We went on roll playing for a couple of hours. My mother was real patient with me. I know that she tried her best to teach me. I started to wonder how she knew so much about sales. She told me that really it just takes common sense, belief in your product, and wanting to be around people. She said that she guessed that she learned from the Fuller Brush salesman, and her friend that she bought Avon from. They were always friendly and seemed happy and they also seemed to love they’re products.
At this point she said that before taking on a sales job with any company make sure that the product that they are offering is a good product. She said that it is important, because you are putting your name with that product. people will remember your name and will always remember you if you sell them a product that didn’t work, bad quality, or if they paid too much.
Now lets think about that for a moment. what do most sales people have? A business card. One of the first things that the customer sees is your name, then the company logo. And if they keep your card then it is your name that they are calling. Your name is very important! I’ve had a sales career going all my life. I’ve sold for several companies and myself. Some of my customers bought products from a couple different companies that I sold for. My name is what helped the customer decide to buy from me. I believe that I sold products for companies that produced good quality items.
Well I went back out the next night with two appointments. I had called ahead this time. When I called I felt kind awkward. It was like I new what to say in my mind, but the words sure were not coming out right. Still I got the appointment. I felt very lucky that I knew the mom’s of my friends that I had called. As I approached the first house I started to feel nervous. I even felt uncomfortable with what I was wearing, that my hair was out of place. I was feeling afraid! This was all new to me. I was sure I wasn’t going to make the sale.
When I rang the doorbell everything felt suddenly better. I saw Mrs. Henry. She had a nice smile, and invited me in. I looked around for my friend and was relieved that he was not there. Mrs. Henry showed me to the living room and told me everything was going to be fine. I started to set my presentation and she left for a minute and returned with some cookies and a pop.
I sailed right through my presentation. I must say I felt that it went great. I closed the deal. In this case, how do they say? The stars had aligned right for me. Mrs. Henry made me feel good, my friend wasn’t there, and the best part was that her old Kirby was worn out and broken. Timing was everything.
It took me two months to sell 11 vacuums. I took the final three hundred dollars that was my profit, and bought me a Dr. Pepper and a Three Musketeers bar and went to the bank.
Now being sixteen I had my drivers license, but had to borrow my mothers car for everything that I need to do and there was always special things that my father would expect of me in order to earn the right to drive her car. First he always checked the milage. Second I was only allowed to stay in a certain part of town. Third I had to return the car with a full tank of gas, and last I had to wash the car every time. For a sixteen year old that was a good deal. But you know I had some friends that got their own cars when they turned sixteen. I wanted my own car so bad and I was saving money and had enough to buy my own, but my father drew the line! No way was I going to get a car until I graduated from high school.
