Q Clothier | Rye 51’s Post

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Handshakes, say a LOT! Let’s face it, if you’re in the Toy Trade and commercial world, the first few months of this year, will involves a LOT of handshakes! (I for one, am happy to see the return of this rather that all of the C-time adjustments - the shoe tap…let’s just leave that 4 years ago). A handshake to me, feels like a bond and connection! A lot of the time, it’s a new meeting, a first Face-to-face and chance to develop a relationship that can turn to new business. Other times, it’s a sign of great friendships, catching up again and respecting eachother as part of our networks and life. We’ve all also had those sales handshakes where it feels full of promise and then sadly goes nowhere, the lead goes cold, roles change etc etc but it is at those times, that you have to stay resilient, stay focused and above all, still friendly and open! Sales is a cycle! I was once told when leaving school that my handshake ‘needed work’. It stuck with me and made me realise that it, at that time, said a lot about who I was then. I believe I developed the skill fully in Washington DC (your handshake there says a LOT). Anyhow, if you see me around the Toy Fair this month, please feel free to say hello and (if you’re comfortable with it - I do sanitise) let’s shake hands and tell me your news. It’s always a fab chance to catch up. That’s why London Toy Fair is my favourite show in all the Galaxies! Want to book a last minute time with me? https://lnkd.in/ewgEd8vp

Fun fact about me: my first job was as a sales associate at a jewelry store. Some coworkers and I were talking about our first jobs the other day, and I’d love to know: what was yours? Something I’ve found to be true over the years is that although previous job experience may not directly translate to a role, it is still valuable. Maybe your first job mowing lawns doesn't seem to apply to the fluid power industry, but jobs such as this teach us skills needed for any job, such as pushing through strenuous circumstances to see a task completed to the end. A previous job experience may not make it on your resume, but that doesn't make it any less valuable when forming soft skills like work ethic, integrity, and adaptability. While we do look for industry experience during the hiring process, we are also on the hunt for individuals who are seeking growth. Comment your first job below!

INCREDIBLE POWER OF POSITIVE ATTITUDE AT WORKPLACE. A story is told of two Shoes Salesmen send from their company headquarters in a city to remote countryside locations to scout for new shoes market and file back reports. Salesman 1 filed a long detailed report of how the terrain was so bad, that no one owns shoes and how it was untenable even to think of selling shoes to such population.He saw no opportunity at all. Salesman 2 filed very uplifting report. He said, yes there's no one with shoes and this was a fantastic and perfect opportunity for the company to open a store there since everyone was a potential client. He argued that infact the shoes will help the locals navigate the rough terrain easily and comfortably as they herd their animals and go about their small scale business activities. The company chose to go with salesman 2 abd profits were humongous! Two people, same environment, two different views. A positive attitude enables you to see positive possibilities and opportunities from an otherwise impossible situation. We all can adjust our views better where we are, and might just spot great opportunities we never thought of before.

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Like me, you probably didn’t attend a 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫 before being thrown into the lion’s den of selling. Here's my story. What's yours? Many, many years ago, I moved to Hattiesburg, MS where my girlfriend, now wife, was attending college. I applied for a job at a department store from an ad in the newspaper. They hired me to work in the Men's Suit and Accessories Department. I had zero sales skills, no suit, and one pair of $12.99 Payless dress shoes (tan). I'm still not sure why they hired me, but 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞, so I accepted the job and reported for training wearing a thrift store sport coat, cheap wrinkled chinos, and those Payless dress shoes (which hurt my feet but I continued wearing them for 6 months regardless of the color of my pants, shirt, or coat). Two days later after showing me how to use the register and indoctrinating me on the company’s history and values, I was on the sales floor pretending I knew how to match a tie with a shirt and suit (Hint: I didn’t). I'd love to tell you I was a natural salesman, but I wasn't. However, I was hungry, and they paid me a small commission on every sale in addition to my hourly wage. More than anything (after eating and paying the rent), I wanted the job to be meaningful, so I gave it my best effort. Here are 𝟖 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 I learned from that experience -- mostly through trial and error and from customers who were unbelievably kind, generous, and trusting. 1. Be nice, listen, and ask questions. 2. Don't judge. Don't assume. 3. Be tactful about quality, design, and prices. 4. Recognize that everyone defines "value" differently. 5. Get to know each customer as an individual, if possible. 6. Smile and thank them whether they bought something or not. 7. Try to learn something from each interaction. 8. Mistakes happen. Acknowledge them and move on. What’s your Lion’s Den #sales experience? 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲. p.s. If you were my customer during my first 30 days, I'm really, really sorry. I honestly thought the pink stripe tie would look great with the plaid sport coat. And to the women in the Alterations Department, thank you for saving my butt more times than I can count. Those inseam measurements are tricky... 😉 Classic Exhibits Inc. | Exhibits ~ Rentals ~ Environments

I was the typical annoying and pushy car salesperson. I spoke at 100mph Pressuring people into purchasing. It was what I call sales 1.0, and it didn’t work. That’s when I realised I needed to change my approach. I started actually listening to the customer. Understanding their needs and sentiments. So I could then respond meaningfully. My responses were measured and relevant. This is what I call sales 2.0, which reaped much success. But there’s a step further. If sales 2.0 is about understanding needs and finding the most relevant solution in your arsenal, sales 3.0 is about creating a tailored solution that is so well-aligned with the client’s needs that they just can’t say no. It’s making the client feel that this was made just for them. It’s kinda like when Nike didn’t use an existing pair of shoes for Michael Jordan. They created a whole new range just for him. When you do this, you occupy a unique position that nobody can replicate. And that’s when you become the only choice.

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Ever wondered how a 15-year-old shoe saleswoman mastered the art of selling? Here's my tale. One of my first job swas at Kinney Shoes. My boss, though tough, treated me as a part of the family. He was instrumental in teaching me the art of selling. How exactly did he impart this knowledge, you ask? Greeting every visitor promptly and offering premier customer service. Building enduring relationships. If customers were not ready to make a purchase, I would inquire when they would be. With a smile and polite demeanor, I ensured each customer felt valued and most of them returned to make purchases. The key takeaway from my experience is that selling isn't about imposing your product on someone; rather, it involves offering solutions that meet their needs. This perspective made it more of a positive interaction than a transaction. People walked into the store looking for shoes, and I took pride in assisting them. It was a genuine pleasure to assist both children and adults with fitting shoes. The social aspect of the job became a highlight for me, making the work environment much more enjoyable. This leads to the question: Where can you make your sales strategy more relaxed, so it feels effortless? Do you have limiting beliefs about sales? If so, I would love to hear from you. Thanks for reading my reflections.