posted January 29, 2009 10:21 AM
How many of you have sales people?
I have an uncle that is a small farmer and has worked as a salesman almost all his life on the side. Do to the present economic situation he is without a job.
Is it possible for me to hire him, train him in the sign business, and put him on the road as a salesman for my business?
Do you think that he could generate enough sales to cover his costs? What kind of pay scale or would be reasonable?
It would be part time, 1 or 2 days a week.
I don't mind spending money if it makes money, but I have spent so much for advertising etc.. and it has returned so little that I am real slow about throwing out more good money. At the same time new signs go up in the area all the time that I never even had the chance to bid on, never new were even coming.
posted January 29, 2009 11:17 AM
I've been thinking of the same thing with a friend of mine. He's self employed, but doesn't work too much. I use him some when I need help with an install.
What if he were on more of a sign broker, so he gets a percentage of what he sells for you. He could also do the installs that you don't want or have time for. This way you're only paying him for what he does, and not by the hour.
-------------------- Ace Graphics & Printing Camdenton, MO. USA
posted January 29, 2009 12:22 PM
Really depends on what size jobs you want them to bring in. We pay 9%. So the salesman better bring in decent jobs. Had one guy who said he could sell a Blind man Glasses.
He kept coming back with Magnetic orders and stupid stuff. Weekly Paycheck. $120. He lasted about 2 weeks.
Make sure you can afford the percentage and your shop can handle the increase in work and in a timely manner.
We're running into that problem right now. After a Oct and Nov that almost put me out Business we are buried and can't keep up. And that puts a real pinch on your cash flow.
posted January 29, 2009 12:41 PM
This has always been a big frustration for me. I hired about 10 different sales people over the years and can say that only 1 was worth it.
My thoughts are this...
You are the beset salesperson there is. That was true for me as well but I hated doing it and would much rather be designing and building - part of the reason I ended up selling my biz and scaling back.
Salespeople are born, not made - I would suggest you look for someone that has the personality to sell and more importantly the drive to do it on their own including being creative in ways to generate leads. Dont try to make a sign maker into a salesperson, it just does not work.
now I feel better, thanks.
-------------------- Brian Stoddard Northwest Wholesale Signs
posted January 29, 2009 01:13 PM
I would think you need to have someone that knows the business and how to price things. Otherwise, they be out walking but you'll be doing all the estimating and busy work.
I could be wrong. Never had a sales person!!
-------------------- Amy Brown Life Skills 101 Private Address Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted January 29, 2009 04:38 PM
I tried it recently. Sat for multiple hours training him, bought him business cards, mags, put together a portfolio.. Didn't work out. I called him a few days after I set him loose, he's in the unemployment office. Ok?? Then I talk to him a few days later, he has the bright idea that he's going to start his own business as a mobile advertising agency, gee. I wonder where he got that idea? Haven't heard from him.
posted January 29, 2009 11:42 PM
I would look for industry experience to begin with, pay a decent percentage and make it commission only. You'll instantly weed out the "losers" and end up with a solid salesperson if you persist with it. Equip them with a copy of your pricing software that is set up the way you want it, on a laptop, so you know the bids are solid.
-------------------- Best Regards, Mark Smith EstiMate Sign Pricing Software It's Not Luck. It's EstiMate.™ http://www.EstiMateSoftware.com 1-888-304-3300 Posts: 724 | From: Asheville, NC, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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