One of the best Managers I had early in my career was Bob Jones my Sales Director at Homepride Foods in the 1980’s. He was a kind and gentle man but with a presence and wisdom that was almost tangible. He had answers but they did not come from him without work.
A friend of mine has a Ferrari. It is a beautiful machine and his pride and joy. He keeps it in his secured garage and, if the sun is shining and he is in the mood, he will take it out for a spin to enjoy it. It is a wonderful car full of history and envied by many who see it.
In the UK over the last 4 years of the recession, large organisations have cut back on their costs in order to retain their profits in declining markets. This has been most visible in retailers like Tesco and the other multiples where our journey now from entrance to exit often involves no human interaction whatsoever. I accept that automated tills require investment but this short term pain is offset by long term gain from having fewer ‘heads’ in store.
I was working with a client yesterday and coaching a couple of their Sales people in the effective use of social media. It was great fun but it struck me how difficult it is to keep our various persona on the internet consistent.
January. A time when we all tend to take stock about what we have done in the previous year and what we want to do in the new one. It is also a great time for retailers of all types to capitalise on this ‘open to change’ mentality and woo new customers. But Retailers need to get their offering right if they are going to turn these opportunities into ongoing sales.
How do we value ourselves and how do others value us? If we work in large organisations this tends to be measured ultimately by our remuneration package. Our salary may not meet with our personal expectations but it is usually set by market rates. Where the company gets this wrong, it can leave to staff leaving and being head hunted by their competitors or them simply leaving because of lack of engagement.
I read a story recently which outlined how tough it was to leave certain companies from the customer’s perspective. The headline was “Sky vs Customer” and it outlined the 96 minute conversation between the two parties as the conversation became more agitated. Needless to say, Sky came in for a lot of flak and have had to defend their position subsequently.
“You are in Sales?” she said will a look of contempt bordering on disgust on her face. I was introducing myself to someone at a social event and I realised that I was talking to an unbeliever.
Are You Charging Based On What You Know, Or On What You Imagine?
The whole issue of pricing is a dilemma to many small business owners. In fact, I’d say it’s the area where most people have doubts, uncertainty and sometimes downright fears. “Am I charging enough?” or, “Am I missing out by being too expensive?” are questions many business owners ask themselves over and over again.
Great opportunities
For over 16 years, JMR Sales & Consultancy has been offering help to businesses which are struggling to grow in line with expectations. We offer a discreet resource to support business owners in reaching their aspirations by understanding your markets, your products, your people and your culture.
JMR Sales has a long list of satisfied customers across industries as diverse as High Street Retailing, Automotive, Catering, Recruitment and Hotels.
JMR Sales & Consultancy use their expertise in Sales Consultancy and Strategic Development to support Managing Directors, Sales Directors and Business Managers or Owners to solve a wide range of challenges their company can face.
Offering short to mid term contracts, JMR Sales & Consultancy can offer a fresh pair of eyes to a failing sales plan; coach an under-achieving sales team and offer support as a Business Coach.
“People are always interested in ways to generate Sales and as someone who has spent all their career in this area, there are a number of Universal principles I have learned and am happy to share with a wider audience."
Some of the topics I am used to presenting include:
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