Being a sales person aint easy
Being a sales person aint easy
I have so much to do right now that I need to make this post super short and quick!!
So on Tues and Wed I was at Equinox in Palo Alto doing my first trunk show EVER. I didn’t know what to expect so I just dressed in my best activewear and gathered up a ton of bags in my car. I was kind of nervous about what it’d be like to be a salesperson for the day (well 2 actually). When I got there, Mary at the Equinox Shop was so helpful in creating the display below! I had no idea what in the world I was doing. I’m actually quite terrible at setting tables. When I tried. it just looked all wrong. She hopped over, added a bust here, mix and matched some gym bags and yoga bags there, crafted the plum scarf to match the plum bag and VOILA! A lovely table of oGorgeous-ness!
Check out that male model we have sporting the Flomme Explorer yoga bag! He’s pretty hot, huh? 😛
And this city girl with the Pleated Pocket gym bag!
Well, let me tell you this. I learned quite a few things the past 2 days while trying to be a sales girl. This job AINT EASY. I have a new found respect for sales people. It’s nerve-wrecking trying to sell something to people when they aren’t really looking to buy! Being able to be suave, genuine, and non-salesly in a sales environment is a talent!!! It really is. I was very timid the first day. I kind of let people come and if they lingered for more than 8 seconds I’d come by and ask if they needed help. Although I was able to sell 2 bags within the first couple hours, the rest of the day was super slow. For some reason people did not wanna work out that evening. There was very little traffic.
The second day I came in and my new friend Brian, a membership advisor was trying to pep talk me into being a little more forward. Not in a bad way, but in an open way. He told me to make sure that even if I didn’t wanna sell people, then I could at least have the goal of giving away my business card. That made it easier for me. I could def do that. He also told me to tell people within the first 2 seconds that I’m the designer.
At first, I was like really? That’s kinda self-promoting. But I tried it. And I was shocked at how much more interested people were when they spoke with me. They even stuck around longer to ask questions and get to know me as a person. It was the best tip of the day.
I stuck around and chatted with the trainers, the front desk people, the shop people, members – it was actually pretty cool to be playing a role I had never played before! Mickey from the shop kept me company a good amt of the time when sales slowed down. The community at the Palo Alto Equinox is really warm and inviting. I felt like part of their family after just one day of working my little table. I also learned everyone’s dirty little secrets.
Just kidding.
But some people were impressed by how much info I picked up about everyone’s dating lives and eating habits. Haha. I had so many great conversations and even though I had never met these people before, our talks didn’t have those weird awkward pauses. Thank goodness, I hate those. It was almost like our energy bounced off each other in the right ways. I feel fortunate that my first trunk show was at this Equinox with such great people.
OH! And one of our POPsters stopped by to say hi to me! I was so happy.
Anyway, I hope the bags are able to sell some more through the weekend. I won’t be there again til Monday as I have a ton of stuff to do, but if the numbers can prove it, maybe Equinox will carry oGorgeous for real. That would be a dream come true. I have the San Mateo Equinox show next week Dec 20 and 21.
OHHHHHH!! I forgot to mention…so apparently Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO works out here!!?? OMG if I ever saw him I don’t know what I would say.
I am still so sleepy from that all nighter I pulled on Friday/Saturday. Haven’t gotten anywhere near 5 hours of sleep yet since then. I can feel it now. I’m feeling a bit weaker and my nose is starting to get sniffly. I never really get sick so I need to take better care of myself. And I don’t know if it’s just me but I think I’m sprouting white hairs!!!! UGHHHHH. I need sleep.
So yea, that’s my small update!! I have a newfound respect for everyone in the sales field. And I need to go to bed.
Question: How many of you have done sales before? Is it hard or easy for you?
<3 Cassey
14 thoughts on “Being a sales person aint easy”
There are Array14 comments posted by our users.
OH also hope i wasn’t THAT awkward when i met u, i think i was though EEEK haha… in my defense I was partially “starstruck” lol. i’ll be more normal next time haha… i still can’t believe i said i ate dog and also did a really weird “sexy pose” with the leg up. man why oh why… but if you don’t remember forget everything i said here! LOL
sales is hard but also fun. luckily majority of people you meet are nice…. what i found out is most important is to make your customer feel important, be interested in the one you are selling to (in a relaxed way without making it car-sale or vacuum-cleaner corny…haha) and if you are the owner, designer yourself selling your product people will often get interested in how, why you came up with it and your personal relation to whatever the product might be.
good luck with everything Cassey! you will make it!! you are a star!!
I was once I newspaper subscription sales woman for a summer,
you know those anoying people who show up at your door step at the worst possible time! It was very hard work, I had doors slamed in my face, and sometimes people would invite you into their homes, witch maybe I have watched to many horror films, but it scared the pants off of me lol. All in all it was fun, I got good exercise with all that walking around, and eventualy you learn to talk to people. 🙂
next time, don’t be shy at all! don’t wait 8 seconds to say hi to the customers! greet everyone right away with your great smile and say hi, give them compliments on something they are wearing…. be proud to introduce yourself as the designer of these great products. so what if some people are not interested, at least you tried and you will see what works. people will be excited to meet and chat with you. then you can explain the features and benefits of your designs 🙂 everybody loves you online, so they will love you even more in person…make friends with the people — ask them questions to find out their needs– i GUARANTEE you will make a lot of sales—-and yes, i have lots of experience in retail sales 🙂 have fun luv ya
thanks for the tips!!! will do this next week for sure!
these pics just confirmed my desire for silver pleater pocket… it will be mine… and yes i agree tell them u designed it!!! part of the reason why i want to buy it is because its created by you! the bag is an extension of ur personality!
it is! haha thanks for the support janice love
i’m not sure i could handle sales, but props to you!!
found you through fitfluential 🙂
I am glad the show went well, but–ACK! Cassey! Sleep, please!
I know I don’t need to tell you this, but you really, really need to sleep. Your body is screaming at you to do so in the form of an oncoming cold and general weakness. Is there any way you can take a day or two off work? People will certainly understand. Nothing is worth your health–in fact, it’s counter-intuitive for you to be driving yourself into the ground while simultaneously pursuing better health on the 90-Day Challenge with us. Please, please, please take care of yourself. I know I can barely function on little sleep–I get panic attacks. I can only imagine how you must be feeling now.
*hugs*
~Carolyn
true …… caring comment
take good care of yourself 🙂
I worked in sales while I was in high school and college. During college, I sold appliances at Best Buy – it’s definitely hard to sell ovens, vacuums, and other large appliances to people who really just came in to check out the latest cameras, computers, and tvs! You truly have to find that balance of being forward without being pushy. I’m sure your bags will be a huge success!
I have to “sell myself” sometimes to parents as a private lesson with their daughters for gymnastics. It can be awkward sometimes, but sometimes parents are 100% in it and willing 🙂 My boy-friend is also REALLLLLYY good at sales. He works at a motorcycle dealership selling bikes!
I used to sell food as a way to do fundraising while I was in college. It was a dog-eat-dog world where my products had to stand out among the ones in the same category. My friends and I had to convince people that ours were the bee’s knees. We were able to close down fast and even made profit. That was a lot of fun!
My family owns a business, so I’ve been a salesperson since I was 14 years old. It’s easy to talk to people, especially when you know the product and love it yourself. I can tell you that people definitely LOVE when the person who made or designed the product is right in front of them. It gives them a connection to it, makes it more personal. People don’t like feeling obligated to buy things, so I try to be relaxed about it and just have a conversation.