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My Cousin Vinnie - The Salesman

Written by: Jim Meisenheimer

Article Overview: While on a cruise we experienced a very professional sales person. Here's what he did and how he did it.

My Cousin Vinnie - The Salesman

Actually, Vinnie isn't my Cousin - but he is a genuine salesman.

I've got a question for you. Are you in shape? Are you in really good
shape? If not, why not?

It's important for you to be in top physical condition. But that's not with this
article is about. This article is about increasing your sales. What kind of
"Shape" is your sales presentation in?

I love to watch salespeople in action. I can't help it. So, when our cruise
ship arrived in St. Thomas, I had the opportunity to observe more than a
dozen salespeople. Bernadette, my wife, loves to shop. She came
prepared with a list of gifts we needed to buy for the upcoming holiday's.

I don't remember how many jewelry stores we visited. I do remember,
however, one in particular. The store¡¯s name is Dazzlers, a duty-free shop,
within two blocks of our ship the Golden Princess. Vinnie was our
salesman. Here are several observations:

He was friendly.

He was very patient.

He smiled and gestured easily.

He asked good sales questions and kept showing Bernadette different
pieces of jewelry.

He took the initiative and walked briskly from display case to display case.

He never asked for permission and he just kept bringing more things for my
wife to see, touch, and try on, each time getting closer to what she was
looking for.

He called another store and asked them to rush over another piece of
jewelry that Bernadette asked about.

He said would take three to five minutes for the piece to be delivered to his
store.

Bernadette said, "We'll go for a beer and come back in a half-hour." In what
seemed to be "Faster than a speeding bullet" Vinnie reaches under the
counter and takes out two ice-cold cans of Coors light.

That was one very smooth move. I told Vinnie the last time I saw a move
like that was in 1969. While stationed in Vietnam, I had the opportunity to
take R & R in Hong Kong. I told him, while having two suits made, the tailor
opened his bar and offered me a drink.

Vinnie told us his life story including how his father during the 1960s was a
tailor in Hong Kong and how he used to serve his customers cocktails while
they were waiting. It really is a small world.

Vinnie did a good job and we rewarded him with two sales. His sales
presentation was in good shape. What kind of shape is your sales
presentation in?

Can you recite the Pledge of Allegiance?

Of course you can. Can you recite your favorite poem, psalm, or song? Of
course you can, and why is that? It's probably because you know the
words. No one ad-libs the words to the "Pledge" or the words to their
favorite song. It's unthinkable.

Can you recite how you make sales appointments when using the
telephone?

Can you recite your ten best open-ended questions?

Can you recite four benefits of your key products.

Can you recite how you deal with the price objection?

Can you recite how you ask for the business?

There's a huge difference between being prepared and sounding canned -
huge! You're more likely to sound canned when you don't prepare,
because everyone usually says the same thing in similar situations.

The Gettysburg address was not an improvisation.

The Lord's prayer is not an improvisation.

The Pledge of Allegiance is not an improvisation.

Wouldn't you sound better if your entire sales presentation was not an
improvisation?

In the military you often hear "You¡¯d better shape up or ship out."

If you shape up your sales presentation you won't have to worry about
shipping out unless of course you decide to book a cruise to St. Thomas.

Give my regards to Vinnie when you see him.

The best way to increase sales is to ask better questions.

Jim Meisenheimer is the former Vice President of Sales and Marketing
for Baxter International and is the creator of No-Brainer Sales Training.
His sales techniques and selling skills focus on practical ideas
that get immediate results. You can discover all his secrets by
contacting him at (800) 266-1268 or e-mail: jim@meisenheimer.com

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Related Forum Posts
Hat's off to you- - As an owner/operator, I wear many hats...especially when employees become ill, go on vacation or resign. Here's the hat's i've worn over the years: 1) Manager (skilled) 2) Salesman (very skilled) 3) Book keeper/ Accountant (somewhat skilled) 4) Publicist (somewhat skilled) 5) Payroll officer (skilled) 6) Receptionist (very skilled) 7) Secretary (very skilled)
Re: Hat's off to you- - [quote="BizLoanz4u":1j1xk9p5]As an owner/operator, I wear many hats...especially when employees become ill, go on vacation or resign. Here's the hat's i've worn over the years: 1) Manager 2) Salesman 3) Book keeper/ Accountant 4) Publicist 5) Payroll officer 6) Receptionist 7) Secretary[/quote:1j1xk9p5] Hi Michele, Would you be able to rate each of your job functions on a scale of "1 = generalist" to "10 = expert" and even which tasks you outsource? Thanks


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