Product Consultant (Gauteng) at Smollan

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Store Placement & Coverage:

• Be placed in stores according to the Unilever Health & Beauty retail footprint and current structure, ensuring optimal coverage, brand presence, and representation across assigned outlets.

Policy Adherence:

• Adhere to all Unilever policies, retailer guidelines, and in-store compliance standards, ensuring alignment with health, safety, and beauty regulations.

Weekly Reporting & Alignment:

• Meet with the Area Manager weekly to review performance, share reports, raise concerns, receive feedback, align on plans, directives, and manage handover of materials such as POSM, testers, and promotional assets.

Weekend & Promotional Activations:

• Execute mandatory weekend activations and promotional drives, engaging shoppers and driving awareness and sales of key Unilever Health & Beauty brands.

Execution Excellence:

• Drive best-in-class in-store execution, securing prime visibility, impactful displays, and promotional presence for Unilever Health & Beauty brands to achieve category leadership.

Price & Promotion Accuracy:

• Ensure daily verification and maintenance of correct price tickets, promotional signage, and offers — both on and off promotion — to maintain pricing accuracy and shopper trust.

Merchandising Standards:

• Implement merchandising according to Unilever guidelines and retailer planograms, ensuring stock availability, correct facings, clean displays, and brand-blocking principles.

Sales & Product Advisory:

• Act as a trusted Health & Beauty advisor by confidently recommending products, explaining benefits, addressing customer concerns, and tailoring solutions to individual shopper needs.

Demonstrations & Sampling:

• Conduct product demonstrations, sampling, and skincare/haircare consultations aligned to key focus SKUs and campaign priorities to drive trial and conversion.

Hygiene & Tester Management:

• Maintain strict hygiene standards for all demo units, testers, and promotional materials, ensuring cleanliness, compliance, and a premium brand image at all times.

Relationship Building:

• Develop strong working relationships with store management and staff to support sell-through, secure promotional space, and strengthen brand advocacy within store teams.

Professional Image:

• Maintain a polished and professional appearance in line with Unilever Health & Beauty brand standards and dress code requirements.

Event & Campaign Support:

• Provide support during retailer events, beauty campaigns, launches, and in-store brand initiatives to maximize brand impact and shopper engagement.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:

• Matric / Grade 12 required; additional training or certification in Beauty Therapy, Cosmetology, Skincare, Sales, or Marketing will be advantageous.
• Previous experience in health & beauty retail, skincare, haircare, FMCG merchandising, or brand advisory roles preferred.
• Strong knowledge of beauty, skincare, haircare, and personal care products, with the ability to confidently educate and advise customers.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust with shoppers and retail staff.
• Strong selling and consultation skills, with the ability to recommend products based on individual customer needs.
• Solid merchandising capability, including understanding of planograms, stock rotation (FIFO), promotional execution, and shelf standards.
• Detail-oriented with a strong focus on execution excellence, brand visibility, and compliance.
• Ability to work independently, manage time effectively, and drive performance within a fast-paced retail environment.
• Basic reporting skills and comfort with sales tracking, feedback, and promotional reporting tools.

ATTRIBUTES:

• Passionate about health, beauty, and personal care, with a genuine enthusiasm for helping customers look and feel their best.
• Confident, engaging, and customer-centric, with the ability to initiate conversations and drive conversion.
• Professional and well-groomed, consistently reflecting Unilever’s premium Health & Beauty brand image.
• Results-driven with a strong sense of ownership and accountability for sales and in-store execution.
• Adaptable and flexible, with availability to work weekends, peak trading periods, and promotional campaigns.
• Collaborative team player who builds strong relationships with store teams, management, and internal stakeholders.
• Proactive, self-motivated, and solutions-oriented in resolving in-store challenges.