Demonstrator Kaiwhakaatu

Demonstrators show and explain goods and services to potential customers, and promote new lines of products and services.

Demonstrators may do some or all of the following:

  • set up and display products at shops, supermarkets, trade fairs or in homes
  • cook and serve products
  • invite people to try out or taste products
  • explain the uses of products and answer questions
  • invite customers to purchase products
  • keep a record of sales.

Physical Requirements

Demonstrators need to:

  • have a neat and tidy appearance
  • be able to speak clearly
  • be reasonably fit and healthy, because they spend long periods on their feet, and may have to do some lifting.

Useful Experience

Useful experience for demonstrators includes:

  • customer service, retail or sales experience
  • experience working with the product they are demonstrating.

Personal Qualities

Demonstrators need to be:

  • good at answering questions and presenting
  • confident about approaching and engaging with people
  • friendly and polite
  • able to relate to people from a range of cultures and backgrounds
  • patient, as they often have to deal with repetitive questions.

Skills

Demonstrators need to have knowledge of:

  • the products or services they are demonstrating
  • display, sales, and demonstration techniques
  • food safety and hygiene
  • health and safety regulations in the venues where they are demonstrating.

Conditions

Demonstrators:

  • often work part time, in evenings or weekends, and may work on call
  • usually work in places such as shops, clubs and homes, and at events such as trade fairs
  • may travel for work or training.

Demonstrators can earn around $23-$28 per hour.

Pay for demonstrators varies depending on skills, experience and responsibilities.

  • Demonstrators with up to three years' experience usually earn between minimum wage and $25 an hour.
  • Demonstrators with three or more years' experience, or who work as team leaders, usually earn between $25 and $28.

Demonstrators are often self-employed and work on a casual or part-time basis.

Source: careers.govt.nz research, 2023.

Demonstrators may progress to manage a group of demonstrators, or move into merchandising and promotions, or sales representative work.

Years Of Training

There are no specific requirements to become a demonstrator. However, a driver's licence may be useful.

A Safe In-Store Pass that covers food-handling skills may be useful for demonstrators who want to work in supermarkets.

Demonstrator