Wednesday, 23 May 2012

Sales Process Workshop - SOS

On Monday I attended the monthly Business Inspired supportive business group in Downend like I try to every month. It's a lovely group of women that get together each month to share experiences and listen to a presentation from a local business about that months chosen topic. May - Sales.


I was a bit apprehensive about going as I really dislike 'selling' and don't like to do it. But I went anyway and met the lovely Karen Dunne-Squire from Sales Outsourcing Specialists. She did a fantastic 45 minute presentation on Sales Process Planning and about half way through I had one of those 'ah-ha' moments....you know the ones, where you want to slap your forehead and go oh my god, it's that straight forward!

At the end of the evening Karen offered one lucky member of the group a free place on her Sales Process Workshop today. I was lucky enough to receive this fantastic prize and couldn't wait to go and expand on all the 'seeds' Karen had planted.

So of I went to Easton Business Centre this morning (as an aside, this is a great place and has a good conference room that we were in) for a 10am start. I was joined by 4 other business owners and a member of Karen's own staff to learn about my sales process, how it should look and how to bridge the gap. We covered a whole manner of things from what my customer 'looks like', to the stages my customer go through to do business with me all the way through to connecting with potential clients and strategic partners.

Now I'm not going to give any of Karen's tips and secrets as a) I'd be sat here all night recalling them and b) she is such a fantastic trainer you should all just go on her course! What I will say is this, if you feel as though you are stuck not getting new clients and could do with help reviewing your sales process give Karen a call. I was one of those naive business owners that thought sales or marketing or IT specialists were for big companies and not sole traders like me. Actually, there are companies out there especially for businesses like mine and they are affordable. Go search them out and make use of them!

Sunday, 13 May 2012

The Next Generation


I read an article in the paper recently about school girls who have camped outside a London hotel so they can get a glimpse of Justin Bieber. Now I know I’m a bit too old to appreciate the lure of this 18 year old pop star but surely the parents of these children should be making sure they are in school?

The girls interviewed ranged from 11 to 16 and some admitted to missing revision for their GCSE’s as seeing Mr Bieber was more important. This article coupled with another about a company that employed 7 benefit claimants that didn’t turn up to their first day of work, got me thinking. 

What will this country be like in 15-20 years time when these people are part of the generation running our country? We’re supposedly in another recession but I can’t help thinking that our leniency on the younger generations makes the situation worse.......comparing my parents upbringing to today the gulf is massive.