Ashland Distribution Reviews

Pros

Excellent benefits and base salary is above average for similar large chemical distributors. Great training for inexperienced reps. Convenience of having a home office, and flexibility of managing your own territory without being micromanaged.

Cons

Compensation program is constantly changing and very complicated. Difficult to get anything done quickly because everything has to go through 10 different people. Upper management is definitely a "good old boys" club. Company is definitely focusing on becoming a "specialty Chemical company" and not sure if Distribution really fits into that future.

Advice to Senior Management

Most sales people only care about one thing: money. Revamp comp program that is more of a quarterly commission program vs. annual "bonus".

Pros

The company is continuing to strive for improvement in its processes. Although the company has worked under the umbrella of Ashland Inc for a number of years, it is going through a rebirth and well on its way to becoming a new stand-alone company.

Cons

Becoming a new stand-alone company will take a concerted effort of all locations to ensure a seamless and uninterrupted transition.

Pros

Fortune 500 company. They are very loyal to their employees and always consider the amount of time invested by people. Always opportunity for advancement/change in roles.

Cons

Although the opportunity for advancement is available, as with many fortune companies, the opportunity is always somewhere else. You have to be very flexible in terms of relocation.

Advice to Senior Management

Invest in your employees. The more you invest in your employees, the more they will invest in you. In terms of giving them the tools they need... invest in all the tools they need and you will see that they will reciprocate with great efforts and productivity.

Pros

You can do the bare minimum and not have to worry about being fired. They are desperate for people in the Santa Ana office right now.

Cons

If you excel at your job, you will still have to be very political in order to gain a promotion.

Advice to Senior Management

Don't just talk and give out slogans in an effort to motivate employees. Talk is cheap. If you want the Santa Ana office to be successful, you need to reward performance with raises that exceed inflation and promotions for skilled employees. The managers currently working at this office are too busy fighting with the sellers to develop your customer service and purchasing staff. This is why you are finding it difficult to implement change effectively.