| Author |
 Topic  |
|
DaveZ
Member
Hesperia, CA
USA
11 Posts |
 Posted - 09/08/2008 : 6:44:57 PM
|
My wife and I have been pondering working as a traveling reset team, anybody do this now? We have run into a few teams and they seem to enjoy it.
Our idea is a camper or trailer and just travel from set to set, we do look for larger/ longer sets as that is what we like to work, (our bebe is going on 17 and has plans of her own, we're doin' our best to help her!) so we figure to look into it.
Anybody got ideas, how to negotiate, plan a trip, anything!!!?
Z |
|
|
SueMontagne
Star Contributor
USA
786 Posts |
Posted - 09/08/2008 : 7:02:16 PM
|
Dave -
I do a lot of traveling, and try to pick up work everywhere I can. It helps a lot to have some personal contacts at the larger, nationwide-type companies who know your work and will call you as backup, but do you really want to leave your 17-yo alone for long periods?
My parents used to be gone a lot when I was that age - and even though I enjoyed the privacy, I was terrified in a big old creaky farmhouse all alone after dark. I never told my parents this, though - I just invited people in to spend the night so I wouldn't be afraid. I didn't tell them this, either.
Anyway, Driveline (see Archway), Crossmark, and Prism all do serious widespread resets. I'm sure there are others, but these folks will give you hundreds of hours a week if you want them.
Combine this with hotel audits in the cities where you'll be staying, and gas station, grocery, and meal mystery shops in the cities you're traveling through, and you can travel for free!
Good luck! It's a lot of fun, and really not difficult to do. I use Excel to track everything, because I cannot always count on Internet access on the road, so I need my calendar to be local, and my schedulers are instructed to send text messages to my cell phone.
Don't leave a message on your home phone that you're out of town, either. I learned this the hard way  |
Take care -
Sue Montagne
Hair & MSPA Cert: Silver (70 - the new 30!)
"Retired" and LOVING it (mostly)!!! |
 |
|
|
DarlaR.
Contributor
TX
USA
92 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2011 : 06:07:22 AM
|
I'm wondering if there's any updates to this topic about traveling and doing resets. I would think that merchandisers who are willing to travel would be in high demand.
Would anyone have any idea what you could expect to bring home as travel reset partners?? |
Darla |
|
|
|
.HaroldLP
Valued Contributor
Syracuse, IN
USA
242 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2011 : 08:22:55 AM
|
Reset teams are in demand, my wife and I did it for over 10 years and averaged about $50K a year each plus loads of perks that added about $20K extra.
We traveled all over the USA, wherever they needed us. Most travel was prepaid air travel with a rental car and hotels provided with a $50.00 a day per diem each. While it paid well we were out 2 weeks at a time home one and out again.
For some we were IC's which didn't have quite as good perks as when we were Employees. It was always fun and each day was a challenge, it was hard work but satisfying. |
|
|
|
DarlaR.
Contributor
TX
USA
92 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2011 : 09:11:04 AM
|
| So what companies did you guys work for? |
Darla |
|
|
|
.HaroldLP
Valued Contributor
Syracuse, IN
USA
242 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2011 : 11:35:20 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by DarlaR.
So what companies did you guys work for?
Mostly RGIS as an employee, SPAR, in their traveling reset division, NIS, and several doing Lowes setup, those just varied depending on the area of the store you wanted to set. Done right we could be in the same store for a full month in 3 or 4 departments. |
|
|
|
MindyZ
Star Contributor
Hesperia, CA
USA
410 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2011 : 06:33:58 AM
|
We have since worked a bunch of projects traveling around, we have a few companies that we do projects for, both IC and W-2, there's not a lot right now, we have been to Jeneau, AK and stayed a month there.
Daughter is now 20 and on her own, leaves us free to go more places but just not a lot of serious offers.......YET.
MindyZ |
Mindy |
|
|
|
DarlaR.
