Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Wholesale Sales Representative
What wholesale sales representatives actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
Plan the day’s route and review accounts in the CRM. From there, the day usually includes visit and call on customers in a territory, present and demonstrate products, and take orders and quote pricing. Most work full-time with flexible schedules, some early mornings and occasional travel.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a wholesale sales representative working full time.
- Plan the day’s route and review accounts in the CRM.
- Visit a grocery store to check shelf placement and take an order.
- Meet a restaurant owner about new products.
- Resolve a delivery shortage with the warehouse.
- Visit a prospect and present samples.
- Enter orders and update notes.
- Review sales against targets.
Where wholesale sales representatives work
Reps spend much of the day driving to customers, with time in offices and at home. Some travel overnight in large territories.
Hours and schedule
Most work full-time with flexible schedules, some early mornings and occasional travel.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Visit and call on customers in a territory
- Present and demonstrate products
- Take orders and quote pricing
- Negotiate terms and contracts
- Resolve delivery and quality issues
- Track sales and market trends
- Build long-term customer relationships
Tools you’ll use every day
- CRM and order apps
- Laptops and tablets
- Product samples
- Company vehicles
- Pricing tools
- Route planning apps
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Independence on the road
- Commission earning potential
- No degree required for many roles
- Long-term relationships
What’s hard
- Lots of driving
- Sales targets
- Income can vary
- Customer problems land on you
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I like meeting new people
- I enjoy driving and being out
- I’m self-motivated
- I like solving customer problems
- I’m motivated by commission
- I want independence
Not sure? Take the free Wholesale Sales Representative fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Drive safely and avoid phone use
- Lift samples properly
- Follow site safety rules when visiting customers
- Manage time to prevent burnout