Open Writing

I met Uncle Harry the Woolworth’s Supervisor on the street a few weeks later. He greeted me like a long lost friend. Ignoring him, I continued on my way.

I have never regretted leaving Woolworths, although I did find their training scheme very well designed. It proved crucial to me in the rest of my working life.

I was now a merchandiser with Food Agencies, a subsidiary of David's Holdings. The job entailed displaying and merchandizing the company products in various retail and wholesale outlets.

The senior salesman resigned a few months after I began and I was appointed to his position much to the annoyance of a younger representative who had a couple of years of seniority over me. What had happened was that when he made out his daily report, he recorded twice as many calls as I did. I was called in to the manager's office and asked to explain why this was so. I merely suggested that instead of my offering an explanation the he, the manager, should spend time with each of us on our rounds and then make a considered judgment. He agreed and found that the other representative merely popped his head in the wholesaler’s and retailer’s door in his area and bid them the time of day, whereas I, would go in, clean and fill fixtures, suggest new products and organize future promotions and displays. Also, I was able to paint show cards and tickets, as there was a dearth of material provided by the company. The ultimate indignity for my rival was that he was ordered to accompany me on my rounds to find out what had to be done

I was enjoying my position, although the money was barely enough for us to survive, when the Sales Manager resigned and Bill I, from South Australia was appointed as his replacement. Being new to Sydney and the products I spent a great deal of my time taking Bill around introducing him to the buyers and executives of the major chains, groups and warehouses and generally familiarizing him with the whole set up. We became friends and socialized with our wives.

During the latter part of 1966 Bill and I attended a convention at the mother company in Berri, South Australia, where I was introduced the general manager, the marketing manager and the chairman of the board.

At the convention Bill proposed that Berri should break away from Food Agencies. In his opinion, the company's progress was being stifled as both Berri and Ardmona products were not on the shelves of Woolworths and G.J.Coles, the largest retailers in New South Wales.

The chairman of the board was a close friend and confidant of John David, Food Agencies owner, but with the general manager, the marketing manager and Bill, the New South Wales Sales Manager, pushing for change, the chairman was forced negotiate a deal with David's Holdings. The changeover period would take about five years.

This decision and Bill’s lack of management skills did not go down too well with the Davids family.

One day in November that year Berri's marketing manager came to Sydney supposedly to meet my customers. With Bill's permission, he spent the day with me on my rounds.

When we arrived back at his hotel after a very full day, he invited me to stay for dinner. I said that I would have to confirm it with my wife, which I did, and we had a very pleasant night. I was completely unaware that I was being checked out to replace Bill as New South Wales Sales Manager.

The next day when Bill found out that I had dined with the marketing manager he became suspicious and called me into the office. He shut the door and told me in straight language that if he 'was going down' then so was I. I was taken aback by his vehemence towards me.

He immediately relieved me of my senior sales representative position and demoted me back to merchandiser. In addition to this indignity I had to call into the office each day to find out my day's duties before I began my rounds and again at the end the day when I had to put in my report. The sales office was at one end of Sydney and my home in Narrabeen at the other.

I was dismayed, furious and saddened at this unjust treatment. Had I not had family responsibilities, I would have immediately resigned from the company. Unfortunately, I still owed a lot of money on my car. I just had to swallow my pride and do as he instructed.

I was also hurt and disappointed that the management of Berri who knew what happened took no counter action on my behalf.

The next few weeks for me were long and very difficult. Not only was I unhappy, I had to represent a company I felt had let me down and I did not know how long I would keep my job. Also a big question on my mind was that should I be successful in finding another job, what sort of reference Bill would give my prospective employer.

My friend Kismet was back with a vengeance. My hatred of Sydney and Australia was intense. I regret to say that the stress I was under caused me to take some of my frustration out on my family at home.

I continued to scan the classified advertisements in all the Sydney newspapers but without success.

© Clement 2007