Distributors need good schmoozing skills
Tuscaloosa, AL – One of the most effective sales techniques available to distributors is consultative selling.
Consultative selling is a problem-solving approach to selling products and services. However, the first step in the process is moving from being an outsider, just selling products, to becoming a trusted adviser and a welcome member of the prospect’s team.
“The entire process starts with the first sales call,” says Michael Wilson, vice president of Marketing for AFFLINK, a leading sales and marketing organization for the distribution industry. “With the first call, distributors can establish the foundation necessary to build a relationship with the prospect.”
In addition to this, Wilson says there are seven key characteristics of a successful consultative salesperson. These are the following:
- Having excellent “schmoozing” skills; “develop socializing skills to find common ground with the prospect; get to know the prospect on a personal level; try and get them smiling and laughing with you”
- Having exceptional listening skills.
- Never interrupting a prospect or completing a sentence or thought for them
- Identifying and catering to the prospect’s unique personality and style
- Getting the prospect feeling they made the right decision by meeting with you
- Asking probing questions; “this will help both the salesperson and the prospect identify their unique needs and challenges”
- Begin offering solutions
- “For instance, if you can show the prospect product solutions using an online computer “dashboard” system, all the better,” says Wilson.
“Now, the prospect sees the solution, better understands the product and how it can help them. The next step is typically the sale.”
About ELEVATE:
ELEVATE is a free consulting software application designed to help manage supply chain costs for today’s leading businesses. Perfect for executive level professionals looking to optimize their supply chain in the Commercial Real Estate, Healthcare, Industrial and Hospitality markets.
About AFFLINK:
AFFLINK is a leader in supply chain and strategic procurement services providing cost savings, process improvement, and quality products for more than 35 years. The company connects more than 300 Distributor Members and 250 Preferred Suppliers of Janitorial, Packaging, Foodservice, Healthcare, Safety, Industrial and Office products to thousands of customers, around the globe, everyday. For more info, visit: http://www.afflink.com/
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Cleaning Business Today is a publication of Tom Stewart and Derek Christian, who also partner in Castle Keepers House Cleaning, one of the fastest growing professional house cleaning services in the US.
