Sales Training & the Changing Sales Game

by Renie Cavallari on May 24, 2010

Sales TrainingEinstein said it best…”Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results”.  If you take a close look at how most sales organizations are selling today you can confirm…it’s insanity.

Today the job of the salesperson is to create buying environments. No longer can salespeople focus on pushing their product; they must focus on the customer…the buyer.  Yes, the skills from sales training: opening, questioning, presenting and closing; are still the same. It’s the process and approach that have changed.

The internet has made the life of a salesperson easier is so many ways.  Understanding a potential customer has never been simpler.  Uncovering unique components of a client’s needs and business approaches allows salespeople who do their homework and focus on helping a customer buy stand out amongst the clutter.

And the real hook in today’s sales hospitality training is to ensure that salespeople are creating compelling customer buying environments.  The key ingredients are the art of staying curious, asking engaging questions and making it easy for the customer to buy.

In the past, questioning was a fact-finding mission and though the facts/features of the clients’ needs are important, they are a small part of the buying decision.  Questions that uncover real wants, desires and experiences are what matter most.  Smart questioning uncovers objections early and allows salespeople to position your hotel uniquely throughout the buying process.  This “stand out from the clutter” positioning is how a smart salesperson communicates your message and experiences through addressing customer needs specifically throughout each conversation.

Face it.  Today sales is just a customer focused conversation. Smart questions engage the customer into your world and allow you to identify and minimize objections throughout the process. Too often, salespeople are surprised by the decision of the customer and if a salesperson is doing more listening than talking they will hear what they are up against and how to move into the ideal customer pitch.

What is the ideal customer pitch?  It is answered in one way.  Did the customer say:  “…that is exactly what we are looking for.?”

Cliff Notes:

  • Ask open-ended, feeling-finding questions and you will find out what your competition does not know.
  • Stay curious.  The best customer question is one that is focused on the buyer, not your product.
  • Bob and weave.  Take what your potential customer wants and desires and paint the picture that serves the vision they are looking for…one need at a time.
  • Make it compelling.  Commoditization is insanity.  Stand out from the clutter.

Renie Cavallari is CEO and Chief Inspirational Officer for Aspire, an international training and marketing consulting company positioning organizations to make more money through:

To have Renie come speak to your team on how to tap into new markets and make more money please reach out at renie@aspiremarketing.com

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The Starbucks Customer Service Training Experience

by Renie Cavallari on December 21, 2009

“Don’t compromise yourself. You are all you’ve got.” Janis Joplin

It never amazes me how Starbucks has managed to continue to innovate in the world of coffee, even when discretionary income is at an all time low. They start with 2 cups of happy people, followed by an extra heap of sugar and before you know it you just paid $4.00 for a grande iced mocha no whip latte. Is this insane?

What are you really buying? The Starbucks Experience. It starts and ends with “keep it simple”. Their stores are clean, their well-trained customer service people are friendly and competent; and, they always seem to have what you want. Rarely have I heard them say they are out of a product they offer.

They have managed to create simple and easy to buy ancillary revenues so they can improve their capture of your wallet share. You can go in for a vente iced tea and out you come with your new, very cool looking iced tea container along with a fruit and cheese plate and small bag of nuts. That’s how you capture customer wallet share. And who in their right mind buys a small bag of nuts for $2.50? You have to be nuts!

starbucks experienceAnd if this isn’t enough they have created such a strong community, you actually like to hang at Starbucks. It’s smart thinking, because the longer you are in the store the more money you inevitably spend. The result is they take individuals who like to “drink special coffee” into a community of people who hang out, work and even catch up with friends.

So what can we learn and apply in the hospitality industry or your business?

1. Keep training and keep the training simple so you get people competent fast. They make for happier employees and there aren’t as many mistakes.

2. Look at your product and find ways to solve customer problems and make travel easier. For example, how about an easy grab-and-go lunch sold upon check out and be sure to make the packaging convenient to stick in a brief case or purse.

3. Don’t run out of your specials or their special preferences. Find a way to give customers what they want and how they want it. If you can’t deliver on it, don’t promote it.

4. Create a central and interesting meeting place for customers to hang and become a community. How can your lobby or restaurant be a place to work, make friends and buy coffee, iced tea and snacks? Add free internet and people will work there, drink more coffee and buy more food. Think wallet share.

Renie Cavallari is CEO and Chief Inspirational Officer for Aspire Marketing, an international training and consulting company positioning organizations to achieve optimum performance. Contact Renie at 602.392.0700 or visit www.aspiremarketing.com.

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