July 2012: Ray Eal, RDP Foodservice, Columbus, Ohio
Ray Eal, a 27 year veteran with RDP Foodservice, says he can’t wait to get there every day and help his customers make money, as his passion for the foodservice business shows up with his customers on every visit. Eal, the latest inductee into the AFDR Hall of Fame, explains how he still learns new things each day and can’t wait to see what he’ll learn tomorrow in the ever-changing marketplace in Columbus.
Eal’s territory includes the Columbus metro area, averaging about $4.5 million in annual sales with a mix of 55 customers, specializing in Italian specialty products. Ray has done just about every job one could think of in his 27 years in the business, but the last nine (9) years as a DSR have been the most rewarding for him.
“I’ve learned in order to succeed you need to love what you do, really have fun with your customers, and ALWAYS BE HONEST and admit when you’re wrong,” Eal said. “Otherwise, you should get a job doing something else..mp3” Ray says “consistency and attitude” are his keys to success. He also says that when you do what you say you’re going to do with a smile, folks will look forward to buying from you, and price is not the first thing they talk about.
During his interview with DSRLive!, Ray praised his family of teammates at RDP Foodservice who trust him to do his job, his way. He also discussed how he’s learned to really listen to what his customers are saying, and when prospecting, asking questions and listening closely to the answers always tells him what they know, and what they don’t know.
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