Deanna Chiang, after completing her studies was given a choice between working for an insurance company or Nestle, and insurance didn't appeal to or interest her as much.
At Nestle, Chiang took up a business analyst role, moving into a range of sale-focused roles at Kodak, Kimberly Clark, Arnotts, and director at Puraty. Currently, Chiang is the director of both Plum Agencies and FMCG Solutions, a board member with FGC, and chairperson for the New Zealand Shareholders Association Auckland Branch.
True to this choice, Chiang shared that despite the industry's long hours and challenging nature, there was never a dull moment.
"I remember the days of Watties when we had 78 NPD to present in the first quarter," said Chiang.
When entering the FMCG industry, Chiang advised that preparing and organising before meeting buyers was vital.
"They will appreciate you not wasting their time."
Also important was approaching the industry's challenges and daily work with empathy and a sense of humour.
Ten years ago, as a single mother of two young children and faced with financial pressures typical of these circumstances, Chiang founded Plum Agencies, a sales and merchandising agency designed to support return-to-work mums.
"I firmly believe that to have financial success is to have your own business."
She aimed to set up systems, processes, blueprints, and tax support so that mums could start their own Plum outside Auckland, where she would funnel work to them.
With the goodwill of industry contacts, including the support of merchandisers who offered to work for free until Chiang could afford to pay them and store buyers who recommended Plum for both sales and merchandising to suppliers. The business expanded from servicing Auckland to a nationwide sales and merchandising solutions enterprise, moving into importation and distribution as well.
Chiang gave a special mention to Brett Hayde from Centurion and Geoff Cassins from Selling Solutions. She learned from the mistakes both were open to sharing with her, primarily around business processes and suppliers and clients not to take on.
"Both are absolute gems."
Since then, Chiang has sold Plum Sales and Merchandising, surprised her mother with a business class trip back to Malaysia, and spent holidays with each of her sons of her choosing.
Her key motivation moving forward is giving back to the industry that has supported and shaped her to where she is today.
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