Tammi's World

A Plan, of Sorts.....

Man, I don't know about y'all, but yesterday was about the longest day EVER for me. Seriously - I don't REMEMBER the last time the clock moved so slow. At one point I actually checked to make sure the batteries were right in my Old Timer's clock in the living room.

Damn.....

Today? Today should be interesting. You see, Tammi didn't look at her weekly calendar until Monday morning. It's that whole "trying to take the weekend off" thing. Yeah, well, the training class I thought was Wednesday night? Yeah. It's tonite. Now, in case you weren't hanging out around here back in my old Road Warrior day's, I need to tell you I take my training classes VERY seriously. Lots of prep work. Training manuals. Q & A. It's a dog and pony show. And each one is tailored for that customer.

Not something you can do in a day.

OK - well, the class is at 6:00 tonite. No problem. I have until 2:00 to finish everything up.

Until I am asked to come to our Corporate Office in Chicago this morning. That means I leave the house - for the day - at 8:00am. No comin' back to finish up or pick up anything I forget. It's out the door at 8:00am home around 11:00pm.

Folks? I got nothing. I sat here yesterday into late last night, staring at my laptop. Creativity gone. Hell, I didn't even dream about it last night, and usually that's how I come-up with some of my better ideas.

So - all day tryin' to come up with a very cool training show and all afternoon thinkin' and mullin' over the summons to Corporate.

But, there is a silver lining. Yes, there is.

I share the floor at this customer's location with only one other bedding company. It just so happens I know this company very well. It also just so happens that NO ONE from that same company has been out to that store - ever.

They've asked me to train the sales people on how to SELL BEDS. Period. I can do that in my sleep. And, my "tools" (for want of a better word) can be applied across the board. So - I'm going to do a training class that includes my products AND my competition. I'll stress that my main goal is to make the Sales People comfortable selling beds. I want them to make money. I want them to enjoy these products as much as I do.

Now, most folks in this industry would NOT do that. You focus on your stuff and put the competitor down. This competitor makes a great product. And they sell. Almost by themselves - it's that brand recognition thing. I'm just gonna pull a David and Goliath and take 'em on. Mano a Mano, as it were.

The message I'm HOPING to send is that I care. I care about the sales reps, I care about this customer. I want them to be successful. If that means they sell my competitors beds, well so be it.

I want to be their "favorite". I want them to make it PERSONAL. I want them to know I'm grateful EVERY TIME they show my product. Because People buy from People. When it becomes personal, when you are appreciated for doin' something, you tend to continue doing it. Positive Reinforcement. Get it?

Yeah - so that's the plan. Dear Gott, I hope it works, cause if not? Yeah, this could REALLY bite me in the ass......

Posted by Tammi at September 18, 2007 05:46 AM | TrackBack