RDSolutions is justifiably proud of its dedicated nationwide workforce of trained researchers, each well-versed in data collection and in-store operations best practices, working on behalf of our clients and their specific business needs.
To celebrate our retail associates, we will highlight a few of those team members so you can learn a little more about them and what inspires them as they contribute to the success of our organization.
Name:
Matthew Clark
Location:
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Years working for RDSolutions:
Since January 2022
How did you get started as a field associate?
After 17 years of being out on the road and working 10-12 hours a day, I wanted to step back. The RA position was exactly what I was looking for – it enabled me to bring in some money for the household and allowed me to become more of the primary caregiver for my son. As time went on and I got faster at my first store list, I was able to take on more lists and have now gotten up to an excellent balance of work and life that fits best for me and my family.
What’s your favorite part of the job?
The directed jobs I enjoy the most. I do four weekly lists and I’m always trying to get my best times. After doing it for three years, I feel like I’ve kind of topped out on my speed and times, but I’m still always trying to shave a second here or save a step there – it all adds up! The best secondary benefit of the job that I’ve found is, because I’m in four different stores each week, I get to see what’s on sale in all of them, so I’ve always got my eyes open for anything that I normally buy during my own weekly grocery shopping. I often come home most days with something that we need that was a good price or something fun that was an awesome deal. One of my stores often has some kind of fire sale going on: bags of chips, boxes of candy, boxes of cereal, chocolate bars, packages of gummies, something for 25 or 50 cents each. I rarely leave empty handed.
What would you like people to know about your job?
The job is relatively straightforward but does require self-discipline and self-organization to get the job done. While there’s always help and support to be given if you need it, you are very much left to your own accord to finish your work within the allotted time given. Also, depending on how much work you are doing, it can be many hours on your feet, which can take some getting used to, but eventually you become used to it, and it’s just good exercise!
If you weren’t an RDSolutions field associate, what would you be doing?
I couldn’t really say for sure. There were a few other jobs I was looking at – factory worker, warehouse worker, delivery jobs, stocking shelves. None of them really would have worked out as well as RDSolutions, so luckily for me I didn’t have to look any further!
What do you always buy when you shop for groceries?
Fruits and veggies are always in the cart; they are my son’s favorite and are the majority of his diet. Tomatoes, cucumbers, apples, pears, peaches, watermelon, pineapple, kiwis, strawberries and oranges are among his favorites. For me, it’s milk – I love it, always have and always will. It’s delicious, I can’t live without it. I would stop buying so many other things before I stopped buying milk.
What are some of your favorite brands?
Bounty paper towels are really the only name brand thing that I specifically will look for. I feel it’s top quality in its game, but it still has to be on sale. Beyond that, I’m not really loyal to any brand in any category. Mom’s advice still rings true: “You’re only paying for a name – buy the one with the lower price.”
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I enjoy playing video games, watching movies or sports on TV; baseball, hockey and football are the ones we follow. During warm-weather days, we take our son down the street to the park, and on hot summer days we pack a lunch and spend the day at the splash pad. I enjoy reading and am currently working on the “Song of Ice and Fire” series. Other books I have lined up next to read include “The Da Vinci Code,” “The War of The Worlds” and “The Hobbit.” You’ll also find four different-size Rubik’s cubes around my home, all solved, as is their natural state amongst our household. My son acquired one at a young age and requested, “Daddy fix.” It took four months of practice to memorize, and still continuous practice to not forget, but one of them is often not far from reach while I’m on the couch in front of the TV.
Favorite food:
I’ve never been a stranger to the kitchen. As a kid, I helped my mom bake cookies and brownies; when I got a little older, I would come home from school and make dinner for the family since both parents worked until 5 or 6 p.m. My high school had a full professional kitchen and bake shop; I took a class in each, every year, sometimes two. After high school, I did a 3-year chef apprenticeship program in a 5-star hotel kitchen, plus 6 months of schooling. I do the majority of the cooking at home. At every family event or gathering, I am, by default, the barbecue griller, the turkey carver or the roast beast slicer. My favorite thing to eat? Any delicious meal that I didn’t have to cook or prepare myself –those are the best!
What teams do you root for?
During baseball season, it’s the Toronto Blue Jays. During hockey season, it’s the Montreal Canadiens (boo the Leafs!) and during football season, it’s the Dallas Cowboys.
