Do you have any soft sales tips for a newbie?

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 04-23-2007, 09:34 PM

I'm opening my own business. This is the first time I've tried anything like this and I'm turning 30 on Thursday. It's exciting, scary, and daunting all at the same time. The line of business I'm going into requires me to sell my product to, of all people bar owners. This is a different kind of a group to begin with. While I have some very limited experience with it, and am very easy going when it comes to talking to people, I'm by no means a sales pro. I find myself uncomfortable when even talking to people about their money. Any tips, advice, or words of encouragement any of you can offer would be more appreciated than you know. Thanks in advance.

**Dunit35** · 04-23-2007, 09:38 PM

All you have to do is sell yourself. If they like you, theres a good chance they will buy something from you.

04-23-2007, 09:39 PM

You don't have to be their best friend. Relationships are good and make for a pleasant transaction but you have to show them how your product is going to put additional money in their pocket by bringing more people in the door and causing them to stay or saving time for the help. They aren't going to buy because you're easy to talk to and tell funny jokes.

04-23-2007, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dunit35

All you have to do is sell yourself. If they like you, theres a good chance they will buy something from you.

We're talking about business owners - you could bring them world class hookers and take them golfing 365 days a year but that doesn't mean they're buying your crap.

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 04-23-2007, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

You don't have to be their best friend. Relationships are good and make for a pleasant transaction but you have to show them how your product is going to put additional money in their pocket by bringing more people in the door and causing them to stay or saving time for the help. They aren't going to buy because you're easy to talk to and tell funny jokes.

I appreciate this Phobs. The one thing I have is a product that will make money for bar owners, I'm just a little apprehensive about what kind of a show I'm supposed to put on out there. I feel that my product will sell itself, if I can just be me I shouldn't have any problems. Some on here may debate that last part.

milkman · 04-23-2007, 09:43 PM

I'd offer advice, but I'm a terrible salesman.

Here's one thing I've always found doesn't work.

Lose patience with your customer.

Extra Point · 04-23-2007, 09:51 PM

Good for you! I waited til I was 40.

Three things may help:

Be Brief (Your customer's time is valuable, so is a simple explanation of how your products work, and how they can help him)

Be Bright (Find ways that the customer saves money/makes money by using your products) and

Be Gone! (You appreciate a good value, and your customer appreciates one more than you do; you can use him as a reference to get more clients)!

**Dunit35** · 04-23-2007, 09:53 PM

avoid going in during busy hours, that would piss me off if someone did that.

Halfcan · 04-23-2007, 10:00 PM

Are you doing the condom machines? lol

Customers don't care what you know til they know that you care. If you have a good product, and they don't have to do shit to make some extra $$-you should be fine. Good luck, you are going to kick some ass!!!!

Halfcan · 04-23-2007, 10:01 PM

I don't know anything about bars-never been in one.

Halfcan · 04-23-2007, 10:01 PM

that I didn't like

stumppy · 04-23-2007, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

I appreciate this Phobs. The one thing I have is a product that will make money for bar owners, I'm just a little apprehensive about what kind of a show I'm supposed to put on out there.

Putting on a 'show' is the last thing you want to do. Just talk to them like you would anyone you know.
Being proffesional, confident and honest is 95% of what it takes to be great salesman.
And you need to loose any apprehension you have about talking to people about money. If you are uncomfortable asking them to spend their money they'll pick up on it. And it will make them uncomfortable spending it with you.

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 04-23-2007, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halfcan

that I didn't like

I knew there had to be a punch line. I appreciate all of the input guys. I am excited, but it is a little scary. I didn't fully understand how much time, effort, energy, money, and faith this would take. I guess nothing that's worth anything is ever easy.

04-23-2007, 10:08 PM

I'd also pick up a couple books on reading people. You need to know how to read your customers so you can know if and when you need to push or when you need to walk away to let them mull it over. Even more importantly you need to recognize when you've lost a sale so you can stop wasting your time and move on to the next victim errr, satisfied customer.

chief52 · 04-23-2007, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dunit35

avoid going in during busy hours, that would piss me off if someone did that.

That is a very important point. Even if you have a great product at a great price, you are not as important as filling the next cocktail for the customer. Hit the place in the morning when the guy that calls the shots is there and there are few if any people in the place.

Same can be said for applying for a job.

04-23-2007, 09:34 PM
Mr. Flopnuts FINALLY! The wait is over. Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The Future Is Now!!! Casino cash: $19947565	Do you have any soft sales tips for a newbie? I'm opening my own business. This is the first time I've tried anything like this and I'm turning 30 on Thursday. It's exciting, scary, and daunting all at the same time. The line of business I'm going into requires me to sell my product to, of all people bar owners. This is a different kind of a group to begin with. While I have some very limited experience with it, and am very easy going when it comes to talking to people, I'm by no means a sales pro. I find myself uncomfortable when even talking to people about their money. Any tips, advice, or words of encouragement any of you can offer would be more appreciated than you know. Thanks in advance.
Posts: 56,649

04-23-2007, 09:38 PM	#2
Dunit35 Keepin it Real Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Oklahoma Casino cash: $1527045	All you have to do is sell yourself. If they like you, theres a good chance they will buy something from you.
Posts: 10,489

04-23-2007, 09:39 PM	#3
Phobia Guest Casino cash: $	You don't have to be their best friend. Relationships are good and make for a pleasant transaction but you have to show them how your product is going to put additional money in their pocket by bringing more people in the door and causing them to stay or saving time for the help. They aren't going to buy because you're easy to talk to and tell funny jokes.
Posts: n/a

04-23-2007, 09:43 PM	#6
milkman Dumbass! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Leading the Marty bashing Casino cash: $10029395	I'd offer advice, but I'm a terrible salesman. Here's one thing I've always found doesn't work. Lose patience with your customer. __________________
Posts: 70,769

04-23-2007, 09:51 PM	#7
Extra Point MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Prairie Village, KS Casino cash: $10004900	Good for you! I waited til I was 40. Three things may help: Be Brief (Your customer's time is valuable, so is a simple explanation of how your products work, and how they can help him) Be Bright (Find ways that the customer saves money/makes money by using your products) and Be Gone! (You appreciate a good value, and your customer appreciates one more than you do; you can use him as a reference to get more clients)! __________________ "Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits." --Satchel Paige
Posts: 7,845

04-23-2007, 09:53 PM	#8
Dunit35 Keepin it Real Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Oklahoma Casino cash: $1527045	avoid going in during busy hours, that would piss me off if someone did that.
Posts: 10,489

04-23-2007, 10:00 PM	#9
Halfcan In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $7327995	Are you doing the condom machines? lol Customers don't care what you know til they know that you care. If you have a good product, and they don't have to do shit to make some extra $$-you should be fine. Good luck, you are going to kick some ass!!!!
Posts: 43,200

04-23-2007, 10:01 PM	#10
Halfcan In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $7327995	I don't know anything about bars-never been in one.
Posts: 43,200

04-23-2007, 10:08 PM	#14
Phobia Guest Casino cash: $	I'd also pick up a couple books on reading people. You need to know how to read your customers so you can know if and when you need to push or when you need to walk away to let them mull it over. Even more importantly you need to recognize when you've lost a sale so you can stop wasting your time and move on to the next victim errr, satisfied customer.
Posts: n/a