Shout out to sellers who know their stuff Journalism

Business experience is perhaps one of the most valuable things of our time. Where are the salespeople who know their stuff?

This salesman reminded me of this other employee who works at a large hardware store who must be 70 years old. It was a Saturday morning, and he swore there were six people in line in front of him. And dispense advice with confirmation: A trainer Life on Instagram.

This category of salespeople is quickly disappearing. Of the 15 most in-demand jobs of 2022, guess which one came in first place? sales representative. Several reasons explain this. Labor shortages make it very difficult to replace experienced employees who have reached retirement age.

The larger chains, more interested in turning up the music on Saturdays, mainly hire part-time staff for whom customer service is limited to a question asked of a colleague into a microphone and held to the ear.

“Tony, do we have any more blue sweaters in the back store? I need a way.” That’s the reality of downtown Montreal’s shops. But that’s another topic.

You’ll tell me: Who wants to work 40 hours a week serving people who don’t always enjoy an above-average salary (unless you work on commission)? In France, we call this phenomenon the “career crisis.”

We should rack our brains less trying to rename the vendor term (consultant, representative, associate, etc.) and spend more energy finding people who are qualified, who inspire trust, and who will make the connection.

A seller who knows his products and usage techniques is one thing. But a salesperson who gets to know his customers is nirvana. This is also rare. Customers are most often numbers for salespeople. vice versa.

I’m not saying we need it in all types of businesses, but it is necessary in some sectors.

While we are constantly told that we must encourage existing businesses to confront the invasion of online commerce, we must find ways to promote the salesperson’s profession.

Until then we must care about those who are where they are and who are good. This column aims to honor those women and men who dedicate their lives to yard sales of fabric, paint, clothing, shoes, tools, garden flowers, books etc. And those who do it professionally.

Thank you for having all the answers, for giving us sound advice, for asking us about the project we did, for telling us that the jacket didn’t fit us well, and for not taking a certain type of dye out in the yard after using another type the year before.

We need you, more than ever!

Customers on their mobile phones

When I published my article about the scourge of hands-free conversations in public, I received a ton of emails from people who work in companies.

They can no longer serve customers who talk on their cell phones. They feel like second-class employees.

A reader told me about the time he saw a man order a submarine sandwich while on the phone. The poor employee had to make him make a myriad of choices (meat, cheese, tomatoes, pickles, lettuce, chili, olives, mustard, mayonnaise, etc.) while the customer continued his discussion.

Another reader, a butcher by profession, one day had a client in his office who was on the phone. When it was time for introductions, the lady ended her conversation graciously. “I was so happy I gave him a discount,” the butcher told me.