My story of joining Vicks before I got my BSC results

My story at Vicks

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I was 19 years old when I wrote my BSc Degree exam at Bangalore in April 1967 .My elective subjects were Mathematics and Physics . I had Chemistry also for two years during the degree course It was not a very serious or wholehearted of study of the subjects for me . I was not much studious or a bookworm With ordinary interest and involvement in studies , I could get a Second class in BSc of Bangalore University.Had I put in a very little more efforts , I would have got a First class as the required marks in eight subjects to reach First class of 60% was just around 60 totally … I had not calculated it and put in much efforts as it was easy to get higher marks in four papers of Mathematics . Among various papers of Mathematics, I was strong in Calculus , Astronomy, Dynamics ,Trigonometry and Algebra Probably had I got a first class , I would have joined some Engineering courses at Indian Institute of science etc and line of profession would have been different . My father had desired I studied Medicine or joined Civil services like IAS.. But fate decided otherwise as I turned out to be a banker .

. After writing the University exams and attempting Practical exams in Physics in 1967,I was just free unconcerned about future and not much concerned or worried about future studies . It was in June that year 1967, I saw a three liner advertisement in the Deccan herald newspaper  of Bangalore reading as under …

Required representatives for an American firm from graduates Apply post pox no +++ Deccan Herald I had an inland letter and thus submitted my application stating particulars applying for the post . Within two days I got a telegram reading Appear interview West End Hotel 12 th June  ., Richardson Hindustan 

West End Hotel was near my School Seshadripuram High school and I went walking to the Hotel from house  by 10 AM wearing a full sleeve shirt , pants and wearing shoes . I was directed to a villa type room where I went and knocked at the Door. Mr J S Mehta the Product Executive of Richardson Hindustan Ltd , Bombay opened the door and invited me inside . He asked me to sit down. He asked me to write and submit an application which I did He made some enquiries in English and was impressed with my power of Expression After interview I came back home Two days later I received a telegram.. Appear Final interview 19 th June Bombay .. Richardson Hindustan Ltd 

With hardly 3 days remaining I told my father about the happenings who asked me proceed to Bombay by train I left for Bombay had my Interview on 19 th June 1967 by R C Seth the Personnel Manager who asked me collect my appointment order after the interview. I collected the appointment order mentioning the post as Sales Representative It was then only I came to know it was the Company manufacturing VICKS Vaporub , Formula 44 Cough Mixture etc .

In this connection while reaching Bombay VT by train my eldest brother Konthai and his brother in law Appukkuutti had come to the station who took me whom at Sion where Konthai Anna , Manni and Sridhar were staying While going to interview at Haines Rd Mahalakshmi Bombay 11 BC I travelled by a bus double decker from Sion no 167 or so upto Worli Naka and reached Tiecicon   House Haines Rd  Bombay walking It was a wonderful experience. 

After getting appointment order I was asked to be accompanied by another Representative Mr Shetty who took me to a nearby place Phalgar  near Bombay by train Explained to me what is selling booking orders , meeting medical shops , visiting Doctors Etc I learned the needful for the work of a salesman After training and returning to Bombay I was taken to the factory of the Company at Belapur where I could see how all the products were manufactured. Thereafter I went to office I was given advance plus rail ticket to Nagercoil via Madras along with a representative bag to hold all medical products plus the handbills etc and also order formats to book order from shops I left Bombay as scheduled with a box , hold-all, handbag etc being my first trip as a Salesman 

We had our price lists , order books   along with expense statement My emoluments included Rs 250 plus allowance of Rs 16 per day total king around Rs Rs 730 per month It was a good sum during that period Travel by first class was provided .

As salesman visited various places in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka booking orders plus involving in Mass Consumer contact in popularising the products like Vaporub, Inhaler, Formula 44 Cough Mixture , Clearasil , Cough drops etc 

 In addition We were asked to verify advertisements of Vicks in local theatres before showing cinema and were reimbursed the expenses 

Also all other expenses during travel etc were reimbursed 

I could visit Madras almost every month and Bangalore occasionally 

Although I was happy with the selling job , I quit the job on 19 th June 1968 and joined Bank of India Bangalore on 6 th Aug 1968

During return trips to Bombay from tours I could stay at Ghatkopar Raman Anna’s house etc and visit others at Chembur etc 

After joining Bank in 1968 I got a bonus cheque from the Company around Rs 550.

I purchased two minor gold chains total 5 sovereign with that amount 

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Sovereign price then Rs 100 or so 

Now the price is Rs 53000 per sovereign 

Also from the savings I had made in one year  I could contribute a part towards cash security in Bank while joining 

The company was later bought by Procter and Gamble Ltd etc 

So that was my story of Vicks 

I was known as Vicks Chithappa those days  

While training me for selling and Doctor Detailing I was taught about the contents of the Vaporub etc 

Mainly 

Eucalyptus

Menthol

Salicylic Acid   

Honey 

Etc 

Smog the individuals whom I remember at the Company are 

J S Mehta Product Manager 

PV Dholakiya Sales Manager

S Thakurdas Sales Executive 

R.C Seth Personnel Manager 

Shetty Cashier 

N J Keshwani   Typist

MI Waras Office 

Many other Parsi girls or Gujarati girls were there whose names I didnot know including a Parsi receptionist 

May be I worked in such a Company making medicine for cold , I get cold always 

I used to explain to Doctors while detailing

If the cough is due to cold , flu, bronchitis or irritation out formula 44 is the remedy It has no alcohol content etc 

It was required to visit any Doctors with necktie, shoes polished and neat dress with the visiting card 

While selling Vicks products to new customers the company used to supply us large quantity of triangle end shaped pencils which new buyers liked I used to bring box full of such pencils home and others 

Some samples were given to Doctors during detailing.

But I was never using the Cough Formula Mixture since it had a honey taste and made drowsy .

Now also they have some new products like Vicks Action 500 etc 

Vicks Company is famous all over the world .

When the company was issuing shares initially , they had offered some to employees which I didnot buy But the shares of Procter and Gamble Ltd, Gillette etc are really blue chips  

So that is VICKS

What company owns Vicks?

Procter & Gamble

Richardson-Vicks Inc. eventually moved to New York City, and product lines included NyQuil, Clearasil, Laboris, Oil of Olay and Formby's. Vicks is now a Procter & Gamble product.