With Arbikie, I am in an internship for Sales & Marketing, with three particular focusses given to me. Currently, my workload has been focussed towards the distilleries on-site use and potential, exploring both how to advertise and utilise the spaces themselves, whether it be for more conventional tourism such as in tours and afternoon teas, or tailoring experiences for high-end clientele in their luxury spaces. Alongside this, I have a joint workload alongside another intern they took in, to explore marketing for their Rye Whisky products, and for an event they will be hosting early August, their ‘Dram Good Whisky Festival’, for which they’re seeking partnerships, guests, and collaborators to work with. For this, my responsibilities are tailored towards creating relevant marketing strategies, researching avenues and opportunities for the business to undertake, with a particular emphasis on their online and social media presences. In this, content production is currently planned, alongside developing their platforms to further reinforce their company identity.
The hybrid role with Arbikie has found its routine, though I can see how it will get busier over time, especially in the approach towards the Whisky Festival, where things will inevitably escalate. I am excited for this, as my workload will shift from strategizing towards action itself, with both filming for social media like TikTok and Instagram, and potentially speaking for Arbikie when approaching others, for collaboration or business opportunities.
I admit that the shift from the academic to the professional world was an intimidating one. But, in meeting it head-on, and keeping structure and focus to my work, I’ve felt that the shift has been not only manageable, but driven me further to succeed, and work harder to ensure I meet the roles demands and responsibilities. In particular, speaking with the founding brothers, has given me the confidence to work harder, and to take this opportunity as far as I can.
My time with Arbikie has continued to expand my understanding and expectations, resulting in new ideas and developments. It has also provided me confidence, for the success I have found. Being tasked with reviewing their sales and marketing plan, I have been commended for both my thorough analysis, and my ideas for improving it. I were tasked with creating an improvement plan, which will be taken on as part of their official, ongoing actions. That my efforts will result in real activity and action, makes me proud, and satisfied.
The role itself has been incredibly rewarding, for I’ve developed my relationships with others. Meeting more of Arbikie’s team, including their tour staff, their master distiller, managers and others besides, has been wonderful to experience. In this, they’ve offered insight into their business, giving information that has helped shape and focus my efforts, such as where they find difficulties, and successes, with their businesses current format. Indeed, for my own work their feedback has been invaluable, helping me to focus in onto the most important, and most productive, avenues to build upon. Whilst it could be easy to be disheartened when certain ideas receive less enthusiasm, I’ve been reassured that my ideas and efforts have been valued, and seeing them being implemented and discussed as real points to move on, has been incredibly moving to experience.
As I stand now, my goals remain the same – to learn, and do, as much as possible in the opportunity, and to leave my mark as a Scholar.
