Mastering the Art of Selling: A Guide to Building a Sales Career in the FMCG Industry

To my mother

Disclaimer

Copyright © 2021 Manal Haddad.

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ISBN: 978-1-4466-8443-6

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About the Book

Sales is the most important aspect of a company, which in turn is about how well you treat your customers and stay ahead of your customer’s requirements. – Mark Cuban

The naïve ones among us believe sales is all about selling. While this might be true a decade ago, it certainly does not apply to today’s world. Sales has witnessed a dramatic evolution in the past 25 years. The days of aggressive selling to customers are long gone. Today, it is all about building strong relationships and effective communication. If you want to succeed in sales, you need to focus on creating a connection with your customers and understanding their needs and preferences.

This book is a game-changer for anyone looking to develop a career in sales. It covers all the essential information you need, from the skills required to excel as a sales manager to the effective use of business analytics. With this book, you will be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to succeed in the competitive world of sales.

Chapter 1

The True Definition of Sales

If you aim to excel in your chosen field, it is imperative to have a deep understanding of its basics. The foundation of any profession is crucial, as it sets the stage for your future success. Irrespective of your chosen field, you will always have to start from scratch. Therefore, to thrive in your profession, you must begin by mastering its fun damentals.

The best way to start learning about something is through definitions. Since you aim to build a sales career, let us begin with its definition. There is no single definition of sales. Numerous authors define the exact term differently. For instance, the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines sales as operations and activities involved in promoting and selling goods or services. Other authors define sales as all the activities undertaken to sell a product or service to a business or a consumer. While both these definitions are correct, they do not encapsulate the true value of sales in today’s business.

In the current day and age, sales is all about helping your prospects solve their problems. It is the process of paying attention to people’s needs and pains and assisting them with their problems. Similarly, selling is about understanding the needs of prospects by actively listening to them and then creating a plan to help them fulfill their needs.

What Encompasses Sales

Here is a list of activities that come under sales.

1. Following Up – The sales department plays a crucial role in proactively pursuing and following up with potential leads, ensuring no opportunity goes unnoticed.

2. Building Lasting Relationships – The era of the hard sell is long gone. In the present age, it is no longer enough to simply persuade a customer to purchase your product or service. Building a lasting and trustworthy relationship between the company and the buyer is the hallmark of modern-day sales.

3. Closing – Effective closing refers to turning prospective customers into actual customers. This can be achieved not only through personal meetings marked with firm handshakes but also through phone calls or online communication. With the right approach and communication skills, effective closing can be accomplished successfully, regardless of the medium used.

4. Retaining Customers – Ensuring customer satisfaction is paramount to retaining customers. By prioritizing customer happiness and making sure they are satisfied with the product or service, you can instill confidence and trust in your brand.

Assume you are a sales professional in the office equipment industry. It is crucial to be knowledgeable about your products and services. When a customer contacts you looking for printer paper, do not just try to sell them the most profitable option. Instead, ask them about their specific needs, such as the type of printer they use and how quickly their office goes through paper. This information will help you recommend the best paper options, including high-quality materials if necessary. With this approach, you can be confident that you are providing the best solution for your customer’s requirements.

Once you have made the sale, reaching out to the customer for feedback is crucial. Even if their experience was negative, assure them that you are committed to delivering exceptional service in the future. By doing so, you can establish a robust and long-lasting relationship with the customer and retain their business for years to come.

Importance of Sales in A Business

To achieve success in any business, the sales department plays a critical role by bridging the gap between a company’s offerings and its customers. However, establishing a successful sales career takes more than just selling. A skilled salesperson must build long-lasting relationships with clients, ensuring their complete satisfaction with the product or service provided.

Sales Is About Caring

Sales is all about caring for your customers and providing them with the best solution to their problems at the right time. It encompasses a wide range of activities and tasks that are aimed at delivering the best value to your customers. By focusing on your customers’ needs and providing the best solutions, you can build trust and loyalty that will help you achieve success in your sales efforts. Ultimately, the true definition of sales is about being confident in your ability to provide exceptional value to your customers every time.

Chapter 2

What Makes Sales

Different from Marketing

Boosting revenue and increasing the company’s bottom line are the ultimate objectives of both sales and marketing. Although many people think that sales and marketing are interchangeable, they are two distinct functions that are deeply intertwined. While small organizations may have the same staff members performing both sales and marketing functions, as companies grow, these roles and responsibilities become more specialized, highlighting the vast differences between sales and m arketing.

A marketing team plays a crucial role in paving the way for the sales functions. The team’s primary responsibility is to inform and attract potential customers and leads towards your business and the products/services it offers. On the other hand, the sales team works directly with the prospects to convert them into loyal customers.

Marketing Vs. Sales

Sales can be defined as a transaction where a seller offers tangible or intangible goods or services to a buyer in exchange for money. On the other hand, marketing encompasses a comprehensive range of business activities aimed at creating, communicating, and delivering value to clients, customers, and partners.

Marketing teams are experts in promoting, pricing and distributing products and services to meet the needs and wants of their valued customers. Meanwhile, sales teams are specialists in achieving target sales and fulfilling sales volume objectives.

The scope of marketing and sales functions differ significantly. While marketing involves advertising, market research, public relations, and customer service, all of which contribute to a better understanding of