer. Within the first week of being hired, the guy who hired me ended up getting a different route, which resulted in me receiving a new boss right off the bat. The job isn't too bad, all you really have to do is show up to whatever store it is and stock beer. The summer is the busiest time to be working there, and then it slowly calms down into the summer months. The big negative is that management is very bad at communication. They don't give you much opportunity for advancement either. I've been working there for about 7 months and I'm still working the same amount of hours as I did when I first started. Pay is pretty good. Decent job is you're just strictly looking for a part-time position.

Unrealistic goals, very limited help everywhere. Merchandisers are barely trained and have little to no supervision. Promotions rarely happen in this company, if you get bumped up to account manager you're basically a glorified merchandiser with 10x the responsibility. You have the opportunity to get more commission being an account manager but the pay is pretty mediocre for all the work you have to do. Management only contacts you if you are doing something wrong, and barely helps out with anything. All they care about is hitting their goals. There is much better beverage companies out there that will take care of you a lot more. This company is hurting and the turnover rate shows.

The job is no walk in the park your dealing with sales reps there managers your mangers the stores and your other merchandises on a daily basis there can be little to no teamwork and communication. Habent received a raise sense i started and multiple have been out in for me all to get declined for reason they say they cant afford but they can afford to pay fines and afford to consistently switch around departments such as warehouse, sales, merchandisers with how they are making there money. In short feels this company's cares more about keeping the uppers happy then the bottom ground people be happy

If I could rate this place I would give it zeroes what a waste of time can’t get back the 6 months I worked there thank god I left!!!.Management only worries about making numbers no communication to the workers and in the 6 months I was there went thru so many people high turnover rate. No training what só ever just throw you out there on your own. People walk out on there shifts and go home come back the next day and work and nothing happens to them that’s how desperate they are for help

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Merchandiser 12 salaries reported	$16.92 per hour
Warehouse associate 4 salaries reported	$17.00 per hour
Delivery driver 1 salary reported	$50,000 per year
Truck driver 5 salaries reported	$27.66 per hour
Account manager 3 salaries reported	$49,333 per year

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