Clark Tracks Trends and the Competition

Alicia Clark already has a bachelor’s in finance and management and an MBA from the University of Arkansas.

In graduate school, she began work as an intern for Dial – and hasn’t looked back.

In July 2005 she began work as a category analyst for the company’s personal care division. Today, as manager of category management, hundreds of deodorants, personal wash items and bath specialties fall under her watch. Clearly Clark is doing something right.

In 2007, she received the top category analyst award for Dial, and, in 2008, the award for top category manager.

Clark spends her busy days keeping buyers up to date on the latest trends and abreast of what the competition is doing.

“When you go in to pick deodorant, we might cut space on items not doing well, and bring in a brand that’s really been growing and make sure it has that space,” she said.

She gets a say on any number of items, from bar soaps to body wash.

Clark said her internship gave her a preview of what “this whole supplier industry is about. That’s when I knew it was something I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to stay around here.

“It’s a really cool job. Brands and products are quite simple and quite complex at the same time.”

While future career possibilities include consumer insights and sales, Clark said she already has a job she enjoys, and adds that Dial is very supportive of balancing work and home life.

“My husband says we can’t go to Walmart anymore because I’m studying everything,” she adds with a laugh. “During trips I’ll be anxious if I see an outlet I’ve never been to before.”

A Big Sister who enjoys watching the Razorbacks play, Clark explains why she likes her Dial family so much.

“In this industry you’re constantly getting calls from recruiters offering you more money to go somewhere else. I want a company that values hard work and appreciates employees and understands work-life balance.

All that’s more important to me than financial benefits. I’d much rather live a happy life than go somewhere else for more stress. I prefer the team atmosphere, she said”