BK: How did you start this job?
Pensri: I used to work somewhere else as a salesperson, but I didn’t get a very good income. Then, my cousin who also worked for Yakult encouraged me to apply for the job.

BK: How long have you been a Yakult lady?
Pensri: I started in 1980. I was very young back then.

BK: Did you have to pass any training?
Pensri: Yes, all salespeople have to pass a three-week training before going out on the field. That’s how we learn about the product, how to sell, and how to dress like Yakult ladies.

BK: What do you like most about the job?
Pensri: Although I have been selling Yakult for 30 years, it’s still fun. I get to talk to happy customers everyday. I laugh a lot and nothing seems to be boring for me. Another thing I like is that the company rewards us with prizes for those who work hard and have high sales.

BK: Have you ever received a reward?
Pensri: Yes! I got to go to Japan for one week, and Phuket for three days. Everything was free during the trips, too!

BK: Have you ever heard the famous slogan “If you want to know anything, ask the Yakult lady”?
Pensri: Of course. But usually the customers only ask me jokey questions. We laugh about it.

BK: Do all of the salespeople ride bicycles?
Pensri: It used to be like that. But now it’s different. Some can’t bike such long distances. I’m lucky because I don’t live too far away from my route.

BK: What’s your day like?
Pensri: I wake up at 4am and then ride my bicycle to the Yakult distribution center in Silom to get the products. Then, I go to my usual parking spot near the Thaniya Building. From there, I distribute Yakults to my list of customers.

BK: Where do all the orders come from?
Pensri: We used to have to ride around and find our own potential customers. But now the market already knows the product well, so we have lots of direct orders.

BK: Who are your main customers?
Pensri: Most are office people around Silom so I spend most of the time going up and down building elevators.

BK: What do you do if you have products left over?
Pensri: They’re always all sold out, and sometimes there aren’t enough to meet demand.

BK: Don’t you get tired riding the bicycle to work?
Pensri: Sometimes. But I understand that it’s what I need to do in order to survive. Bangkok is very dangerous for cyclists, so we have to be cautious. Car drivers don’t care much about the traffic rules. However, I think Bangkok has improved a lot. Back in the day, the floods were terrible. I felt like I was riding in a sea. Now it’s so much better.