One of the recurring complaints you would likely hear from Field Marketing Managers and Demo Coordinators is how unreliable are the Brand Ambassadors they have to deal with. In fact, if you ever experienced scheduling a few demos, you have probably endured a Brand Ambassador's last moment cancellation or "now show".

I would like to posit that the Brand Ambassadors' perceived lack of reliability is not necessarily caused by their mercurial personalities, but by the nature of their business and unavailability of appropriate time management tools. Consider the fact that most Brand Ambassadors are independent contractors who try to earn their living selling their personal skills in small time increments. After all, most in store demos only last 3-4 hours. As such, the Brand Ambassadors need to market their services to Demo Coordinators, Brand Managers, etc. as well as delivering these services in stores and events.

It is impossible to estimate how many hours a Brand Ambassador has to market their services to get a single demo for which she can earn $60-$140. This reality forces them to continuously work with multiple Brands, conflicting times and constantly changing dates. 

There are myriads of project/task/shift and event management services available online today. However, all of them are designed for the owners of these business processes, who are in a position to control steps, tasks and communications. Not for the last link of the process chain, Brand Ambassador, who is on the receiving end of all that "flexibility". Besides, many Demo Coordinators do not use such services either because they do not offer enough specific help for the demo management process, and are not a good fit for other demo management tasks.

Use of the right tool for intelligent scheduling and coordination of ever changing demo requirements can go a very long way to reduce the frustration and "flakiness" of Brand Ambassadors. Additional benefits include:
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- increased productivity of a Demo Coordinator who can manage 400-500 demos per month 
- controlled automated communications with all involved parties
- greater availability of Brand Ambassador time to you because the use of such a tool reduces the uncertainty of Brand Ambassadors being paid for their time and efforts
- automated generation of BA invoices, payment statements and BA tax preparation documentation
​- online demo reporting and data collection for subsequent analysis supporting Field Marketing ROI calculations.

Understanding return on investment for these promotional strategies can go a long way in attracting the sponsors for them. Analysis of data, collected effortlessly by your POS, holds the key to leveraging vendor’s promotional budgets for increasing foot traffic in your stores. Any quality in store demo agency or vendor’s field marketing organization collects valuable data specific to the demo events they conduct. Cross referencing POS with demo data can produce empirical evidence, that would entice vendors to demos in your stores all day long, and that will lift:

• Weekly sales per square foot of selling area
• Sales per customer transaction, and
• Median weekly sales per supermarket  

Ecommerce giants should not be the only ones benefiting from the opportunities technology gives us, traditional stores can explore those blessings too. There are tools that help you automate scheduling and coordination of promotional events in your stores without adding any payroll expenditures.
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In retrospect, arming yourself with the right information and tactics will give you sufficient leverage in the unstable 'waters' of retail. Reaching out to your customers, giving them the very best and improving on your operations are essential tips for relieving the pressure of online competitors.

​In marketing, in store demo refers to the demonstration of products in large retail locations such as shopping malls or supermarkets in order to attract potential customers. In store demo is a means of introducing customers to products with the hope of getting them to purchase them.

One of the advantages of in store demo is that it gives customers the opportunity to taste or touch the products before they buy them. A product demo is one of the best sales tools that can be used when you have a high quality product for sale. A product demo is a very effective way to make potential customers know about your new products and the features. One of the important sales demonstration skills is to know your audience. The key is to put together what each customer cares about and make them available. 

During in store demo, don’t just show your audience the products, engage them by allowing them touch, feel or hold the product. Also, don’t make a product demo like a sales pitch; spice it up by injecting anecdotes or telling funny stories. Avoid making turning an in store demo to a training session; stick to the basics. 

Planned product demos are one of the best ways to introduce a consumer to your products. If well planned, it can get the attention of shoppers and passersby which will in turn increase the sale of your product.

​The benefits of in store marketing cannot be overemphasized. It increases the sales rate of the brand because consumers who see the products in the middle of a shopping spree are most likely to buy the products. It also gives customers the opportunity to try something different from the brand that they are used to. Below is some of the key importance of in store demo

In store demo helps in creating desire of purchasing a product in passersby or shoppers. For instance, in a grocery store where cookies are offered to customers who wait to watch the product demo, the customers may like the product and they may decide to buy more quantities of the product. Or if it a coffee machine, you can invite customers to come up and try out how it works and this in turn may spike up their desire and can lead to an interest in purchasing a coffee machine. 

Product demo provides visual aids which enhance the quality of your sales presentation. Some customers prefer to see a product in order to grasp its value and potential. The ability to feel, see or even smell a product can be more appealing than just listening to a sales pitch. In store demo provide potential customers the opportunity to see the features of a product and can strengthen their desire to purchase the product.

​In store demo aids brand positioning which involves differentiating your brand from your competitors’ brand and this helps give a lasting impression on your target audience. A well defined brand position gives your brand several advantages which include providing a conceptual framework for your brand, marketing messages, services and pricing structure. 

In store demo aims at communicating to your consumers the unique features of the product you want them to purchase. It gives producers the opportunity for direct communication with consumers about their product and its attributes and the benefits it provides. In store demo helps your brand stand out in competitive retail markets.

​In store demo offers potential customers the opportunity to closely inspect products during a product demonstration. Printed information can be given to customers to enable them get a better grasp of the demonstration. The demonstrator should take up the role of a teacher and educate the consumers about the way a product should be used. Consumer education helps improve day to day satisfaction with your product and increases their trust in your brand. 

Customers’ satisfaction soars when they are properly educated in the way a product works or how it should be used. During in store demo, customers become engaged in a product demonstration and this in turn increases their likelihood to purchase your product. Increased engagement in a product leads to higher chances of renewal or repurchase of the product.

In sales demo when properly carried out can increase customers’ loyalty to the product as a result of proper customer education.

​In store demo is a form of product demonstration that is usually performed at large retail locations such as shopping malls and supermarkets in order to introduce potential customers to a product. It is an effective way of making sales, if properly done.

In grocery stores, in store demo gives consumers the opportunity to taste a particular product and this in turn increases the likelihood of the consumer purchasing the product if he likes it. In store demo can help sway a consumers’ buying preference and help boost sales and increase brand loyalty. 

In store demonstrators must be professionals who can connect with the consumers in a way that will increase their likelihood to purchase the product and they must be knowledgeable about the product and always ready to provide answers to customers’ questions.

​The importance of product demonstration cannot be overemphasized. It helps boost brand awareness and increases product sales. When customers have a closer, out of the box look of the product that is on demonstration, it affords them the opportunity to touch or feel the product.
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It also gives producers the opportunity to tell customers the features of their products and teach them how a product works. Product demonstration gives demonstrators the chance to show their knowledge skill and answer questions about the products. It boosts brand loyalty and helps in swaying the interest of consumers to the products and if they like it, increases the possibility of a repurchase.