Contact us to see if there is an opportunity in your area:
email: brian.cullen@chicagochocolate.com
phone: 773-650-0535 ext.204
toll free: 888-568-1733 ext. 204
Chicago Chocolate
Attn: Shows Group / Brian Cullen
4010 S Morgan
Chicago, IL 60609
The Position Requires:
- Strong interpersonal skills
- A strong work ethic
- A desire for significant personal financial upside
- Strong organizational skills
Chocolate Rep Benefits:
- Freedom of operating your own business
- Expected full time income range of $30,000 to $150,000+, based on the performance of your business
- Chicago Chocolate’s administrative platform
- Chicago Chocolate’s training and support
- Work can be based out of your home
- Chicago Chocolate will assist in setting up your company
- Cash flow management to minimize ongoing overhead costs
Training:
We provide both classroom and real experience for all reps. This will be done in Chicago and possibly in your territory as well.
Details of the Program – What We Do
We attempt to make it as easy as possible for our reps to order product and supplies, communicate pre-show information, and communicate post-show results. Quite frankly, we will try to minimize the amount of your time spent on activities that will not provide you with incremental income. This allows you to concentrate on revenue producing tasks such as booking or executing shows.
A typical Show process would be as follows:
- Rep uses Chicago Chocolate techniques and preprinted material to book a Show venue. Likely venues include hospitals, large corporate buildings, and seasonal special events.
- Rep logs on to www.chicagochocolate.com and enters their account through the “Login” feature. They then enter the “Rep” area and use the form to send information to Chicago Chocolate on the Show and venue. If it is an existing venue, we will already have most or all of the venue related information.
- Rep uses web site to order any product, supplies, or customized promotional material (for that show) that they might need.
- Chicago Chocolate uses Show venue information to create file on Show (if new), calculate sales tax rate for that location, and create any customized promotional materials in the order.
- Chicago Chocolate assembles product, promotional materials, and supplies from the order and arranges for shipping.
- Chicago Chocolate communicates the shipping date and ships the pallet(s) to the Rep.
- After the Show, Rep uses the website to communicate sales information, and Chicago Chocolate pays venue the agreed percentage, as well as the state sales tax. A Sales Information Memo will also be sent to the venue and the rep.
- Chicago Chocolate reconciles all payments and charges, including payments through the use of the credit card system. CCharges may include product, supplies, shipping, venue payment and sales tax.
- A Completed Show Summary will be sent, which summarizes all cash flows. Chicago Chocolate initiates an electronic funds transfer into/out of the bank account of Rep (assuming initial credit card stage is over).
Details of the Program – What You Need To Do
Generally, an independent rep needs the following things to be successful in this position:
- A fun-loving, outgoing and highly organized personality
- An air conditioned room or storage space to store boxes of chocolate
- A vehicle (with A/C) large enough to transport the product and equipment for a show (preferably a minivan, van, or SUV)
- A laptop computer with Broadband Access PC Card (Wireless)
- A company to transact the business through
- Show Equipment and supplies (listed later and can be purchased near cost from the Chicago Chocolate Company)
Most of the items listed above are fairly straightforward with the exception of the company. An independent rep would need an entity set up in their state (which we can provide some guidance on) unless they already have access to a company. The reason the company is important is that to transact business in any state, you must have a business license, file an annual report with the state, and pay the appropriate taxes. There are generally a number of different kinds of companies to choose from, including S-Corps and LLCs, which have you taxed on your personal tax return as opposed to the company’s. You will also need to get a federal tax identification number (TIN).
Generally a local attorney can take care of all of the necessary filing and paperwork, or there are internet sites that can help you set a company up (Google “set up a company”). An experienced attorney usually can help you choose the type of company that is best for your personal tax situation, but will cost more than the internet approach. We would suggest you explore both avenues before choosing.
We are obviously not attorneys and can not give you legal advice for your state. However, we have been through the process on multiple occasions and can provide practical guidance and advice.
Show Equipment
Below is a list of equipment that is needed to run a successful show. All of this equipment is available through the Chicago Chocolate Company. The first list contains items that are essential, with an asterisk (*) following the items that you can likely source independently of the Chicago Chocolate Company. (However, since we can usually source the items in higher quantities, and we don’t place a large markup when we resell them to you, it may be more economical for you to have them thrown on the pallet of product being shipped to you.) The second list includes items that can make you more efficient if you get to the point you are doing large volumes and/or have more than one team running more than one show per day.
The list of essentials includes:
- Sneeze Guards (Minimums = 1 Right, 1 Left, 4 Center)
- Skirts for tables with clips, velcro and logo
- Certified Scale*
- Cash Register*
- Power strip, extension cords (3 or 4), and outlet adapter*
- Product Scoops*
- Chicago Chocolate food grade bags
- T-Shirt Bags* (but Chicago Chocolate sourced bags have logo)
- Food grade disposable gloves or sleeves*
- Portable toolbox* (should include s-clips, velcro, sharpie markers, pens, basic tools, etc.)
- Credit card swipe and receipt printer for laptop + carbonless slips for backup*
- Sample tray and tongs*
- Garbage bags*
- Chicago Chocolate brochures, product signs and price signs
- Particular show’s promotional items – posters, flyers, and table tents
- Chicago Chocolate shirts, aprons, and hats
- High quality hand truck/dolly*
Optional Show Equipment
In addition to or in place of some of the normal equipment in the previous list, certain pieces of equipment may prove to be time and cost saving if you have a large volume of shows or if you have multiple crews out at the same time. For those reps that grow to this stage, we will work with you to maximize your efficiency. In addition, outdoor festivals can become an essential part of your seasonal income, but requires additional equipment in the form of fountains and specialized sneeze guards.
The list of additional/optional equipment includes:
- Show carts (customized aluminum rolling cart with product storage)
- Hand held credit card processor with built in internet access*
- Chocolate fountains*
- Chocolate fountain sneeze guard
- Portable poster stands
- Transport Truck* (we could help with specs)
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