Contributor
TX
USA
92 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2011 : 10:23:15 AM
|
| Yeah...we are pondering the idea. Our last one goes off to college in January which would free us up also. Have you guys tried these companies that Harold suggested? I'm just wondering if the money/work is still as good now as it was in Harold's day. |
Darla |
|
|
|
MindyZ
Star Contributor
Hesperia, CA
USA
410 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2011 : 12:21:48 PM
|
Hi Darla, Hubby has applied to all those companies and more, none have replied so far, we do get some of our trips from referrals, here in CA the San Francisco/Sacramento areas are the ones we get most of our work in, we have a few companies that will only call us as we do have the flexability to carry on their projects, seems they can't find anybody willing to let go of their UI for a temporary project.
We do charge a premium for this work but all have no problems paying for the experience of our being there, the better we do for them the more they are willing and happy to pay what it takes to get us there.
Seems the companies that pay poorly are the least likely to call as they have already cut their own throats by taking on these out-of-the way projects and expect the merchandiser to take it in the shorts to show that they can cover these areas, not us, some of these trips run over 2K miles, but we have gotten as many as 49-60 stores done in a little over a week, makes for long days and drives but if we can make the money color us gone!
MindyZ |
Mindy |
|
|
|
Robert A. Miller
Valued Contributor
PA
USA
204 Posts |
Posted - 10/13/2011 : 10:15:30 AM
|
| It's ironic. I am always available to travel. Here in the east, no one seems to want to pay for travel expenses. With a pay rate of $10.00 to $15.00 an hour, one cannot afford motels on our own. |
|
|
|
.HaroldLP
Valued Contributor
Syracuse, IN
USA
242 Posts |
Posted - 10/13/2011 : 12:42:44 PM
|
I think from what we did, and what most are referring to is apples & oranges from what we did.
Our work involved full store resets and new store setup, I was usually managing a team of up to 30 people. Typical store took 14, 12 hour days to finish. It was nothing to drive 1200 miles to get to the store or be flown in and have a rental car waiting. My team members made from $14 to $18 per hour plus $50 a day for meals and a CC for other expenses.
I wouldn't even back out of the driveway for what the normal project work pays. |
|
|
|
MindyZ
Star Contributor
Hesperia, CA
USA
410 Posts |
Posted - 10/13/2011 : 6:30:08 PM
|
Know what you mean, Hubby does a pretty good job of negotiating our work and pay, we have a few companies that pay extremely well for our travel, as to managing a team or crew Hubby refuses that, way too challenging for pay and hours involved, as mentioned our 20 YO was the last diaper changing he did, managed a few teams & crews and said no more, with the advent of "rent a druggie" he said no, if he can't pick who works for him he won't do it.
MindyZ |
Mindy |
|
|
|
DarlaR.
Contributor
TX
USA
92 Posts |
Posted - 10/14/2011 : 11:02:47 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by Robert A. Miller
It's ironic. I am always available to travel. Here in the east, no one seems to want to pay for travel expenses. With a pay rate of $10.00 to $15.00 an hour, one cannot afford motels on our own.
I'm doing an eight day long nightime family dollar remodel right now for Davaco and there is this couple there from Arkansas. They are working for SASR making $2 less than everyone else with no hotel compensation and drove 300 miles! Unreal huh? |
Darla |
|
|
|
Robert A. Miller
Valued Contributor
PA
USA
204 Posts |
Posted - 10/14/2011 : 11:14:08 AM
|
| I can understand doing out of town projects when they pay well, but no lodging assistance is just not sensible. Of course, I've done paid overnights where the company stuck me in "bedbug central", when the Quality Inn across the street was $10.00 a night more. |
|
|
|
DarlaR.
Contributor
TX
USA
92 Posts |
Posted - 10/14/2011 : 3:49:27 PM
|
| I hear Footprint is a pretty good company to work for. I think they used to be Prism. |
Darla |
|
|
|
MindyZ
Star Contributor
Hesperia, CA
USA
410 Posts |
Posted - 10/14/2011 : 5:20:52 PM
|
There are some "deals" to pass on, that is one of them, got enough work locally for a few weeks.
