Meet the Team: Rachel Sorroll

As part of the service, F. Ball retail representatives are on the roads throughout the country, supporting retailers’ needs. Here, we chat with Rachel Sorroll, retail sales representative for the Midlands and South Wales to find out more about her role and how she supports customers.  

Editor: Hello Rachel. We hear you’re having a busy week, tell us more about what you’re getting up to.  

Rachel Sorroll: I cover a large area, so I’m always busy! Today, I’m planning for the next couple of weeks. Of course, things can and will change and it’s part of the job to be flexible for customers.  

I’ll usually have around half a dozen appointments or more each day. Most customers have heard of F. Ball and stock at least one of our products and it’s my job to find out what F. Ball products they are not using and focus my conversations around these.  

We have a large product range and a lot to offer customers such as our training, cashback and technical support. Many customers are not aware of these free services. We recently launched a new product, so this has been a topic of conversation.  

Ed: So, is it fair to say you’ve been banging the Stopgap 1400 drum on your travels? 

RS: Yes! Our Marketing team do an amazing job, and a lot of customers have already heard of it and it’s now a case of talking to them about it and how it might meet their needs.  

Ed: And what are the retailers asking you about?
RS: Subfloor preparation is important, and retailers will often check that the products they have being using or are planning to use are the right ones for the job.  There are many different substrates, and they all need to be treated differently. 

Moisture management comes up a lot as well. As everyone knows, it’s something that needs to be controlled or it can be an expensive issue to try and resolve. I think it’s important to educate the end customer that if they’re spending a lot of money on their floor then the preparation is just as important as the final result.  

Ed: Anything else retailers should know? 

RS: Everyone should sign up for Ball Rewards, our cashback scheme. Some people are buying our products but not claiming, so I speak to everyone to make sure they are signed up and understand the process. It’s free money back so everyone might as well benefit from an extra little something! 

Ed: What do you like most about your job? 

RS: I love being a rep and being out on the road. Of course, the views from the car park that is the M6 aren’t very nice! But when I’m in other areas, like Wales, I just think ‘this is my office window’ and it’s gorgeous. 

Ed: We’re interested to know how you got into the industry?  

RS: I was just a teenager when I started repping for a well-known paint manufacturer. Later, I moved to construction, working for a European manufacturer of sealants and adhesives. Then two years ago, I made the move to F. Ball and haven’t looked back. 

Ed: What’s your favorite F. Ball product? 

RS: Stopgap 1200. It’s our bestselling product for a reason and I’d say it’s the one I talk to most about with customers. 

Ed: Tell us more about you. What do you get up to outside of work?  

RS: It’s all about family and friends. I’ve a partner, two teenage daughters and a labrador (probably the biggest you’ve ever seen!) and we enjoy weekends away for camping and walking trips. Also, there’s always a DIY project going on in our house.  

Ed: And finally, as a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

RS: An artist. I love being creative, so I really wanted to paint and draw for a living.