Sales Manager

According to ChatGPT, there are five steps to making a sale:

1. Build rapport and trust: You build trust by being honest and genuine and I am being genuine when I tell you there is something special going on at our client’s Welshpool office. This is a place where good humour, teamwork and dare we say it… laughter is part of the every day. When we leave their offices we always feel better than we did when we walked in (and we like to think we are pretty upbeat people in the first place!).

2. Identify the customer’s (candidate’s) needs: Based on my experience, someone in sales management is looking for, a great place to work, a product that is exceptional, a solid client base, the ability to mentor and lead a sales team, be able to step out of the office and be rewarded for your effort and success.

3. Present the solution: Here it is! Our client’s product is a market-leading, reliable workhorse and they provide a solution to manage the whole lifecycle of the product. Your sales team of six reps and two admins are spread across the country. Each team member is different from the other, and they all need different ways to be mentored, developed and inspired. You’ll also have the opportunity to be out and about, heading to seminars, tradeshows and catching up with your team (you’ll be travelling a week per month MAX). In return for all of your efforts you will be nicely rewarded with a handsome remuneration package along with tools of the trade (vehicle, fuel card, laptop and phone).

4. Handle objections: I know what you’re thinking, “Lauren, you haven’t told me about what I am responsible for yet so how can I know I want the job”... I know, I am getting there! Here is a snippet of what you will be responsible for:

- Leading, coaching and inspiring a sales team to push them to be the best they can be. This might mean holding some of their hands and knowing when to push back.

- Work with the General Manager on sales strategy, bring in fresh ideas and think outside the box.

- Wave the flag at events and continue to build old and new relationships with customers.

- Marketing: account management of external marketing agencies and coordinating promotional materials.

5. Close the sale: Is the role the right one for you? I am looking for an experienced Sales Manager who has looked after a geographically dispersed team. Experience with a business that has a lifecycle offering (from products through to service agreements and spare parts) is also a must. You also need to have exceptional attention to detail and be a good human who treats people with respect and can build relationships with anyone.