Two decades ago, the sales representatives at Totally Promotional were responsible for nearly every step in the ordering process.
“When I started, we were our own ‘one-man show’ from start to finish,” said Jen Kremer, who recently celebrated 20 years at the promotional products company in Coldwater, Ohio.
Ordering goods on the Internet was not a common practice for businesses or individuals when Kremer was hired Oct. 11, 1999. Most of Totally Promotional’s clients were large companies with big budgets.
At the time Kremer was hired, Totally Promotional did not physically manufacture products in-house. Sales reps often had to search through thousands of vendors to find products that fit their customers’ concepts.
Kremer and crew did it all
Kremer’s job back then was to place customer orders, work on custom designs, follow-up on all orders and ensure accounting received the necessary information. Sales reps also answered phones, located items, wrote up orders, processed payments and tracked packages.
Much has changed, she said.
“Now there is such a network of support from our Customer Service to Marketing, Purchasing, Accounting, Shipping and Management that our jobs are more streamlined,” Kremer explained.
Totally Promotional employed just a handful of people when Kremer first came on board. Today the company has about 300 employees and continues to grow.
One of the highlights of Kremer’s career occurred early on.
“Way back when, I think it was my first or second year here, I completed a single order for $100,000, which was a really big deal for us as a company,” she said.
Kremer’s tasks are much different today
After working in sales for 19 1/2 years, Kremer in March (2019) became the company’s Order Coordinator. She now helps sales reps facilitate large orders by ensuring adequate stock and checking artwork. She also makes freight arrangements and handles tracking information.
“I also check to make sure rush orders are timely, stock issues are resolved and tracking is forwarded to all customers,” she said.
Kremer is a hard-working employee who has greatly contributed to the success of Totally Promotional. We wish her a very happy 20th anniversary!
