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Recently, in a LinkedIn group I belong to, a member asked this question: “Looking back on your Advertising Specialty/ Promotional Products Sales career, what is the ONE thing you wished you had learned sooner rather than later?”
I thought it was a great question. Here’s how I answered it, plus a few more thoughts that I’ve added for this blog post:
When I first started in promotional products sales, I thought all suppliers were the same but I soon learned how important the right supplier was to my success. The ONE thing I wish I knew sooner than later was to focus on giving the majority of my business to a core group of high quality, highly-rated suppliers in the top selling sectors. Once I did that, I was able to build relationships, make better recommendations, get better service and, more frequently than not, better pricing.
Choosing the right supplier is crucial to your success as a promotional products distributor! Make a mistake here and you could lose valuable clients and revenue. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be open to working with new suppliers; it just means that your core suppliers will be where you’ll look first when working on an order. The best suppliers are partners in your success. The more wisely you choose, the more money you’ll make!
I’d like to know your thoughts. What’s the ONE thing you wished you knew sooner than later in your Advertising Specialty/Promotional Products sales career? Please respond in the comments box below.
Looking for a coach/mentor who truly understands the promotional products industry? Want expert help growing your sales from someone who has “been there, done that” and knows what really works to increase your sales in today’s economy? Get inspired, get next steps and get more business! Contact me today to learn how my coaching, training and sales-building products can dramatically increase your business! Rosalie@promobizcoach.com or 215-572-6766
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© 2013 Rosalie Marcus
Want expert help growing your promotional products business? Click the link to preview the programs and products created to quickly and easily grow your promotional products sales. Not sure which program or product is right for you? Contact Rosalie for a brief, no obligation, personal consultation. Reach her at Rosalie@promobizcoach.com
Rosalie Marcus, The Promo Biz Coach ™ is a promotional products business expert, coach and speaker. Combining her skills and years of experience in promotional sales, she helps her clients sell more at higher profit margins and dramatically increase their incomes! Get a FREE special report: 10 Big Mistakes Promotional Professionals Make and How to Avoid Them and a FREE Skyrocket Your Sales audio download at http://www.promobizcoach.
Reach her at Rosalie@promobizcoach.com or 215-572-6766.
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Customers can really waste your time. Be selective about whom you devote a lot of effort, samples and time to.
Try your best to determine the “serious” buyer.
Great comment Rhona! You are so right!
A great way to determine the “serious buyer” is to ask the right questions upfront. It will save you so much time and money.
I have a list of those questions in my FAST TRACK program. http://www.promobizfast.com
As someone who started part time (with no sales and promotional knowledge), I wish that I would have put more time into my business, rather than my 9 to 5. This is undoubtedly the type of business where you get out of it, what you put in!
Crystal, you are so right. When you put more effort into your promotional products business you gain big rewards!