Jobs for People Over 65 - With No Flipping Burgers or Bagging Groceries
Have a sample. They are delicious and free!
by Bill Russo
You might think that companies that actually want senior citizens are about as real as 'Bigfoot'. The truth is; there are firms that desire you and are willing to pay you ten dollars an hour and up for simple, but interesting work.
The job is called ’Product Demonstration’ and it’s really just like telling a friend or family member, “I’ve discovered a great new product; here try a free sample”. If you can do that, you can effectively do ‘in-store demos’.
The companies that have demonstration programs include: BJs Wholesale Clubs, Costco, Walmart and virtually all of the Supermarket chains. In my area, the two top food retailers are Shaws, and Stop & Shop - both are gearing up right now for the holidays.
The top questions about ‘In-Store Demos‘:
1. Why do they want senior citizens?
The companies want good demo folks and they don’t care if they are 25 or 75. Age is not a bar to this employment. The jobs are part time and most seniors are not looking for full time work. Also they have found that the Seniors can be flexible in scheduling and are generally willing and able to work weekends.
2. What’s the Pay?
You can expect to make between 10 and 14 dollars per hour. You might start lower or higher depending on whom you work for and what you are demonstrating. Some people who have several years working for the same firm, are making $15 and over per hour. Demonstrator coordinators make more still.
3. What are the hours?
Usually you will work about six hours a day. You may get one day a week, or perhaps four or five. Weekend work is mandatory in many, if not all, companies.
4. What do I have to do?
The basic format is as follows. You will go to your store and set up a product table in an aisle. Let’s use cookies as an example. You will don food prep gloves and a store apron and put out samples on little paper plates. As people go by, you will tell them how good the cookies are and offer a sample. While they are munching, you educate them about the product… I.e. It is low calorie, high in fiber, low in price, but high in taste.
Try to get them to buy the cookies. It is a soft sell…..but a sell nonetheless. The demo people who get the most work and the most money are the ones who can get the product off the shelves and into the shopping carts.
If you are unwilling to sell and call people over to your table, then do not consider this work.
5. What are the qualifications?
This one can be a bit tough on Seniors. You have to be able to stand on your feet for six hours. You will get a lunch break and be able to duck into the bathroom as needed. But you must be able to be up and sampling for the whole day. If you are going to get a demo job and you are not sure if your feet will hold up….start walking. Walk a little bit every day and you soon will be up to the task.
6. Where do I sign up?
Go to your store and ask them if they do demos and who is in charge. In BJs, there is an on-site Coordinator who can hire you and put you to work. Some of the other stores have outside companies that handle the demos.
Get the store manager to give you the name of the demo company and call them up.
Whenever you see an in-store demo, walk up to the person doing the demo and ask them about the job. Most will gladly share information with you and point you to the proper people.
I successfully did this job for years and made some good extra money. If you have any further questions, leave a comment or shoot me an email.
In October (2012), I took my own advice and went back to work doing demos. I found a job on Craigslist that pays me $14.00 per hour plus commission. I work a six hour shift and can make almost $100.00
Since this company only had about four to six days work for me each month, I applied to another firm and got a second job at $13.00 per hour - plus a stipend of $10.00 if I use my own microwave or toaster oven. So the second job pays about $88.00 for a six hour shift. The companies are allowing me to balance my schedule so that I am able to work for both at the same time ! ! ! This firm is actively hiring for many openings in all areas of the country. The need for demonstrators is so great that they are paying a referral fee of $25 for each new hire that I (or any other employee) send to them.
If you are interested, send me a message and I will share the names of demo companies with you. They are in all 48 adjacent states and there are lots of positions available.
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If you would like full time work that will give you both a paycheck and a free house or apartment, check out this......
http://billrrrr.hubpages.com/_eg8y4okdyscz/hub/Plenty-of-Help-Wanted-in-Building-Maintenance-Jobs
