A day in the life...

08:47
Finally make it out of Chalk Farm Station, having changed train three times (including legging it at the last transit and boarding the train at Camden Town just in time).

08:50
Having switched on my computer, I consult my schedule. Seems rather relaxing today (compared to yesterday, when I had to finish writing a report on South American wines). Presentations to prepare for two major pub groups – with particular focus on the differing characteristics (customer demographics, taste, retail environment) of their various sites. Standard work using our purpose-built geo-mapping Prospect database. Deadline is in two weeks, plenty of time. Oh, and I’m catching up with a university friend at lunch.

09:05
E-mail comes through from a data company with the latest list of wines available in supermarkets. I have to update our internal database which our Off-Trade team uses. Luckily, I have written an Excel macro which helps me with this.

09:29
My manager calls me saying that a study just published suggests that a rival wine label is the most listed wine in the UK. He wants me to look at the study, which employs statistical analysis. As it so happens, I initially trained as an Economist (holding two master’s degrees in Economics and having interned at two economic consultancies), and statistics do not scare me. I soon realise that the analysis is not robust – the sampling method is not representative. My manager passes this on to assure ruffled suppliers.

11:48
Finally get back to working on those presentations for the pub groups.

12:16
My university friend arrives early. Unsurprising, as he has always been the most organised out of our group of friends. We head to Trojka (a “Russian Tea Room” four doors from Bibendum). Despite this being my 7th month in Bibendum, my friend still cannot quite believe that I am working for a wine company. I detect a tinge of envy. I (once again) point out that this job seems just made for me: it combines my love for wine with the skills and abilities I have acquired during my economic training.

13:01
My friend has to leave to get back to work. I don’t complain – I am keen to start on those presentations. It is already early afternoon and thus far I’ve spent a grand total of 33 minutes on them.

13:02
An e-mail from the training department – my WSET Intermediate results. I obtained a distinction! My manager is pleased. I wonder whether he remembers that he said he would sack me if I did not get a merit. I am 99.9% sure he was joking, but the 0.1% of me which was unsure is relieved that I don’t have to have the conversation!

13:38
One of the Trade Marketers comes to me saying that they need more detail on the demographics of Camden. They have access to the Prospect database, but the customer also referred to a survey of shoppers which they found interesting. Unfortunately, the customer does not remember where they saw this. And the presentation is this evening. I start searching the internet for the survey.

13:54
Bingo! The survey was recently commissioned by the Borough council, the results of which are available online. I identify the relevant information and…

14:11
My manager comes to me with a ‘Code Red’ project (i.e. it over-rides all current work). A senior executive of one of the big retailers is going to a wine dinner, and would like us (being unique in the industry in having a dedicated ‘Market Insights’ team) to brief him on the current trends in the wine industry. What is the effect of the current economic crisis? Will growing consumption in Asia lead to a shortage of supply in the future? I start drafting the brief.

15:08
I send a first draft of the brief to my manager. He soon replies with a list of corrections which need to be made, as well as areas I need to write more about.

15:43
Second draft sent. Seems alright. This is sent to the relevant Account Manager to forward to the senior executive. I get back to finish refining the Camden information for the Trade Marketer, having explained to her the reason for the delay.

16:08
The Marketing Director sends round an e-mail to the team suggesting that we should all go and play “Dinosaur Golf” one evening. Our Communications Co-ordinator/resident golf fanatic is enthusiastic. Someone in the group replies that he should be in his own team to balance out the relative abilities. Someone else says that it is too inconvenient, being in the “wilderness of North London”. Offers of spare rooms immediately come from those who live in said wilderness. Group banter e-mails reach a new low with the mention of spare room activities. Does anyone remember that our managing director is copied into these e-mails?

16:11
Finished putting together the Camden information, which is sent off to the Trade Marketer. Back to the pub groups presentation.

17:01
Quickbucket! One of the Designers organises an impromptu blind tasting of two wines. I mumble something about having work to do but soon give in – we are all wine lovers here. I don’t do too well this time – identified a white Bordeaux as South African Sauvignon Blanc.

17:28
Blind tasting over. Back to my desk.

17:31
My manager berates me for staying late. He says that as I stayed late yesterday to finish the South American wines report, I should not stay late again today. He insists that I leave on time.

17:36
Just sat down in a Northern line train. Day’s round up. Minutes at work: 476 minutes. Time spent on scheduled work (i.e. pub groups presentation): 123 minutes. % spent on scheduled work: 25.8%. Actually, not bad. Some days are crazier…

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