As to paying one's hotel if there is premium pay that can help, when we do book our own hotels we use the same hotel chains, get free nights and stuff, or if you ever need a room ina an emergency you have one available.
We were offered one of the $ general sets out here, had to pass, why take a $4.00/hr. cut in pay (each of us)?
MindyZ |
Mindy |
|
|
|
Jeff68005
Star Contributor
Bellevue, NE
USA
1094 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2011 : 12:20:00 PM
|
SPAR calls their program "GO Team". That includes a major national drug organization.
I know a gal that just loves the work with smaller teams.
Convergence Marketing has local and store reset teams. They started me out locally and selected the top members of the crew who were able to travel to go to the next assignment.
http://forum.volition.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=34731&SearchTerms=convergence
Check listings on NARMS.
There is a temp company listed here Search for Set and Service Resources. aka SASR They may be of use to get started and fill in the slow weeks. Some assignments are multiple weeks. I see offers that include travel and hotel allowance sometimes.
http://forum.volition.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1577&SearchTerms=Set,and,Service,Resources,Corporation
|
Jeff Hix
Serving metro Omaha, Nebraska including Bellevue, Offutt AFB, Papillion, La Vista, Ralston, Plattsmouth and Council Bluffs, Iowa.
MSPA Silver Certified - MSPA Gold Certified - NARMS Proficiency Test PASSED |
|
|
|
Raymond E
Valued Contributor
Gilbert, AZ
USA
159 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2011 : 2:03:10 PM
|
In response to what Jeff said I would caution you when selecting Set and Service Resources. SASR provides a good service for companies providing temporary labor when it is hard for recruiters to fill projects with internal labor.
However, my caution comes if you actually want to work for that company as part of the national traveling crew. Lets say you are a local merchandiser and have a family. Most likely you have no intention of leaving home for four to six weeks to do traveling work. SASR is perfect for you as you have the opportunity to work for many different merchandising companies while still staying at home. But there is a catch. If you are interested in joining that company as a traveling merchandiser you will not be able to. Companies that use SASR for temporary staffing solutions sign a non compete agreement. This is to prevent the merchandising company that hires SASR from taking the talent from that local market. If a company wants to hire you but learns that you worked for SASR on a project with them previously they will choose not to hire you as it is a violation of their non compete agreement.
|
Raymond
MPSA Silver Certified |
|
|
|
MCBarb
Star Contributor
USA
821 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2011 : 3:58:16 PM
|
Have a nice trip and don't work too hard!!! |
|
|
|
BrianHanson37
Valued Contributor
Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
USA
122 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2011 : 01:54:12 AM
|
Not entirely. We had two SASR temps with us for Beam Team and one was hired on starting this Monday. The non compete clause usually only lasts a month or two.
If you want to travel regionally, check out Beam Team, Crossmark, or Quest. These three companies do resets in Home Depots overnight and you usually have about a 6-8 store territory to travel to. I know Beam Team gives you company paid hotels + per diem and mileage, plus a few other perks if your a lead. I also make more doing home improvement resets compared to grocery and general store sets. And HD gets about 4-6 major resets a year, and you spend one week per store, so its easy to stay busy.
If you want to check it out, Beam Team does most the midwest, west coast, and northeast. Quest does Florida and the east coastline. Crossmark does the central US area (CO, WY, MT, etc.) |
Brian
|
|
|
|
MindyZ
Star Contributor
Hesperia, CA
USA
410 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2011 : 05:15:04 AM
|
Years ago Hubby was managing a road project, that company used SASR exclusively for hired help, not a pretty sight, he says that's when he went through the change of life, he's also worked a few projects for them and never had an any problems as a W-2 working for them.
They recently upped their pay range here in CA as have a few other companies, perhaps a sign of not being able to find qualified/willing workers maybe??
MindyZ |
Mindy |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Traveling reset team