What Is Salesmanship ?

by Mike Sigers on June 6, 2006

Salesmanship

Have you ever had a customer buy WAY more product than he needs ? What would you do ? Would you leave him to his own devices, or would you hunker down and help ?

What if he had bought 10 times more than he could use in a year ? Then what would you do ?

Would you try to forget the whole thing, try and justify letting them drown in the pool of their mistake ?

Would you take back some of the surplus ? Or would you get in there and help that customer find new avenues for selling the surplus ?

I’d choose that route and here’s why.

If you can help the customer sell 10 times more than they need once, there’s a good chance that they’ll be able to sell somewhere close to that amount again.

They’ll also feel a unique bond with you, which should parlay into more sales in the future.

And you can use that same avenue with other customers in other areas and hopefully put a strain on your manufacturing division and become a sales hero.

The last time I had the good fortune to have a customer buy WAY too much product, I checked into a hotel and worked with them every day for a week.

Wrote new ads, built displays, came up with a few promotions, called radio stations and worked the phones and sales desk.

Within a week, we had sold all his stock. The customer was relieved and I was enlightened.

I’ve oversold several customers since then. Then I moved in and moved the product out the door !

THAT is salesmanship.

{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Maria Palma 06.06.06 at 10:19 pm

Mike,

That is salesmanship AND great customer service as well! You helped a customer with their needs and went above and beyond the call of duty. If that’s not phenomenal service, I don’t know what is! Thanks for sharing ;)

2 Mike Sigers 06.06.06 at 10:28 pm

Hey Maria,

Like your banner says - Customers are always

thanks for coming by and for taking the time to comment.

3 Brian Clark 06.07.06 at 10:49 am

Man, you are off the hook. Excellent example of what “giving to get” is all about.

4 Govindrajan Thulsi 11.20.07 at 7:13 am

Can you give some tips for successful salesmanship which will be easily underastandable to the sales professionals?

Th tips should be point by point from the appearance till the successful selling!

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