General Election 2010

So it is finally here, after weeks of hearing about it and having it shoved down our throats the big day is upon us – General Election Day. Is it just me or has the last 4 weeks seemed like months? Politicians everywhere, on every channel at every opportunity. More recently leaflets, posters and literature seem to have infested every nook and cranny of space. It is our most basic democratic right, the right to a free and fair election. We therefore must exercise our right to vote and not miss out on this basic freedom. Many in the world still do not have this right, so we should not see it as a luxury, or an issue, we should, in my opinion, see it as an honour to be able to vote.

Whilst on this seemingly high horse, I also feel the need to commend the 3 main party leaders on the energy they have. I truly am not sure I could have kept up their pace for a few days never mind the last 4 weeks. So is it that I do not have the same energy as them or is it that I channel it in different ways? Of course I would like to think it is the latter with my family, business and local government that I am involved with. The flip is that maybe I just don’t have that energy or drive anymore; I honestly couldn’t say either way as I don’t know. So for now let me leave this paragraph at saluting the 3 main party leaders and the energy and drive they have thrown at the campaign trail.

My team and I here at Merchandise Mania could, and hopefully, have learned a valuable lesson from Nick Clegg in this campaign. It is one of presentation skills, determination, and making the best of your opportunities in front of customers. You see one of the things that can be difficult is getting time with our customers on a face-to-face basis, or even with our potential customers.

However Mr. Clegg has certainly taken his opportunities and run with them, admittedly the other candidates helped him along with the ‘I agree with Nick’ campaign that has run with him in the last few weeks. If and when we succeed in getting in front of customers and prospects we must make use of the time and be very well prepared, just like he was.

Nothing irks me more than a supplier coming into my office and taking up 6-10 of my teams time, often my own time as well, and being ill prepared. They have no agenda, no presentation, just seemingly thinking that they can wing it. Well the wake up call to those who think this is you cant. You are not that good to be able to be ill prepared. You will face tough questions and we expect answers. If you fail, we lose respect and you lose orders.

We have to understand as professional sales people that the same is true for us. Be prepared or fail. It really is that simple. I never expect our clients to sit through a face to face with me when I am waffling or talking drivel I fully expect & actually want them to say to me that the meeting is over as I am wasting their time. This is what I want to get over to my team at Merchandise Mania and our partners, our customers may not want to say it but we need to know it!


Oh and lets not forget there is that General Election 'thing' happening today in the UK so exercise the right, 'Go and Vote'. (PLEASE)

Social Networking - Am I a Fan?

So yesterday I was with my Academy of chief Executives group ACE 2 at the Holiday Inn in Elstree. Our Morning speaker was a chap called Mike Nevin whose company, Alliance Best Practice does what it says on the tin. Looks at the best ways of bringing a team together to deliver a project in the most cost effective way whilst probably increasing the available skills by working with all types of Partners to make it happen! Very Interesting I thought! Fortunately the talk was not about this, but about the phenomenon of Online Networking. Interestingly about 95% of the room yesterday had some kind of profile on LinkedIn, about 95% of them used the free model and did not have a complete profile including myself. However having listened intently to Mike for a few hours I can see major benefits in putting myself and my company out there and using online business networking to increase exposure and perhaps help to further support our clients. I used to belong ot a group called BNI or Business Network International and there motto was 'Givers Gain'. That is, 'that I I give you business, you will want to give me business.' There is a lot to be said for this especially in a tougher economic climate than most of us are used to. It is important to note that selling on price alone is a recipe for disaster so being able to 'add value' to the proposition is what it is all about at Merchandise Mania. It seems like after yesterday one of the ways in which we can add value is by networking efficiently with our customers and prospects.

I know my next job is ensuring my profile on LinkedIn is complete!!!!