MEET CARMELITA TEIXEIRA - YOUR SOUTHERN TRADE SALES SPECIALIST
Offering hands on, localised support to trade painters and decorators across the country, our network of TSS team members are more than just a helpline.
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We recently chatted with Carmelita Teixeira, where she discussed the importance of providing such a bespoke service and her experience covering the South region.
Read on to find out more…
Q) Tell us about your journey, how did you enter the industry and come to join Valspar Trade?
It first started when Sherwin headhunted me from my previous role as a Sainsburys Trading Manager. I joined as a Territory Sales Consultant (TSC), based in store at B&Q, which felt really natural to me as I had always been used to the retail environment.
After a year and a half, I was then promoted to my current position of Trade Sales Specialist (TSS), which I have been in now for three years. Moving across to the trade side was a huge change; however, it gave me the ability to expand and develop my industry and paint
knowledge massively – not only helpful for me but great for our customers and traders.
Q) Can you explain more about your role, what does your day-to-day look like?
No day is the same, every day I can expect something different. Being flexible is one of the most essential parts of my job. The phone can ring at any minute and it’s important I am ready to provide the support my traders need – I try to keep a flexible calendar for this reason.
Day-to-day entails everything from supporting our existing customers to finding new business and getting to grips with how we can best offer our services to benefit the client. Knowing what to recommend and having an understanding of different sites and projects is an expectation on us, and one we must make sure we meet. Ultimately, it is all about creating and building strong professional relationships with customers, store teams and field teams.
Q) Your service includes offering one-to-one support, how do you deliver this?
One-to-one support is so important, it’s all about building that relationship of trust and letting our customers know that they will always have a team member to rely on. It takes time - these types of relationships aren’t built overnight and can take anywhere from six months to a year to build. I’m always ready to pick up the phone and offer support!
I currently support the biggest Direct2Site client in the company, as well as some of our smaller and often traders, and this is all down to us devoting time to each relationship.
Q) What is your favourite part of the role?
I just think it is amazing to see what our customers can accomplish! Being a TSS has been my favourite job I have ever done, just because it is so different. It has given me the ability to go to new places, places I would have never been to in normal circumstances. From million-
pound homes to beautiful churches and historical buildings, I even enjoy the journeys.
Q) What are some challenges of the role?
Wanting to be everywhere I can be for my customers when they need me, but remembering I am only one person, so time management is essential.
Q) Best design tip you have picked up along the way?
I find the manipulation of scale a really interesting concept. It is fascinating to see how the size of a room can appear so different, made larger or smaller, purely through the choice of paint colour and finish.
Q) What project are you most proud of?
A project that sticks out to me is the construction of a £1.2 million house. I got to watch the entire process, from the groundworks and construction, to the interior design and colour choices. Once it had been completed, I even got the chance to meet the client and was
invited to walk around the property! It was brilliant to be able to witness everyone’s hard work and then appreciate the finished result.
Curious to find your local TSS?
Head to the website here.