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Bjorn Rheborg

Gemline (asi/56070)

Even John McEnroe would tip his hat to the rookie year that Bjorn Rheborg has had. As regional manager at Top 40 supplier Gemline, Rheborg revitalized the southern territory within six months on the job, rebounding from the 15% decrease it experienced the prior year.

“Getting in front of the customers, letting them know they have a person to count on and showing them the products was the biggest thing,” Rheborg says. “While I’m the boots on the ground, I have a great inside rep, Lynn Tisbert, who is my rock at the office.”

Before joining Gemline, the Georgia native covered a similar territory as regional manager for a sporting goods manufacturer that sold tennis equipment. That experience helped him quickly adapt to the supply chain in the promotional products industry. “I came from the retail industry where I could walk out of a meeting with an order,” Rheborg says. “This industry requires more patience because these projects take a lot of parts to come to fruition. It’s all about staying diligent with the follow-up.”

As for advice for fellow newcomers to the industry, Rheborg shares a pearl of wisdom that he attributes to his rapid success. “I was always told you were born with two ears and one mouth, so listen more than talk,” Rheborg says. “It’s a good way to approach sales, especially in this industry. You need to be more of a consultant, fully understanding what clients’ goals are and how you can provide their resources.”

Listen Up!

We asked Hot Listers what song they listen to as motivation for the day, a big meeting, or presentation. Here's what gets Bjorn fired up!